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Stock Market 15 March 2025 - 30 May 2025

State of Internet Access in Armenia: From Fiber to the Final Frontier

State of Internet Access in Armenia: From Fiber to the Final Frontier

Armenia’s journey to modern internet connectivity began in the 1990s with a single dominant telecom operator. After independence in 1991, the national operator ArmenTel held a legal monopoly over telephony and internet services. This monopoly, granted in 1998, hindered early internet growth, as competitors were barred and infrastructure investments lagged hetq.am azatutyun.am. By the mid-2000s, however, reforms were underway. ArmenTel’s exclusive rights were effectively ended around 2005–2007, opening the market to new internet service providers and mobile operators azatutyun.am. The sector “saw rapid growth” once the monopoly was broken, with new players spurring competition and network expansion azatutyun.am. Key policy milestones accompanied this liberalization. A national telecom regulator, the Public Services Regulatory Commission, was established to oversee the growing market. In 2013, amendments to the Law on Electronic Communication removed the old licensing regime for ISPs, allowing any company to provide internet services after simply notifying the PSRC freedomhouse.org. This pro-competition policy dramatically lowered barriers to entry – by 2022, over 200 ISPs were officially registered in Armenia freedomhouse.org. The government’s commitment to ICT development has been evident in strategic plans like the Digital Transformation Agenda 2018–2030 and initiatives to promote Armenia as a regional tech hub budde.com.au. Throughout the
30 May 2025
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Internet Access in Kiribati: Bridging the Digital Divide Across Remote Pacific Islands

Internet Access in Kiribati: Bridging the Digital Divide Across Remote Pacific Islands

Kiribati is a remote Pacific nation of 33 atolls spread over 3.5 million km² of ocean​ Esa. This extreme geographic dispersion makes internet access both crucial for development and challenging to achieve. Improved connectivity is vital for Kiribati’s economic and social progress – enabling better education, healthcare, e-commerce, and communication services in an otherwise isolated setting​ Gov. Over the past decade, the country has made strides in expanding internet access, but significant gaps remain due to its unique insular environment. Internet access in Kiribati plays a pivotal role in overcoming the country’s isolation and driving development. As a small island developing state, Kiribati’s connectivity is a lifeline for education, healthcare, government services, and participation in the global economy​ Gov​ Gov. For instance, digital communication can connect remote outer island communities with teachers or doctors in the capital, improving quality of life. The government recognizes that affordable and reliable internet is essential to economic growth and social inclusion, especially for Kiribati’s far‑flung atolls​ Gov. However, delivering broad internet coverage across Kiribati’s widely scattered islands has been a persistent challenge, requiring innovative solutions and strong investment.
22 March 2025
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Internet Access in Niger: Broadband, Mobile, and Satellite Overview

Internet Access in Niger: Broadband, Mobile, and Satellite Overview

Internet access in Niger is increasingly recognized as vital for socio-economic development in one of the world’s poorest countries. Niger has a fast-growing population of over 26 million people, the majority of whom live in rural areas​ datareportal.com. However, internet usage remains very low by global standards – only around 17% of the population was online as of 2022​ pulse.internetsociety.org. This places Niger among the countries with the lowest internet penetration in Africa. The government has acknowledged the importance of digital connectivity for achieving development goals and is working on a long-term digital agenda to improve access for all citizens​ wearetech.africa​ wearetech.africa. In this context, it is crucial to examine Niger’s current internet landscape, the challenges it faces, and the initiatives underway to expand broadband, mobile, and satellite internet access. Internet Penetration and Usage: Internet usage in Niger, while growing, remains limited. As of early 2025, about 6.37 million individuals were using the internet – roughly 23.2% of the population​ datareportal.com. This marks an increase from January 2024 when roughly 4.7 million users were recorded​ connectingafrica.com, indicating gradual growth. For comparison, the average internet penetration across Africa is around 42%, underscoring Niger’s lag behind regional peers​ pulse.internetsociety.org​ pulse.internetsociety.org. Most internet
17 March 2025
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Egypt’s Internet Revolution: Fiber Frenzy, 5G Dreams, and a Satellite Showdown

Egypt’s Internet Revolution: Fiber Frenzy, 5G Dreams, and a Satellite Showdown

Egypt’s internet landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation. With over 100 million people and internet penetration above 70%, the country has seen surging demand for broadband and mobile data​ en.wikipedia.org. Major investments in fiber optics and mobile networks are boosting speeds to record highs – Egypt even boasted the fastest internet in Africa in 2022​ en.wikipedia.org. At the same time, stark urban-rural divides persist, and government policies heavily influence who gets online and how. This report dives into Egypt’s internet access services – from dominant ISPs and network coverage to pricing, regulations, and the future of 5G and satellite internet. Egypt’s fixed broadband market is dominated by a handful of providers. Telecom Egypt’s ISP arm, known as WE Data, leads by a wide margin – holding about 80% of the country’s internet subscriptions​ businesstodayegypt.com. WE Data is the incumbent provider, benefiting from Telecom Egypt’s nationwide infrastructure. The remaining fixed-line market is shared by ISPs affiliated with the other telecom operators: Orange, Vodafone, and Etisalat Egypt​ en.wikipedia.org​ en.wikipedia.org. These competitors each have single-digit to low-teens market shares, with Orange and Vodafone roughly in the 10–15% range. On the mobile side, Vodafone Egypt is the largest operator​ connectingafrica.com, followed by Orange Egypt
15 March 2025
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Stock Market Today

  • MARA Holdings Sinks 7.26% as Long Ridge Deal Moves Forward
    July 3, 2026, 2:04 PM EDT. MARA Holdings (NASDAQ:MARA) ended Thursday at $12.40, off 7.26%. Shares are down 14.7% in four days as the market pulls back. The company reported insider tax withholding of 145,540 shares at $13.89, showing a split between the transaction price and where shares finished. MARA recently announced plans to buy Long Ridge Energy & Power for around $1.5 billion, counting $785 million in debt. With the buy, MARA aims for key assets to move ahead with a planned data center campus. Long Ridge turned in positive adjusted EBITDA in Q1, a difference from MARA's larger EBITDA loss. U.S. markets are shut Friday for Independence Day, making Thursday the final trading day of the week.
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