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Zain: Kuwait’s Fastest Network wins five global awards from Ookla® Speedtest®

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Zain has added another illustrious chapter to its success story, reaffirming its leadership in Kuwait’s telecom and ICT sector, becoming the first and only company in the country to win five global awards in a single year from Ookla Speedtest — the world’s leading platform for network intelligence, testing, and analytics. These awards recognize Zain’s performance for the third and fourth quarters of 2024.

 Zain secured the titles of Fastest Mobile Network, Best 5G Gaming Experience, Best 5G Video Experience, Best Mobile Network, and Fastest Fixed Internet, after achieving the highest scores in Ookla’s analyses, based on hundreds of thousands of consumer-initiated tests across Kuwait. These tests covered all major telecom networks nationwide during the evaluation period, with Zain emerging as the clear leader in every category — cementing its position at the top across multiple performance fronts.

 This achievement highlights Zain’s leadership and commitment to investing in cutting-edge technologies, empowering the digital lifestyles of the largest customer base in Kuwait. It builds on the success story Zain began when it became the first operator to commercially launch 5G in Kuwait in 2019. Zain remains steadfast in investing heavily in its digital infrastructure to deliver the latest solutions and services that meet the aspirations of its customers.

 On this occasion, Nawaf Al-Gharabally, CEO of Zain Kuwait, stated: “We are proud to write a new chapter in Zain’s ongoing success story. This unprecedented achievement reaffirms what we always claim: Zain is Kuwait’s fastest and leading network. We have once again proven our market leadership, strengthening our top position in a fiercely competitive and operationally demanding market.”

 He added: “This accomplishment is the result of the dedication and creativity of our national workforce, whom we are immensely proud of. It is also a direct translation of our new 4WARD strategy – ‘Progress with Purpose,’ through which we look to maximize our full potential as a customer-centric, future-proof, and impactful leading regional TechCo. These awards also serve as a clear endorsement from our customers, as they are primarily based on user-initiated tests, making this recognition all the more meaningful.”

 Al-Gharabally continued: “This success goes beyond operational and technical excellence. Our continued investment in employee development and human capital is a key pillar in realizing our vision and maintaining our leadership. Our unwavering focus on enhancing the customer experience and placing them at the heart of everything we do has directly contributed to strengthening our brand position, and it is recognitions like these that reflect our efforts.”

 He further noted: “At Zain, we see ourselves as a responsible organization, enthusiastically contributing to Kuwait’s vision of building a robust digital infrastructure and advancing the nation’s developmental goals. We affirm our full technical, operational, and commercial readiness to launch the next generation of 5G (5.5G). The coming phase requires total readiness, and we view this achievement as a steppingstone toward this major transformation.”

 Stephen Bye, President and CEO of Ookla, a division of Ziff Davis, commented: “We are proud to recognize Zain for winning the Speedtest Award for ‘Fastest Mobile Network,’ ‘Best 5G Gaming Experience,’ ‘Best 5G Video Experience,’ ‘Best Mobile Network,’ and ‘Fastest Fixed Internet’ in Kuwait for Q3 and Q4 of 2024. This recognition is a testament to Zain’s industry leadership performance, as validated by Ookla’s trusted methodology.”

 Ookla is a global leader in connectivity intelligence, providing consumers, businesses, and organizations with data-driven insights to improve network performance and connected experiences. Ookla helps its clients efficiently solve their biggest connectivity challenges and drive innovation forward.

 Ookla is a division of Ziff Davis (NASDAQ: ZD), a vertically focused digital media and internet company whose portfolio includes leading brands across technology, entertainment, shopping, health, cybersecurity, and martech sectors. Ookla’s world-renowned brands include Speedtest, Downdetector, Ekahau, RootMetrics, and more.

 For the full details of Ookla’s methodology, visit: Speedtest.net/awards.

 

Fastest Mobile Network

 Ookla compared over 700,000 consumer-initiated speed tests in Kuwait via its leading Speedtest platform, widely recognized globally, through iOS and Android apps, covering all major networks in the country during the award period.

 Zain outperformed all other networks with a Speed Score of 273.37, featuring a median download speed of 263.71 Mbps and a median upload speed of 27.11 Mbps. The final result was calculated based on several scientific benchmarks, with a focus on download and median speeds — the metrics that matter most to consumers daily.

 As Kuwait’s fastest mobile network, Zain enables its customers to download content faster, stream videos seamlessly, and browse the web without lag, anytime and anywhere on their smartphones. These ultra-high speeds ensure that customers can rely on their mobile network for a premium, stable connection on the go, enhancing their productivity and keeping them connected to what matters most.

 

Fastest Fixed Internet

 Ookla compared over two million consumer-initiated tests of fixed network speeds in Kuwait across its various Speedtest platforms, including tests conducted over smartphones connected to Wi-Fi networks.

 Zain outperformed all other networks with a Speed Score of 197.72, achieving top download speeds of 531.21 Mbps and top upload speeds of 85.18 Mbps. The final result was calculated based on several scientific benchmarks, with a focus on download and median speeds — essential factors for daily consumer use.

 Fixed networks offer ultra-fast speeds and low latency, making them ideal for gaming enthusiasts. Zain’s advanced network provides a variety of packages tailored to this customer segment, ensuring the best experience. The company also offers a wide range of gaming products, from high-end PCs to original accessories and more.

 By delivering Kuwait’s fastest fixed Internet, Zain provides households with ultra-fast connectivity, ideal for remote work, streaming high-definition content, online gaming, and all daily digital needs. This superiority ensures Zain’s customers enjoy smooth, reliable home internet, even during peak usage times.

 

Best 5G Video Experience

 Ookla compared thousands of tests across its Speedtest platform on 5G networks, with Zain outperforming all other networks, scoring 85.77 in the video test. The final result was based on video streaming performance indicators, measuring several key performance metrics during high-resolution video playback.

 Zain offers its customers the largest entertainment content library through its strategic partnerships with leading entertainment platforms in the Middle East and globally, providing thousands of hours of entertainment and sports content over Kuwait’s largest network — ensuring the best viewing experience for users to enjoy their favorite content anytime and anywhere.

 Zain’s customers benefit from the best 5G video experience, enjoying ultra-HD streaming with instant playback and zero buffering. This video streaming quality means users can enjoy digital entertainment on the go with the same smoothness as home connections. With Zain’s advanced 5G network, customers get an unprecedented entertainment experience, reflecting the outstanding capabilities of the infrastructure the company has heavily invested in.

 

Best 5G Gaming Experience

 Ookla compared thousands of tests across its Speedtest platform on 5G networks, with Zain outperforming all other networks, scoring 84.99 in the gaming test. The final result was based on gaming performance indicators, including latency and jitter measurements from real-world game servers, alongside user-generated performance metrics.

 Zain delivers the best 5G gaming experience for mobile gaming enthusiasts, thanks to its extremely high speeds and ultra-low latency. This means gamers can enjoy immersive, responsive gameplay with instant reaction times, even in competitive games requiring direct online interaction.

 This achievement highlights Zain’s deep understanding of the gaming community’s needs, providing them with a competitive edge and seamless, uninterrupted gaming — making Zain the preferred choice for serious gamers.

 

Best Mobile Network

 As the recipient of the Best Mobile Network award, Zain offers wide and reliable coverage backed by top speeds and consistent performance at all times. This level of service ensures customers enjoy an unparalleled mobile experience, with stable connectivity, excellent call quality, and the highest internet speeds nationwide. Zain’s customers benefit from a unique experience that combines speed, reliability, and continuity, anywhere across Kuwait.

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NBK’s Shaikha Al-Bahar only Kuwaiti on Fortune’s 100 list

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Shaikha Al-Bahar
Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK)

KUWAIT CITY, May 20, (Agencies): Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) Shaikha Al-Bahar is the only Kuwaiti who made it to the 2025 100 Most Powerful Women in Business List that Fortune released on Tuesday. The list consists of a hundred influential businesswomen in the finance, technology, health care, telecom, retail, energy and other industries.

In 1977, Al-Bahar joined NBK, where she proved her leadership capabilities as she rose through the ranks over the years. At present, she is the only woman in the executive management team of the bank. She currently heads NBK-France and Egypt; in addition to her post as board member of NBK (International) — the subsidiary of the bank in the United Kingdom. Al-Bahar was the brain behind the launching of NBK RISE, a program that aims to empower women leaders and train them within nine months to assume leadership posts.

NBK is one of the largest financial institutions in Kuwait and one of the leading banks in the region. The total value of its assets as at the end of March reached more than $135 billion. Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank in the United Arab Emirates Hana Al-Rostamani joins Al-Bahar as the only two women from the Gulf on the list, ranking 76th and 92nd respectively. The Fortune editors compiled the list based on company size and health; in addition to an executive’s career path, influence, innovation, and efforts to make business better.

The 2025 list includes 52 women from the United States of America and 48 from other countries as follows: eight from China; seven each from France and the United Kingdom; three each from Germany, Singapore and Brazil; two each from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Spain; and one each from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Chief Operator at Costco and merchant Claudine Adamo, who ranked 43rd, is one of 16 newcomers. She helped millions of Americans navigate inflation by keeping prices low on essentials, and the next-gen execs such as ByteDance CFO Julie Gao (81st), who steered the finances of the TikTok owner through its tangles with the US government.

Following are the top 10 Most Powerful Women in Business in 2025:
1. Mary Barra, Chair and CEO, GM (U.S.)
2. Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO, Accenture (U.S.)
3. Jane Fraser, CEO, Citigroup (U.S.)
4. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO, AMD (U.S.)
5. Ana Botín, Executive Chairman, Banco Santander (Spain)
6. Tan Su Shan, Deputy CEO and Group Head of Institutional Banking, DBS Group (Singapore)
7. Thasunda Brown Duckett, President and CEO, TIAA (U.S.)
8. Marta Ortega, Chairperson, Inditex (Spain)
9. Abigail Johnson, Chairman and CEO, Fidelity Investments (U.S.)
10. Meng Wanzhou, Deputy Chairwoman, Rotating Chairwoman, and CFO, Huawei (China)

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Asian shares advance after China cuts interest rates to boost economy

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The stock prices of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL) is displayed at the listing ceremony in Hong Kong on May 20. (AP)

BEIJING, May 20, (AP): Asian shares rallied Tuesday after China cut key interest rates to help fend off an economic malaise worsened by trade friction with Washington. Shares in China’s CATL, the world’s largest maker of electric batteries, jumped 17.2% in its Hong Kong trading debut after it raised about $4.6 billion in the world’s largest IPO this year.

Its shares traded in Shenzhen, mainland China’s smaller share market after Shanghai, gained 1.2% after dipping earlier in the day. The Reserve Bank of Austalia reduced its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage for a second time this year, to 3.85%, judging inflation to be within its target range. The earlier reduction, in February, was Australia’s first rate cut since October 2020.

The future for the S&P 500 lost 0.4% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.2% lower. In early European trading, Germany’s DAX edged 0.1% higher to 23,954.16 while the CAC 40 in Paris climbed 0.2% to 7,897.13. Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.3% to 8,723.97. China’s central bank made its first cut to its loan prime rates in seven months in a move welcomed by investors eager for more stimulus as the world’s second largest economy feels the pinch of Trump’s higher tariffs.

The People’s Bank of China cut the one-year loan prime rate, the reference rate for pricing all new loans and outstanding floating rate loans, to 3.00% from 3.1%. It cut the 5-year loan prime rate to 3.5% from 3.6%. With China’s chief concern being deflation due to slack demand rather than inflation, economists have been expecting such a move.

Data reported Monday showed the economy under pressure from Trump’s trade war, with retail sales and factory output slowing and property investment continuing to fall. Tuesday’s cuts probably won’t be the last this year, Zichun Huang of Capital Economics said in a report. “But modest rate cuts alone are unlikely to meaningfully boost loan demand or wider economic activity,” Huang said. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.4% to 23,659.70 early Tuesday, while the Shanghai Composite index advanced 0.4% to 3,380.48.   

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MoIA has projects glut on anvil

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KUWAIT CITY, May 19: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has launched its procurement plan for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, which includes approximately 212 tenders and projects of all sectors of the ministry. The tenders aim to implement a variety of projects aimed at developing and expanding the ministry’s services in various religious, administrative, and technical fields. The plan highlights the implementation of several major construction and service projects.

Notable among them are the establishment of Quranic studies centers, residential facilities for imams and muezzins, and Quran memorization centers in various areas of Kuwait. The plan includes the creation of an integrated Islamic cultural center in Adan. It also includes a project to operate the fiber optic network infrastructure between the ministry’s locations, along with the supply and installation of integrated services for people with special needs at its headquarters. Within the framework of awareness and media, the ministry will seek bids from companies to produce television spots aimed at enhancing the religious media system, reaching all age groups, and promoting Islamic values, ideals, and morals.

The ministry will also issue a tender to develop the electronic Hajj and Umrah portal. The portal will include comprehensive modules to serve pilgrims, Umrah performers, and campaigns, including units for electronic Hajj registration for pilgrims and campaigns, electronic Umrah registration for companies and individuals, managing Hajj campaign licenses, and overseeing companies organizing Umrah caravans.

There will also be modules to manage Hajj and Umrah operations, as well as campaign-related complaints and evaluations. The plan also includes a tender for automating the Islamic Studies Sector, aimed at completing the analysis, development, and maintenance of a modern electronic educational system for the Quran and Islamic Studies Sector.

In addition, the ministry will issue a tender for the development, updating, and maintenance of its electronic portal to automate government services provided through its official website. This initiative aims to deliver practical outcomes, enabling transactions to be completed in the shortest possible time, and enhancing the ministry’s role in serving religious and administrative affairs in Kuwait.

By Mohammad Al-Enezi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

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