Page 17 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

AT&T and WMS Announce a Plan for Simplified

Connectivity on the Water

An announcement from AT&T and WMS, pass enables 500 MB of high-speed data
a global provider of cruise wireless per day — with no overage charges — and
connectivity services, demonstrates a unlimited talking and texting. At ports of
commitment to enhancing the connectivity call, customers can continue to use the pass
experience for passengers on cruise ships, without sustaining additional charges. The
who often have restricted and expensive enhanced AT&T Day Pass will be available
cellular and internet connectivity. Their on more than 200 ocean-going cruise ships
plan is to provide passengers with reliable, across more than 25 cruise lines supported
consistent connectivity throughout by WMS. The bottom line is that travelers
their journey, thus simplifying the travel will benefit from reduced costs and
experience. At the center of the experience uninterrupted service during their voyage.
is AT&T’s International Day Pass for cruise Pramod Arora, president and CEO of WMS,
passengers. For a cost of $20 per day, the said, “I truly believe this is going to become
pass will activate automatically to ensure the gold standard in cruise connectivity, and higher guest satisfaction for our cruise line
seamless cellular connectivity when will usher in a new era of predictable and partners.” The WMS and AT&T partnership
visiting international destinations, whether high-quality mobile communications for relies on various connectivity technologies,
land or sea. On international waters, the American cruisers while creating value and including 5G.

China Mobile's HK Unit Scoops Over 15% Stake in

HKBN For $155 Million

China Mobile said it will acquire a 15.5% Wireman will hold no shares in HKBN. The weighing an offer that valued HKBN at up to
stake in Hong Kong-based broadband deal gives China Mobile, the world's largest $1 billion (7.76 billion Hong Kong dollars),
service provider HKBN for HK$1.20 billion wireless carrier by subscribers, a stake in trumping China Mobile's HK$6.86 billion
($154.64 million) through its regional unit. one of the largest telecommunications offer. Earlier in the day, Bloomberg News,
Under the deal, China Mobile Hong Kong operators in Hong Kong that it first opens new tab reported I Squared Capital’s
(CMHK) will purchase approximately 145 expressed interest in acquiring for almost potential offer for HKBN has hit an obstacle
million shares from TPG Wireman for two years ago. State-owned China Mobile as it tries to convince China’s sovereign
about HK$758.2 million. It will also acquire has been looking to extend its footprint wealth fund of the merits of the deal, citing
debt owed to TPG Wireman by HKBN by outside mainland China. Reuters reported people with knowledge of the matter.
converting it into 83.7 million shares, for in January that U.S.-based infrastructure
HK$437.5 million. Upon completion, TPG investment firm I Squared Capital was

Cisco Continues to Drive Innovation to Reimagine

Security for the AI Era

Cisco made several transformative inno- According to Cisco’s upcoming 2025 Cy- tomers through ecosystem partnerships
vation and partnership announcements bersecurity Readiness Index, companies and for the broader community through
that will help security professionals secure worldwide underestimate the complexities open-source security models and tooling.
and harness the power of AI. An increas- of securing AI, with 86% saying their organi- “The cybersecurity threat landscape has
ingly sophisticated threat landscape com- zations have experienced AI-related securi- never been more dynamic and complex,
bined with an expanding talent shortage ty incidents in the past 12 months. Cisco’s with adversaries constantly emboldened
means the need has never been greater announcements further its commitment and enabled by AI to drive new attacks and
for machine scale security and response. to developing these capabilities for cus- exploits,” said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice

17 MAY 2025