Revolutionizing Connectivity: Connecting the World from the Skies Global Forum 2024 concludes

A Global Gathering to Shape the Future of NTN and Connectivity

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The second Connecting the World from the Skies Global Forum concluded successfully on November 26, 2024, bringing together a global community of 82 speakers and attendees, including 16 CEOs and 9 regulators.

The Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), hosted the second edition of the forum in Riyadh, themed "Shaping the Future of Converged Connectivity", and delved into the next frontier of connectivity and explored the full potential of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).

"Saudi Arabia is committed to uniting global efforts to connect the unconnected and bridge the digital divide, all in the service of humanity," said H.E. Dr. Mohammed Altamimi, Governor of CST. "By fostering collaboration between industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators, we are accelerating the development and deployment of NTN technologies to benefit societies worldwide."

The main panel discussion, titled "A Global Vision for the Future of NTN Connectivity," delved into the pivotal role of NTN in establishing seamless global connectivity. Eminent leaders and experts shared visionary insights on shaping integrated communication networks that transcend geographical boundaries.

Carlos Baigorri, President of Anatel, emphasized the importance of global collaboration in ensuring equitable regulation and inclusive participation in discussions regarding space as a shared global asset. Aarti Holla-Maini, Director at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, highlighted three key factors to consider when evaluating NTN technologies: bandwidth, cost, and quality of service. She emphasized that higher bandwidth is crucial for applications demanding stable and reliable service, which is particularly critical for mission-critical use cases.

The forum witnessed the first-of-its-kind Direct-to-Device (D2D) trial in the Middle East and North Africa region, which involves connecting smart devices compatible with 3GPP Release 17 standards to a satellite, enabling data transmission and reception in unconnected areas. This experiment aimed to connect non-connected areas, develop NTN technologies, attract global investments, and stimulate local investments in the field.

The forum also hosted the second edition of the International Research Competition (Competition on Non-Terrestrial Networks for 6G) and awarded the three winners. The competition, organized in collaboration with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), attracted over 170 researchers and academics from 30 countries. The competition aims to promote innovative solutions and support scientific research in the field of Non-Terrestrial Networks. The top three submissions were recognized at the forum to honor their contributions to the advancement of 6G technology.

Key themes discussed at the forum included Seamless Direct-to-Device Connectivity; Aligning Global NTN Visions for WRC-27 & Beyond; Unlocking the Potential of D2D Connectivity; Global Connectivity Through LEO Networks; Delivering Sustainability in and from Space; Unveiling the Future of Space Economy.

For more information about the Forum, please visit: www.ConnectingFromTheSkies.com

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** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Revolutionizing Connectivity: Connecting the World from the Skies Global Forum 2024 concludes

Revolutionizing Connectivity: Connecting the World from the Skies Global Forum 2024 concludes

BEIJING, Nov. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from China Daily:

A museum collecting and exhibiting cultural relics representing one of the greatest archaeological discoveries over the past decades in China opened earlier this month in the Shanxi county of Xiangfen.

The Taosi Site Museum, which opened to the public on Nov 11, was built near the Taosi relics site in Xiangfen. It is aimed to showcase a civilization dating back to 3,900 to 4,300 years ago.

The Taosi site was discovered in 1958 and a large archaeological excavation began in 1978. Over the years, an urban settlement, a palace enclosure, a storage zone, cemeteries and an observatory altar have been excavated. Researchers believe the site was most likely the ruins of the capital city during the period of Yao — a sage emperor dating back to more than 4,100 years ago.

More than 5,500 pieces or sets of cultural relics have been unearthed at the Taosi site, giving researchers adequate material evidence to understand how the earliest Chinese society and nation were formed.

Among the discovered cultural relics, a total of 230 pieces showing the culture and life of ancient inhabitants are on display at the museum, including items of pottery, jade, stone and copper. The museum also exhibits relics that some scholars speculate may be related to astronomical observation and timekeeping.

The museum is part of the Taosi Archaeological Site Park, which also includes an exhibition hall for ancient astronomy and a facility for the preservation of the bulk of the discovered relics. The museum now features such functions as the exhibition of relics, research and education.

Among the exhibits, a gnomon shadow measurement tool called guibiao, a colored pottery plate with a curled dragon pattern and a flat pottery kettle with red-inked inscriptions, are the most valuable assets of the museum and worth the attention from visitors, according to Gao Jiangtao, head of the archaeological team for the Taosi ruins.

He said the colored pottery plate with a dragon pattern might point to the origin of the Chinese totem of dragon, and the red pictographic characters inscribed on the flat pottery kettle might be the earliest written language in China.

The guibiao gnomon shadow measurement tool is a part of an ancient observatory discovered at the Taosi ruins. Archaeologists believe this is the earliest observatory known in China.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Museum showcases Shanxi's ancient heritage