ABU DHABI // In the 1990s, as the internet started to become uncomfortably congested, a group of US universities and government entities created a separate, faster network solely for the purpose of research.
Thousands of times faster than a typical broadband connection, Internet2 has broadened the information superhighway for the most bandwidth-hungry projects: moving huge amounts of data for research, broadcasting live surgeries and even allowing an orchestra to collaborate on a symphony from their homes.
Now, UAE researchers are developing a National Research and Education Network (NREN) of their own that would run separately from an internet bogged down by billions of devices and commercial traffic.
Ankabut ("spider") will not only connect major universities and research institutions to each other, but to their international counterparts.
An Internet2 connection will also give the world better access to the country's research, which academics and experts complain gets little visibility.
The network, launched by Khalifa University for Science, Technology and Research (Kustar), currently threads together the campuses of Kustar, UAE University, Zayed University, the Institute of Applied Technology, the Higher Colleges of Technology, Fatima College of Health Sciences and the American University of Dubai, all through a network of high-speed fibre-optic links.
Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, NYU Abu Dhabi, The Petroleum Institute, Al Hosn University and Tawam Hospital have all expressed interest in connecting.
The hope is that the network will eventually link all local universities, government departments, public libraries, health service centres, museums and some private research companies.
The services will not necessarily be exclusive to the sciences, said Steven Winstanley, acting chief operations officer for the non-profit organisation behind the plan.
"This could not only be used to assist geologists working with seismology, but also with famous composers and violinists," he said.
"This can help scientists or medical students get and manipulate models that have detailed, accurate dimensions that have not been available in the past. It could change the way research is done here."
Ankabut's core network will be able to hold 10 gigabits a second (Gbps) of data - about 2,000 times faster than home broadband. Research cycles that would typically take months of number crunching between institutions will be reduced to days using the Ankabut links, officials said.
Kustar is providing a quarter of the funding, with the rest coming from the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Fund, a government venture initiated by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, the UAE's internet regulator.
Etisalat is providing the backbone for the network, with underwater fibre-optic cable connecting Fujairah to an Internet2 router in New York and via that to other national research networks such as Britain's Janet and Europe's Dante. Ankabut will also provide a link to EUN/Enstinet in Egypt and Qatar's FN among other networks.
"This extra capacity, speed and storage will allow more researchers to be connected, find each other and collaborate on an international level," said Badr Hubais, manager of service development for Ankabut. "It will allow for better exposure to the country's research capabilities."
Academics have said they struggle to gain international recognition for their work unless they publish it in collaboration with institutions overseas, while peer-reviewed journals are not listed on highly visible indices used by scientists worldwide.
Ankabut could help change that, say university officials. "With Etisalat or these other normal providers, there is just not enough capacity to handle all of the research people want to do," said John Rogan, the Petroleum Institute's head librarian.
"The amount of research being done in the UAE is not very great at the moment, so anything that encourages collaboration with scientists overseas or access to particular libraries and databases could be the help the country needs."
Constantin Vaduva, director of infrastructure and core services for UAE University, said staff there have already started using Ankabut for video conferencing overseas and are exploring options for other applications.
Local researchers will be conducting a clinical epidemiology study with international experts through the network later this year, he said.
Abdulla al Zaabi, a researcher for the Etisalat BT Innovation Centre (Ebtic) housed at Kustar, has used Ankabut to continue his research on high-performance computing, which started at the University of Manchester in England.
As a result, two papers are being published in Britain based on research he did from the UAE.
Before the high-speed network was available, he said, he was forced to use e-mail and other more limited means to communicate, and as a result felt paralysed in his work.
"I was not able to run experiments through the machines or do simulations, or work alongside supervisors with knowledge in the UK, so it was rather hard," he said.
"Working from the UAE, there are limitations and the resources for simulations are not there, and that is true across disciplines.
"In this way, I have access to other universities' resources and can get engaged in cutting-edge research at a number of other institutions."
econroy@thenational.ae
Guide to intelligent investing
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
The%20Roundup
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The specs: 2018 Ford F-150
Price, base / as tested: Dh173,250 / Dh178,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 395hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 555Nm @ 2,750rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 12.4L / 100km
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Afghanistan squad
Gulbadin Naib (captain), Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES
June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24
July 8: New Zealand v Lions
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Samau Xmnsor, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Ottoman, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Sharkh, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Yaraa, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Maaly Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Jinjal, Fabrice Veron, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Al Sail, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Continental champions
Best Asian Player: Massaki Todokoro (Japan)
Best European Player: Adam Wardzinski (Poland)
Best North & Central American Player: DJ Jackson (United States)
Best African Player: Walter Dos Santos (Angola)
Best Oceanian Player: Lee Ting (Australia)
Best South American Player: Gabriel De Sousa (Brazil)
Best Asian Federation: Saudi Jiu-Jitsu Federation
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Wonka
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