Page 28 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

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Eutelsat 8 West B Selected by Strong Roots for New DTH Platform in

Ethiopia and the Middle East

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Ethiopian broadcast market. Its new DTH viewers across Ethiopia and beyond. As
Paris: ETL) and Strong Roots Ethiopia Platform will distribute high quality content indicated by its name, Strong Roots is
Broadcasting Service PLC have concluded on news, entertainment, education, kids, striving to put down solid foundations
a Master Service Agreement for a Ku documentary, movies and sport in SD or in the broadcast industry in Ethiopia,
capacity on a 36 MHz transponder on HD. Eutelsat 8 West B is a state-of-the- building its reputation based on quality of
Eutelsat’s EUTELSAT 8 West B satellite. art satellite with dedicated coverage of service and broad coverage with heartfelt
The capacity will enable Strong Roots Ethiopia on its East beam, and is part of Ethiopian Hospitality”. Philippe Oliva, Chief
to launch a new free to air DTH platform the 7/8° West video neighborhood, one of Commercial Officer of Eutelsat added: “We
covering Ethiopia as well as Ethiopian the most dynamic in the global satellite TV are proud to add Strong Roots to our line-
diaspora in zones within the satellite’s market. Commenting on the deal, Tsegaye up, highlighting the dynamic broadcast
footprint, notably the Middle East. Part of Alemayehu, Chairman of Strong Roots landscape in Ethiopia and confirming the
the Ethiopian-owned Strong Roots Group, said: “We are delighted to be supported unparalleled coverage of Eutelsat’s in-
Strong Roots Ethiopia Broadcasting by Eutelsat in our quest to provide a orbit assets for the African continent”.
Services PLC is an upcoming player in the high-quality broadcast experience to

Facebook is Stepping Up Its Linux Work Once
Again

Facebook has signaled its long-running "From its efforts to reshape computing Detection Challenge to spot fake videos,
support for open source software by signing through open source to its aggressive the Data for Good program, which looks
up to the largest Linux organizational body push to increase internet connectivity to use data sharing to solve humanitarian
around. The social network has revealed around the world, Facebook is a leader in issues including the spread of coronavirus,
it has joined The Linux Foundation as a open innovation," a Linux Foundation blog and the open-source Telecom Infra Project
platinum member, meaning it will take a announcing the news said. "Perhaps more (TIP) Foundation, which looks to spread
leading role in helping shape the future important today than ever, Facebook’s reliable internet to previously underserved
of the software platform going forward. focus on democratizing access to populations. Recently, the company
The Linux Foundation looks to promote technology enhances opportunity and relinquished control of its popular PyTorch
the spread of open-source ecosystems scale for individuals and businesses open-source machine learning library
through training and awareness programs, alike. That’s why we’re so excited to for Windows 10 Linux systems back to
and claims to be currently heading up $16 announce the company is joining the Linux Microsoft, which lets developers harness
billion worth of projects. Foundation at the highest level." Facebook Python-powered machine-learning tools.
• Stay safe online with the best business has long relied upon both Linux and other As well as helping developers create and
VPN services open-source software platforms, playing a evolve AI learning models, PyTorch, which
• Best Linux apps: free and open source major role in contributing to open-source was launched by the social network back
software projects such as the Open Compute in 2017, before being open-sourced a
• Best laptop for programming: top picks Project and the React JavaScript library. It year later, played a central role in many
for coders, developers and sysadmins also has a number of major ongoing open- Facebook services, with use cases such as
Facebook Linux source projects, including the Deepfake language translation and dynamic graphs.

Facebook Brings Payment Plays Under One Roof

Facebook created a new financial division David Marcus was installed as head of CEO and PayPal executive Stephane Kasriel
to house all of its digital payments projects, Facebook Financial, adding to his existing as VP of Facebook Payments. Marcus
with two former PayPal executives leading duties overseeing the company’s digital and Kasriel previously worked together at
the charge as the company works to wallet play, Novi: he is a former PayPal mobile payment company Zong before it
strengthen e-commerce offerings across president. In a tweet, Marcus said the was acquired by PayPal in 2011. The shift
its family of apps. Bloomberg reported company also appointed former Upwork comes as Facebook aims to overcome

28 AUGUST 2020