Sunday, June 28, 2015

Abu Dhabi Traffic Department Intensifies the Field Awareness Campaigns near Roads and Shopping Centers

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, June 23rd 2015 [ME NewsWire]

Within the priority of making roads safer and more secure, the Traffic and Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police has intensified its field awareness campaign during the holy month of Ramadan on roads and near shopping centers in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Western Region (Al Gharbia). The steps fall within the plan of the Directorate to reduce all causes of traffic accidents, to spread and preserve the traffic culture, and to increase compliance with the laws and regulations of traffic.

Colonel Jamal Salem Al Ameri, Chief of Public Relations Section at the Directorate, noted that the Ramadan awareness campaigns on the roads aim to raise public awareness regarding the concept of traffic safety and their commitment to abide by the traffic laws and regulations. This is achieved through field interactions with motorists and spreading the law respect culture for the traffic laws in order to provide traffic safety. He pointed out that the outreach teams are roaming the roads of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region with the “Tathqeef” awareness patrols from the times of the Isha and Tarawih prayers until 1 am.

The program includes distributing awareness pamphlets and booklets to the motorists;  and urges them to fasten their seatbelts, avoid using mobile phones while driving, avoid running red lights, and to not obstruct traffic near shopping centers and places of worship.

Col. Al Ameri urged motorists to: adhere to the designated speed limits, to leave sufficient space between cars, pay attention while driving, give priority to pedestrians on crosswalks, fasten seatbelts, avoid using mobile phones while driving, and to drive carefully. He reiterated the importance of driving carefully around the time of Iftar in order to avoid accidents due to lack of focus, being stressed, or driving hastily  in order to arrive on time for Iftar.

He also advised drivers to pull over and park on the hard shoulder of the road if they feel exhausted or tired. This is especially necessary during the month of Ramadan and for those with high blood pressure or diabetes, where the attention levels of drivers tend to decrease due to the physical changes that occur in the body as a result of fasting. Col Al Ameri pointed out that driving during the holy month requires both focus and accuracy in performance. He advised motorists to get sufficient sleep during the night, as it is one of the essential elements needed in order to achieve a physical and psychological balance.

Col. Al Ameri stressed the importance of patience and self-restraint while driving, as some drivers engage in reckless driving while they fast due to the fatigue, drowsiness, and thirst. He advised them to be more cautious while driving.

He urged the pedestrians to adhere to crossing from the designated crosswalks, bridges or tunnels. He also stressed on the need to pay attention to pedestrians, as there is more foot traffic after Iftar. He said to give pedestrians priority at the designated crosswalks and to reduce speeds in residential areas and areas with a lot of pedestrian traffic.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE   

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook and Twitter

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/14988/en

ADP Installs Defibrillators at the Traffic and Patrols Directorate and FNC

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, June 24th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

The Emergency and Public Safety Department at Abu Dhabi Police has installed two automatic defibrillators (for cardiopulmonary resuscitation) in the buildings of the Federal National Council (FNC) and the Directorate of Traffic and Patrols in Abu Dhabi. This step was taken as a response to the directions of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, to install defibrillators in public places across the UAE.

A special team from the Emergency and Public Safety Department has taken the responsibility to train the staff members of the Federal National Council (FNC) and the Directorate of Traffic and Patrols on how to operate the device. The defibrillator is used when an individual shows symptoms of a heart attack or circulatory failure (ischemia). Symptoms include fainting, irregular breathing, weak or absent pulse, or absence of any signs of circulatory activity.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE   

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook and Twitter

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/14995/en

Massey Ferguson Announces Winner in South Pole Expedition Competition

Scottish farming family wins on-line prize draw for a season’s use of an MF 5610 Antarctica2 Special Edition Tractor

DULUTH, Ga. - Thursday, June 25th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Massey Ferguson, a worldwide brand of AGCO (NYSE:AGCO), reports that Nancie Clanachan from Maryholm Farm near Dumfries, Scotland has clinched the prize in its Antarctica2 Expedition competition to win the use of an MF 5610 tractor for a season.

Attracting entries from 33 countries, the competition was run on the Antarctica2 Expedition web site which chronicled the thrilling adventure to drive an MF 5610 tractor to the South Pole and back in December 2014. In accomplishing the mission, the MF 5610 staked its place in history and became the first standard farm tractor equipped with tyres to reach the Geographic South Pole overland.

“It was an amazing feat for the Massey Ferguson tractor to get to the South Pole,” says Nancie Clanachan whose family operates a 340-acre beef and sheep enterprise. “We’re absolutely delighted to win the prize – it was a lovely surprise. My sons, who now run the farm, and my grandsons are all very excited about the arrival of the new tractor!”

The Clanachans will be receiving a season’s use of an MF 5610 Antarctica2 Special Edition tractor which Massey Ferguson has recently launched to celebrate the South Pole achievement. With the emphasis on high performance, comfort, safety and control, the Special Edition machine is equipped with a package of unique features and exclusive design attributes which reflect the many challenges of the 5000 km battle across the ice. The features package includes a superdeluxe air-suspended seat, mechanical cab suspension, six LED lights, 540/540E/1000 rpm PTO and Massey Ferguson’s high-spec off-road audio entertainment system.

The Antarctica2 expedition was a huge challenge of strength and endurance for man and machine, and captured the imagination of a worldwide audience. The 28-day trek across the ice with the Antarctica2 team spearheaded by Lead Driver, Manon Ossevoort, was followed on social media alone by more than 27 million people.

Campbell Scott, Massey Ferguson Director Marketing Services presented the Clanachan family with the keys to the prize MF 5610 at the Royal Highland Show on 19 June. “Congratulations to the Clanachans, we hope they enjoy using the MF 5610,” said Campbell Scott. “Even in the depths of a Scottish winter, we know that the tractor will rise to the challenges on their farm just as it did in the extreme and hostile conditions of the Antarctic.”

Download pictures from http://assets.agcocorp.com

Searchword: MF5610Prize-19062015

About AGCO

AGCO (NYSE: AGCO) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural equipment. AGCO supports more productive farming through a full line of tractors, combines, hay tools, sprayers, forage equipment, grain storage and protein production systems, seeding and tillage implements and replacement parts. AGCO products are sold through five core equipment brands, Challenger®, Fendt®, GSI®, Massey Ferguson® and Valtra® and are distributed globally through a combination of approximately 3,100 independent dealers and distributors in more than 140 countries. Founded in 1990, AGCO is headquartered in Duluth, GA, USA. In 2014, AGCO had net sales of $9.7 billion. For more information, visit http://www.AGCOcorp.com. For company news, information and events, please follow us on Twitter: @AGCOCorp. For financial news on Twitter, please follow the hashtag #AGCOIR.

AGCO: 25 years of identity, centuries of history

Contacts

AGCO

Paul Lay, +44 (0)2476 851209

Manager, Public Relations & Communications

Paul.Lay@agcocorp.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/15001/en

GSMA Innovation City to Showcase the Connected Life at Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2015

Immersive Exhibits to Demonstrate the Impact of Mobile Technology from Partners Including Huawei, KT Corporation, Oral B, Peel, Pittasoft, Qualcomm Incorporated, Thinfilm and Visa

SHANGHAI. - Thursday, June 25th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) The GSMA today announced further details on the GSMA Innovation City, which is being held at Mobile World Congress Shanghai and builds on last year’s popular Connected City exhibit. The showcase, which is now in its third year, invites visitors to explore a real-life city environment packed with intelligent mobile-connected products and services that demonstrate how mobile technology is positively impacting the personal and professional lives of citizens from across the globe. Attendees have the opportunity to meet with leading mobile experts and try out real-world technologies from a number of diverse sectors including automotive and transport, retail and commerce, home, health, work, gaming and even robotics. The dynamic exhibition will also feature emerging devices as well as demonstrations of the future of mobile networks.

“Mobile connectivity is creating much richer, smarter products services and experiences, benefiting all of us. From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep, the number of interactions we have with mobile technology, from mobile payments to connected cars, is astonishing,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA. “The GSMA Innovation City demonstrates how mobile connectivity is driving significant and positive change for citizens, businesses and economies from around the world and we are excited to welcome guests to experience the current and future possibilities enabled by mobile.”

Showcasing New Connected Experiences

The GSMA Innovation City will include interactive demonstrations from partners including Huawei, KT Corporation, Peel, Pittasoft, Oral B, Qualcomm Incorporated, Thin Film Electronics ASA “Thinfilm” and Visa, as well as from the GSMA’s key industry programmes including Connected Living, Digital Commerce, Personal Data and Network 2020.

GSMA partner experiences on display in the Innovation City include:

HUAWEI

    Huawei endeavors to build a better connected world enhancing interconnectivity between people and people, people and things, and things and things, to spark infinite opportunities and potential for everyone everywhere in building a better connected world. At Innovation City, Huawei will showcase connected home, connected public, connected industry, and much more.

KT CORPORATION

    KT, a leading global communications company, will showcase its range of technologies that will help start-up companies in the 5G era.
    KT will present technologies that are fundamental to the Internet of Things such as modules, V-touch technology, LDWS (Lane Departure Warning System), an Iris recognition payment system, a voice transmitting system for noisy areas and much more.

ORAL-B

    For over 60 years, Oral-B has lead the innovation in oral care technology improving the oral health of consumers around the globe. At the GSMA Innovation City, Oral-B will showcase:
        The new Oral-B iBrush Oral-B SmartSeries Bluetooth Toothbrush that aims to establish a new standard for personal daily oral care by providing real-time feedback and brushing customization. iBrush is an example of Oral-B's mission for a more personalized experience. In the future, Oral-B will continue its innovation in oral care technology through various platforms, and deliver more intelligent and personalized oral care.

PEEL

    Peel turns smartphones into a universal remote control. At the GSMA Innovation City, Peel will demonstrate the Peel Smart Remote app and platform that aims to revolutionise the home entertainment and home control experience by integrating device control for live or streamed content discovery.

PITTASOFT

    At the GSMA Innovation City, Pittasoft will showcase its groundbreaking BlackVue dashboard camera technology. Visitors will experience:
        Connected car dashboard camera technology with Full HD 2-channel Wi-Fi-enabled cameras
        BlackVue Over the Cloud for instant access to playback, live view, two-way voice communication and publishing to video-sharing sites, as well as peace of mind with emergency alarm, GPS tracking and backup of important footage.

QUALCOMM INCORPORATED

    Qualcomm, now celebrating 30 years of invention and partnership, will be showcasing how it is building the connectivity fabric for the Internet of Everything, including smart city and automotive solutions, robotics, LTE Direct and LTE in unlicensed spectrum, as well as a number of its Chinese portfolio company partners.

THINFILM

    Thinfilm is a global leader in the development and commercialization of printed electronics and smart systems, and its mission is to help power the Internet of Things (IoT) by extending intelligence and communications to the consumables level. Visitors will experience how printed electronics can help make everyday items – such as drinks, shoes and apparel – “just smart enough” and create a truly connected world.

VISA, INC.

    Visa will demonstrate connected car commerce, a proof-of-concept online/mobile payment service designed for on-the-go consumers:
        The connected car will combine payment security, cellular and wireless technologies to test connected car consumer payment experiences.
        The demonstration features Visa Checkout, the online payment service integrated into the dash of a car that lets consumers easily order and pay for food from the car with just a few clicks. The demonstration of connected car commerce is a first of its kind in the industry. While the initial focus is on ordering food at a quick service restaurant, the technology can also be applied to other everyday consumer purchases such as gasoline, transit and parking and drive-through retail opportunities.

GSMA Programme Showcase

The GSMA Innovation City will give visitors the opportunity to listen to the stories of four ‘virtual’ connected citizens who will explain how mobile connectivity is having a positive and beneficial impact on their lives via a series of immersive videos. The digital stories demonstrate how the GSMA’s key programmes relate to exhibits in the city and will encourage guests to explore areas that are of interest to them. The GSMA and its partners will demonstrate solutions highlighting the impact of mobile technology through a number of engaging exhibits including:

    Virtual Reality @ Innovation City – Enter a unique virtual reality world. Oculus Rift headsets will allow visitors to enter the mobile network, viewing it from the inside, taking in the expanding world of connected devices and services.
    Connected Car – Experience the future of the connected car with Tesla.
    Connected Golf @ Innovation City – Test out your golf skills with connected golf products that provide detailed information on your technique and performance at the GSMA Innovation City’s golf course.
    Mobile Connect – Experience the GSMA’s Mobile Connect service powered by operators including China Unicom, Digi and Telefónica. See how you can use a mobile device to securely authenticate and connect to digital services without having to remember a username or password again.
    Connected Technology Showcase – Test and try a number of the latest innovative connected products such as wearables, fitness trackers, heart monitors, GPS tracking monitors for children and the elderly, a connected suitcase for real-time location tracking, connected tennis racquets, a cleaning robot, a connected vacuum cleaner and more.
    Mobile Wallet - Experience China Mobile ‘He Bao’ NFC, a mobile payment service based on the NFC-SWP standard, enabling users of the network’s phones to add their bankcard information to the app and make payment transactions simply by tapping their phone against a Quick Pass terminal.
    Mobile Couponing - Try out a mobile couponing and customer loyalty service using the new collaborative initiative between Italy’s four main operators, H3G, Telecom Italia, Vodafone and Wind, the service provider Konvergence, and two retailers, Bennet and PAM Panorama.
    Enriched Calling – The GSMA’s Network 2020 programme and partners including Comverse, D2, Huawei and Summit Tech will demonstrate how Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Rich Communications Services (RCS) can enrich calling services in the retail and automotive industries.

GSMA Innovation City Location

The GSMA Innovation City will be located in Hall 4 (West 4 B130 and E130) and will be open during Mobile World Congress Shanghai exhibition hours from Wednesday 15th to Friday 17th July. For more information, visit www.mwcshanghai.com/innovation-city-experience-centre/.

Get Involved at Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2015

For more information on the 2015 Mobile World Congress Shanghai including how to exhibit or sponsor, visit www.mwcshanghai.com. Follow developments and updates on Mobile World Congress Shanghai through our social media channels – use #MWCS15 on Twitter and follow us at @GSMA, or get regular updates through our LinkedIn Showcase Page. In China, you can follow us on Sina Weibo http://weibo.com/mwcshanghai or on the GSMA account on WeChat.

-ENDS-

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

Contacts

For the GSMA

Brenda Bu (Beijing)

+8610 8569 9928

bbu@webershandwick.com



Vivienne Wu (Beijing)

+8610 8569 2395

vwu3@webershandwick.com



Ava Lau (Hong Kong)

+852 2533 9928

alau@webershandwick.com



GSMA Press Office

pressoffice@gsma.com



Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/15004/en

Saturday, June 27, 2015

ICE Clear Singapore Announces First Three Clearing Members

LONDON. - Thursday, June 25th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), the leading global network of exchanges and clearing houses, today announced that KGI Ong Capital Pte. Ltd., Phillip Futures Pte Ltd and UOB Bullion and Futures Limited (UOBBF) have been approved as the first three clearing members for ICE Clear Singapore. ICE Futures Singapore and ICE Clear Singapore have received all regulatory approvals from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

“We are honoured to be one of the first clearing members of ICE Clear Singapore. As we are witnessing a growing demand for ICE products from Asia, we are pleased to offer these products to our clients and we are committed to be part of this dynamic growth,” said Mr Ong Ka Thai, President & CEO of KGI Ong Capital.

"It is our great pleasure to be among the first brokers to obtain clearing membership of ICE Clear Singapore,” said Mr. Teyu Che Chern, CEO of Phillip Futures. “With PhillipCapital’s network offices located globally, we see good potential in our cooperation with ICE Clear Singapore to continuously provide our regional clients with suitable products for their trading needs.”

Mr Matthew Png, Managing Director and CEO, UOBBF, said that the clearing membership complements the Bank’s trading services and broking solutions. “Asian investors and corporates are seeking to diversify their investments through various futures and options instruments that are listed on ICE. As a Singapore-based broker, we are best placed to support our clients’ trading needs in the region by providing timely and reliable clearing services for ICE Clear Singapore products and transactions during regular business hours,” Mr Png said.

“We are pleased to welcome KGI Ong Capital, Phillip Futures and UOB Bullion and Futures as the first clearing members of ICE Clear Singapore,” said Lucas Schmeddes, President & COO, ICE Futures Singapore and ICE Clear Singapore. “We continue to see strong interest from market participants and we are working with them through the onboarding process. We will continue to update the market on our progress in regards to member and customer preparations and launch details.”

The establishment of ICE Futures Singapore and ICE Clear Singapore will support an expanded customer base and the further development of the derivatives markets in Asia with a local exchange and clearing presence. ICE has had a presence in Singapore since 2000 serving customers in the global energy markets. In recent years, Asia-based trading activity in our benchmark commodity and interest rate products has been rising as the region assumes a greater role in global derivatives markets.

About Intercontinental Exchange

Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE) operates the leading network of regulated exchanges and clearing houses. ICE’s futures exchanges and clearing houses serve global commodity and financial markets, providing risk management and capital efficiency. The New York Stock Exchange is the world leader in capital raising and equities trading.

Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located at www.intercontinentalexchange.com/terms-of-use

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - Statements in this press release regarding ICE's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the SEC on February 5, 2015.

SOURCE: Intercontinental Exchange

ICE-CORP

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150625005129/en/

Contacts

Intercontinental Exchange

Media Contact:

Claire Miller

+44 20 7065 7745

claire.miller@theice.com



Investor Contact:

Kelly Loeffler

+1 770 857 4726

kelly.loeffler@theice.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/15003/en

Morinaga Milk Industry: Probiotic Supplementation Causes Fat Loss in Overweight Adults

TOKYO - Thursday, June 25th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:2264), the second largest dairy product company in Japan, confirmed that its new probiotic ingredient, Bifidobacterium breve B-3, caused a significant reduction of body fat and modified metabolic function in adults with obese tendencies in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial.

For decades, obesity has been thought to be caused by an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. However, recent evidence suggests that gut microbiota play a key role in regulating energy balance and fat storage. Accordingly, it has been suggested that manipulating the composition of the gut microbiome may be a novel approach to treating obesity and metabolic syndrome.

A previous study reported that administration of Morinaga’s probiotic strain B. breve B-3 to mice with diet-induced obesity reduced body weight gain and visceral fat deposits and improved serum levels of total cholesterol, glucose and insulin (Kondo et al., 2010).

With the collaboration of Dr. Taeko Shimoda, professor emeritus of Tokyo Healthcare University, the present study, published in the international, peer-reviewed Journal of Nutritional Science in May 2015, was conducted on 52 adults with moderately high body mass index (BMI:24-30 kg/m²), including diabetics.

Participants randomly received either B. breve B-3 or placebo by capsule for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, those taking B-3 experienced a significant decrease in body fat mass — both compared with baseline and with placebo.

“The decreased body fat mass was around 1 kg after 12 weeks, which is a very promising effect for probiotics,” stated Dr. Shimoda. “In addition, we also observed a possible improvement effect of liver function, indicated by a significant decrease of serum γ-GTP level.” Elevated levels of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, widely used to evaluate the degree of liver injury, are correlated with higher risk of metabolic syndrome.

Characterized by elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, dyslipidemia, and abdominal fat accumulation, metabolic syndrome currently affects 47 million Americans and raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes.1

“We are excited that B. breve B-3 has demonstrated great potential in helping prevent metabolic syndrome, while at the same time improving liver function,” said Dr. Jin-zong Xiao, Department Manager of Morinaga’s Food Science & Technology Institute. “We plan to devote additional resources toward continued investigations into B. breve B-3 in order to further document the efficacy of this unique probiotic strain.”

Reference

J. Minami et al., “Oral administration of Bifidobacterium breve B-3 modifies metabolic functions in adults with obese tendencies in a randomized controlled trial”, Journal of Nutritional Science, vol.4, e17;1-7 (2015)

About Bifidobacterium breve B-3

Bifidobacterium breve B-3 is a room-temperature stable probiotic ingredient. This strain was originated from the intestines of newborn infants. It is capable of producing short-chain fatty acids, such as acetic acid and lactic acid, as well as other bioactive components, including conjugated linoleic acid and other fatty acid metabolites. In vitro research suggests it has the potential to improve intestinal barrier function, which could be the mechanism of action through which it exerts its anti-metabolic syndrome effect.

About Morinaga

Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. is the second largest dairy product company in Japan, employing 3,078 people. Founded in 1917, Morinaga exhibit excellence in the field of technology and sell not only dairy products but also the beneficial functional ingredients isolated from milk components. Morinaga has researched and developed human origin probiotics; Bifidobacterium longum BB536 which is one of the most clinically supported probiotics in the world and Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, clinically supported strain especially for infants including low-birth-weight infants.

1 WebMD. What is metabolic syndrome? Dec. 21, 2013. http://www.webmd.com/heart/metabolic-syndrome/metabolic-syndrome-what-is-it

Contacts

Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.

Mai Nozawa, +81-3-3798-0152

International Department

m-nozawa@morinagamilk.co.jp

http://www.morinagamilk.co.jp/english/









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/14984/en

GSMA: New Research Reiterates That Development of Digital Societies Are Key to Overall Growth in Asia Pacific

GSMA, ITU, ICANN and ISOC Asia-Pacific Share Reports and Findings At Digital Societies Policy Forum in Bangkok

BANGKOK. - Thursday, June 25th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- New research reports produced by the GSMA, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Society (iSOC) demonstrate that the development of digital societies have the potential to help solve key challenges faced by Asian countries. These challenges range from access to essential services and enhanced disaster management to improvement in service delivery and the efficient utilisation of limited resources.

The reports, developed independently by each organisation, share common conclusions and recommendations on the potential of digital and mobile technology to advance national economies and markets, as well as overcome challenges arising from rapid population growth and increasing rural-urban migration faced by Asian countries. These findings were shared at the ‘GSMA-ITU Digital Societies Policy Forum 2015,’ which took place today at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit in Bangkok.

"With the development of high-speed mobile broadband technologies and the increasing availability and affordability of smartphones, mobile technology is well-suited to deliver the required connectivity and content for a digital society," said Chris Zull, the GSMA’s Spectrum Director for Asia. "Today's wireless networks are able to cover a wide area with greater efficiency at lower costs than many other technologies, particularly in emerging countries with underdeveloped fixed network infrastructure and low levels of urbanisation."

Inter-organisation Cooperation and Collaboration

The ‘GSMA-ITU Digital Societies Policy Forum 2015’ is one of the first events jointly organised by the GSMA and ITU, and supported by ICANN and iSOC. It assembled over 100 policymakers, regulators, industry and other stakeholders from the ICT sector to discuss issues related to digital societies in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as examine the emerging national plans to build digital societies, framed around these new research reports and policies. The Forum also focused on the role of spectrum policy and licensing for mobile broadband, where experts from various countries shared their views on global trends in technologies and spectrum demands, as well as challenges and opportunities in pathways towards building digital societies throughout this diverse region.

The Digital Societies Policy Forum brings together key stakeholders, including governments and operators, to work on ensuring that technology and infrastructure, particularly mobile infrastructure, in a country meets the demands of a digital society. Achieving success requires access to adequate spectrum and tax regimes that incent investment, as well as the creation of awareness-building campaigns for digital services, which should be easy to use and accessible via multiple channels and languages. Six countries in the region – Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand – are participating in digital society initiatives, and Thailand is the first host of the Forum.

-ENDS-

Note to Editors:

To download the new GSMA report ‘Building Digital Societies in Asia’ please visit: https://gsmaintelligence.com/research/2015/06/building-digital-societies-in-asia/510/.

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

Contacts

For the GSMA

Rungnapa Charnwiset

+662 343 6061

rungnapa@webershandwick.com



Wanlapa Komkai

+662 343 6062

wkomkai@webershandwick.com



Charlie Meredith-Hardy

+44 7917 298428

CMeredith-Hardy@webershandwick.com



GSMA Press Office

pressoffice@gsma.com



Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/15000/en