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PomeGran Awarded $172 Million FTTH Project to Provide Gigabit Broadband Connectivity to Rural and Indigenous Communities in Northern Ontario

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Project includes $97 million in government funding and additional investments from PomeGran through financing partnerships with the Canada Infrastructure Bank and Stonebridge Financial Corporation.

TORONTO, June 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – PomeGran Inc. (PomeGran), Canada’s fastest growing fibre-centric rural broadband provider, through its subsidiary ROCK Networks, has received $97 million in federal and provincial government funding to build new fibre broadband infrastructure in rural and Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario. The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Canada’s Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, together with Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure and Member of the Standing Committee on Government Agencies and the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, for the Government of Ontario, announced the investment today.

Building on this support, PomeGran is set to embark on a significant new project to construct and operate an end-to-end fibre network that will deliver speeds up to 25 Gbps to 18,663 underserved households, including 2,580 Indigenous households in the Huron Shore and Manitoulin Island region. This groundbreaking initiative will provide much-needed connectivity to areas along Hwy 17 from Lively to Garden River, including Elliot Lake, St. Joseph, and Manitoulin Island. The network will provide connectivity to residents over a 50,000 sq. km geography.

Through their engagement with the not-for-profit H&M COFI organization, PomeGran has connected with various communities, ensuring their needs and voices were considered. This project aims to provide high-speed broadband Internet to homes, businesses, and institutions in the Huron Shore and Manitoulin Island region. Their vision is to enhance global access and influence in the region, with fibre-based technology, transforming the digital landscape of the area.

PomeGran will own and operate the network. The open access framework will attempt to foster a competitive market, enabling numerous ISPs to offer diverse services to consumers, at competitive prices.

To future-proof the network, PomeGran is deploying XGS-PON and 25G PON to provide multi-gigabit broadband to residences and businesses. In addition, PomeGran’s patent pending advanced fibre technology and outdoor passive fibre infrastructure will ensure lightning-fast connectivity and the ability to scale to speeds and reliability not previously available to rural and Indigenous communities.

“Receiving this investment is a significant milestone for PomeGran. It underscores our dedication to bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to high-speed Internet in rural and Indigenous communities,” said Dr. Kalai S. Kalaichelvan, Chairman & CEO of PomeGran. “This funding will not only connect households but also lay the groundwork for a more connected and prosperous future for all residents.”

“PomeGran is excited to receive this investment, a testament to our shared commitment with the Governments of Canada and Ontario to bring high-speed Internet to rural and Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario,” said Joe Hickey, President of PomeGran. “This strategic investment signifies a crucial step towards achieving Canada’s nationwide connectivity targets, and with our commitment to an open access network, it will help foster competition in the market, making high-speed Internet more affordable in the region.”

“This infusion of government funding marks a pivotal moment for connectivity in Huron Shore and Manitoulin Island. More households gaining access to high-speed Internet means many benefits for our communities. It means enhanced opportunities for online education, access to virtual healthcare, and increased productivity for local businesses,” said Georges Bilodeau, Chairperson of H&M COFI. “This is not just about connecting households; it’s also about fortifying the foundation of our communities for a brighter and more interconnected future.”

“We are enthusiastic about partnering on this high-speed Internet project, which will significantly enhance connectivity and economic opportunities within our community. Our collaboration on the network and construction efforts is a testament to our commitment to sustainable development. Reliable Internet access will empower our community by providing better opportunities for education, healthcare, and local businesses,” said Ogimaa Kwe Rachel Manitowabi, of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.

“High-speed Internet is no longer considered just a luxury. The federal funding committed today will bring reliable high-speed Internet to more than 18,600 underserved homes in communities across Northern Ontario. Communities large and small need to have a reliable connection so they can grow their potential in this digital world,” said The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

The funding comes from the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF), by the Government of Canada and  Ontario’s Improving Connectivity for Ontario (ICON) program. The UBF, a $3.225 billion investment by the Government of Canada, is designed to help connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% connectivity by 2030. This initiative is supported by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), which plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and connectivity across the country. Through the ICON and other programs, the Ontario government has committed $4 billion to expand and improve broadband and cellular access across the province. This investment is part of a broader effort to enhance digital infrastructure and ensure that more Ontarians, especially those in rural and underserved areas, have reliable Internet connectivity.

Additionally, to complete the project, PomeGran is investing $75 million through financing partnerships with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and Stonebridge Financial Corporation. This joint initiative by PomeGran, a private Canadian investment firm, and the federal and provincial Governments aligns with the strategic priorities of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry to enhance digital infrastructure and promote economic development through improved connectivity. 

About PomeGran Inc.
PomeGran Inc. is Canada’s fastest growing fibre-centric broadband infrastructure provider. Dedicated to enhancing broadband services, PomeGran has emerged as a leader on a mission to empower underserved markets in Quebec and Ontario. PomeGran is investing in rural Quebec and Northern Ontario as part of their strategic plan. Boasting ownership of broadband networks, underground and aerial fibre assets, and fixed wireless access (FWA) assets, PomeGran is committed to bridging the digital divide that exists between urban, rural, and Indigenous communities. Founded on the fundamental principle of ensuring equitable access to high-speed Internet, PomeGran believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to participate in today’s digital-first economy. Please visit www.pomegran.com.

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SOURCE PomeGran Inc.

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TeamViewer study: 75% of employees use AI daily, but 61% want human oversight, indicating a confidence gap limiting progress

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Global research from TeamViewer finds IT leaders expect nearly 40% of digital workplace services to run autonomously by 2030

GÖPPINGEN, Germany, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AI is already part of everyday work, but organizations must close a confidence gap before they can unlock the next wave of AI productivity, according to new global research from TeamViewer, a leading provider of digital workplace solutions. While three quarters of respondents use AI daily, 61% still prefer human oversight before AI takes action — even as IT leaders expect nearly 40% of digital workplace services to run autonomously by 2030.

The global study ‘Path to the Autonomous Digital Workplace’ examines the shift from AI assistance, where people prompt tools and review outputs, toward autonomous systems capable of detecting needs and acting on them with progressively less human intervention.

Among the study’s key findings:

AI is used daily. 75% of respondents use AI at least once a day, only 3% report no noticeable workplace benefits from using AI, and 64% describe their experience with AI as positive.The autonomous workplace is accelerating, especially in IT. 26% of IT leaders describe their departments as at least partially autonomous. 99% of IT leaders say they would be comfortable delegating at least one task to AI.Confidence drops as AI gains authority. 61% of total respondents prefer AI to take no independent action. While 35% are ready to allow AI to act more autonomously on their behalf, a majority of that group (71%) are only comfortable with AI handling defined tasks. Only 1 in 20 (5%) have no concerns about AI operating without a human in the loop.People do not reject autonomy; they reject invisible autonomy. 40% want AI to detect and fix issues early while keeping them informed, and 70% are comfortable with AI acting autonomously as long as they can step in when needed.Guardrails are central to trust. Respondents say autonomous action would be more acceptable with strong security and privacy protections (39%), notifications before major changes (36%) limits on what AI can access (36%), visible activity logs (33%) and rollback options (31%).People expect AI to reshape work, not eliminate it. By 2030, 33% expect AI to assist while they continue doing most tasks, 28% expect to delegate more tasks and focus on higher-value work, and only 2% expect their role to be eliminated.

The findings reveal what TeamViewer calls the AI Confidence Gap: people are increasingly comfortable using AI for assistance, but less ready to give autonomous systems greater access, authority and responsibility. That gap is already creating a verification burden. More than half of respondents (56%) often or always verify AI outputs before relying on them, spending an average of two hours per week checking AI-generated work, while 51% say they do not always know when to trust AI and when to verify it.

“AI is already changing how people work, but the next phase will be defined by trust,” said Oliver Steil, CEO at TeamViewer. “Organizations will not succeed by giving AI unlimited authority. They will succeed by building systems that operate safely, transparently and accountably within clearly defined guardrails. The real opportunity is to use AI and automation to prevent disruption, improve digital experiences, and free people to focus on higher-value work. Trusted autonomy, not unchecked automation, is what will unlock the next generation of productivity.”

IT is likely to be one of the first areas where autonomous systems take hold. Technology issues are often repetitive and measurable, which makes them easier to detect early, remediate automatically and, over time, resolve within defined guardrails. The survey supports this, as nearly all IT decision-makers surveyed (99%) would delegate at least one IT task to AI, most commonly system updates (61%), common device fixes (53%) and device performance adjustments (49%). This readiness reflects how far IT operations have progressed in a short time, and points to the continued move toward greater workplace autonomy.

“For years, software has largely been designed around what people tell it to do,” said Mei Dent, Chief Product and Technology Officer at TeamViewer. “Autonomous systems change that model. The next step is designing systems that know when to act, when to wait, and when to bring people into the decision. That requires clear guardrails, pre-approved actions, risk-based oversight, and transparency into what the system did and why. Autonomy will scale when organizations can prove it works in specific, trusted use cases, then expand it with confidence.”

About the Report

The study was conducted by Sapio Research on behalf of TeamViewer in April and May 2026, among 4,200 respondents across 9 markets: the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Singapore. Respondents included an even split of managers and employees across industries and company sizes. The full report is available here. 

About TeamViewer

TeamViewer (XETRA: TMV) resolves digital friction before it disrupts productivity. As AI compounds the sprawl of machines, applications, and agents beyond human reach, TeamViewer restores control: observing endpoint health in real time, acting autonomously to keep technology in its desired state, and guiding operators when human judgment is needed. Its TeamViewer ONE platform unifies endpoint management, digital employee experience, and agentic remote support to lead the shift to autonomous endpoint management (AEM). Built on a structural data advantage from millions of AI-captured expert resolutions, the platform powers self-healing technology and grows more capable with every issue it fixes. More than 600,000 customers, from small businesses to the world’s largest enterprises, rely on TeamViewer to keep their digital and physical operations running. Learn more at www.teamviewer.com.

 

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SOURCE TeamViewer Germany GmbH

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VT Markets Launches “Finance Forward”, a Multi-Market CSR Series to Empower Youths with Real World Financial Skills

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The new CSR initiative focuses on improving financial literacy with practical education for youths

SYDNEY, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — VT Markets, a leading global online trading platform, today announced the launch of a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative — ‘Finance Forward’. The initiative aims to equip young adults with the financial knowledge needed to move from economic uncertainty toward long-term independence.

Driven by the mission of empowering communities with real-world financial skills, the programme is built on a foundational belief that financial independence begins with literacy at a young age. In collaboration with local schools and community organisations, VT Markets will deliver targeted educational sessions covering essential concepts, including budgeting, strategic saving, and sound financial decision-making. The first phase rolls out across Southeast Asia with plans to progressively expand into global markets in subsequent phases.

“We work in financial markets every day, so we see how wide the gap is between what young people are taught and what they actually need to know: how to budget, how to save, how to make sound financial decisions,” Dandelyn Koh, Global Head of Marketing at VT Markets shares. “This programme is built to help close that gap. We believe the earlier young people build these skills, the more it compounds. Better decisions now lead to greater financial independence later,” she added.

‘Finance Forward’ reflects VT Markets’ aim to deliver the knowledge that will help bridge the opportunity gap and build a generation better equipped to succeed financially over the long term. This launch marks the first phase of a broader, global commitment. VT Markets plans to progressively extend the programme to more markets around the world, with the goal of making a meaningful, lasting impact on financial literacy on a global scale.

About VT Markets

VT Markets is a regulated multi-asset broker with a presence in over 160 countries as of today. It has earned numerous international accolades including Best Online Trading and Fastest Growing Broker. In line with its mission to make trading accessible to all, VT Markets offers comprehensive access to over 1,000 financial instruments and clients benefit from a seamless trading experience via its award-winning mobile application.

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SOURCE VT Markets

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Rockwell Automation Announces Luminus Selects SecureOT Platform to Support Industrial Cybersecurity Resilience

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Deployment will help strengthen operational technology visibility and risk management across a diverse energy production environment

BRUSSELS, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced that Luminus, a leading electricity producer and energy supplier in Belgium, has selected the Rockwell Automation SecureOT™ Platform to support cybersecurity resilience across its operational technology environment.

As part of Rockwell Automation SecureOT™ industrial cybersecurity solution suite, SecureOT Platform is an OT-specific technology designed to deliver comprehensive asset visibility, risk prioritization and integrated vulnerability management for industrial organizations at every stage of cybersecurity maturity. With a vendor-neutral approach and alignment to industry standards and regulatory frameworks, including IEC 62443 and the NIS2 Directive, SecureOT Platform helps industrial organizations proactively manage risk, support uptime and address evolving regulatory expectations.

For energy producers such as Luminus, operational continuity, asset and lifecycle management, and cybersecurity resilience are increasingly important as industrial operations become more connected and companies work to secure critical infrastructure environments. SecureOT Platform was designed to help operators gain a clearer understanding of their OT assets, identify exposure across multi-vendor environments and prioritize remediation activity based on risk.

“Energy producers are managing increasingly complex and connected operational environments, where visibility and risk management across OT systems are essential,” said Rick Kaun, Global Director, Cybersecurity Services, Rockwell Automation. “By deploying SecureOT Platform, Luminus is taking a structured approach to strengthening cybersecurity across its operations. This collaboration reflects a practical model for building internal capability while maintaining a consistent approach to managing risk across sites.”

Luminus operates a diverse portfolio of energy production assets, including thermal, hydro, battery and wind sites. The agreement will support the deployment of SecureOT Platform across Luminus’ industrial operations, helping provide increased visibility of operational technology assets and supporting a more structured approach to identifying, prioritizing and managing cyber risk.

The deployment was delivered through a collaborative implementation model that combined Rockwell Automation expertise with the development of internal capabilities at Luminus. Following the successful rollout of SecureOT Platform across its sites, Luminus is now independently expanding use of the platform by progressively integrating operational technology assets into the system. This approach is providing greater visibility into its industrial environment while supporting a consistent and scalable approach to cybersecurity risk management across the organization.

“We are committed to continuously strengthening the security and resilience of our OT environments,” said Maarten Baert, O&M Manager for Cybersecurity, Infrastructure & Network, Luminus. “Growing regulatory requirements, including NIS2, together with an increasingly complex threat landscape, require a structured approach to understanding and managing cyber risk. SecureOT Platform provides the visibility and risk management capabilities we need to support our compliance journey while helping our teams develop the internal operational cybersecurity expertise to manage an expanding and increasingly diverse asset base.”

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries as of fiscal year end 2025. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise® to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

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