New hub to boost internet speed



ABU DHABI // The UAE plans to build an internet exchange that could speed up web connections across the Middle East.

Much of the region's internet traffic is routed via Europe, the US and Asia, one reason for the average broadband connection falling well below the global average.

Such rerouting takes "a fraction of a second, but it makes a big difference", Mohamed Al Ghanim, the director general of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, said yesterday.

The regional exchange in the UAE is in the final stages of planning and should launch next year, Mr Al Ghanim said.

The UAE has the region's fastest broadband connectivity, with an average download speed of 3.92 megabits per second (Mbps).

But connections are much slower in countries such as Lebanon, where the average is just 0.3Mbps. The average speed in the Middle East is 1.63Mbps, against a global average of 2.1Mbps, according to a report in July by the internet specialist Akamai Technologies.

Commentators said an internet exchange in the UAE would also reduce the impact on broadband connections when there is a fault in international networks. There have been several instances of service disruption caused by severed undersea cables.

"It should speed up things here," said Dino Wilkinson, a communications specialist and partner at the law firm Norton Rose Middle East.

"Here in the UAE, if we want to go on to the internet, our pages will come from the UK, US or Asia. And so they have much further to travel.

"Speed is one issue, but also you're multiplying the number of problems that could occur."

Mr Wilkinson said it was difficult to estimate the cost of building an internet exchange, but it would constitute a "significant investment".

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Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE

There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.

It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.

What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.

When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.

It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.

This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.

It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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