Month: March 2023

GigNet, a digital infrastructure company with an extensive regional fiber-optic broadband network from Costa Mujeres, North of Cancun, through the Hotel Zone of Tulum, has announced a unique multiparty agreement to bring advanced biometrics to the Puerto Cancun development in Cancun, Mexico. GigNet, which has invested substantial resources in fiber-optic infrastructure in and around Puerto Cancun, will partner with Pangiam, utilizing their Trueface product, one of the leading facial recognition solutions in the world. Puerto Cancun is one of the newest and fastest growing developments in the Cancun region, with a modern marina, destination shopping mall, hotels, office complexes, and an estimated 2,400 residential units including luxury towers and homes.

Pangiam’s Trueface has built a reputation and is ranked as the number one fastest software in the world in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) benchmark. Pangiam will be deploying an advanced facial recognition solution for access control to bolster security at the development.

“Pangiam is excited to strengthen our relationship with GigNet and to provide Puerto Cancun with cutting-edge technology to seamlessly enhance safety and security for the residents and visitors entering the development,” Shaun Moore, chief AI officer of Pangiam, said.

“Puerto Cancun, with the vision of being the best condominium in Mexico, has a continuous development plan for the community, including sustainable mobility and security,” added Omar Sánchez Rodríguez, resident manager (Administrador Residente) of Puerto Cancún. “Among the actions and investments arranged for the continuous improvement of security is the use of Pangiam’s Trueface product. We are pioneers in the implementation of technologies like this with the aim of adding to the security of visitors and owners.”

Mark Carney, OBE and president of GigNet Mexico, stated, “This agreement is important for all the parties, but just as important, it is groundbreaking for the region. Our long-term strategy is to build on our investment in new fiber-optic network infrastructure throughout the region — which makes possible advanced services we are bringing to market in 2023. We have partnered with the Puerto Cancun developers over the past three years to install fiber optics for our hospitality, enterprise and fiber-to-the-home clients in the development. Advanced biometrics, which relies on reliable, high-speed connectivity, will enhance security for residents and visitors, as well as facilitate efficient access controls and other features that make Puerto Cancun one of the most desirable Smart Developments in all of Mexico. Commitment to enhanced security is a key reason the Cancun region continues to break records for visitors. We will seek to expand our relationship with Pangiam to additional developments in the Cancun region.”

Smith Myers ARTEMIS Mobile Phone Location and Communications system has been selected by Nova Systems to be integrated into the Nova Systems airborne mission system that will be fitted onto the helicopter fleet deployed on U.K.’s second-generation SAR (Search and Rescue) program — known as UKSAR2G. The contract builds on the existing U.K. Maritime Coast Guard Agency (MCA) program with the addition of fixed-wing and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) services.

ARTEMIS will be installed across the fleet of rotary and fixed wing aircraft. This new 10-year contract combines existing rotary and fixed wing services into fully integrated, innovative solution led by Bristow Helicopters Ltd (Bristow) that will ensure continuation of critical lifesaving search and rescue aviation services across the whole of the U.K. well into the next decade.

“We are thrilled to be selected by Nova Systems as part of their mission system for the U.K. MCA. ARTEMIS is a fully U.K.-developed and produced technology, which has been recognized by the Royal Aeronautical Society with its Silver Medal award. Everyone at Smith Myers is looking forward with great pride, to ARTEMIS leading to more rapid, positive Search & Rescue outcomes for the U.K. MCA,” said Andrew Munro, managing director of Smith Myers.

In addition to providing a mixed fleet that will include six King Airs (including the B350, B350ER and a B200) and a Schiebel Camcopter S-100 UAS, the composition of the rotary fleet will also change. Bristow will be using a fleet of 18 helicopters, including nine AW189s and three S-92s, along with six new Leonardo AW139s.

According to Dryad Global’s Maritime Security Threat Advisory (MSTA), recorded maritime security incidents are at their lowest levels in 40 years. Incidents of offshore piracy across the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea regions have shown “considerable declines from previously high rates,” the Dryad Global report says.

“The former [is] showing a substantial decline to a near total absence of incidents across a protracted timeframe and the later [is] showing a decline in incident volumes with sporadic evidence of a persistent threat within key areas,” the MSTA stated.

“At the outset of 2023 the Indian Ocean region sees the removal of the HRA which had been in place since 2010, reflecting the considerable decline in traditional maritime security threats within that region,” the MSTA added.

The company’s threat advisory released in December 2022, outlined that total maritime security incidents dropped 36% year on year in West Africa and 5% year on year in the Indian Ocean. Incidents had risen 21% year on year in South East Asia.

“Whilst piracy remains at historically low levels, it is important to note that this is set against the backdrop of a worsening macro-economic headwind that is highly likely to accentuate many of the conditions which are responsible for the prevalence of piracy,” the Dryad MTSA warned.

In a meeting at the end of 2022, it was reported that although the Gulf of Guinea has witnessed a steady decline in incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea, more needs to be done to fully operationalize the maritime security architecture. This recommendation came from a senior United Nations official as told to the Security Council during that year end meeting. Other speakers called for renewed action to tackle the root causes of piracy.

Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, assistant secretary-general for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, presenting the secretary-general’s report (document S/2022/818) on the situation of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea, said such incidents have continued to decrease during the reporting period.

The steady decline resulted from concerted efforts by national authorities, with the support of regional and international partners; regular deployment of naval assets by international partners; and piracy convictions in Nigeria and Togo in 2021, among others. However, piracy in the Gulf has also morphed during the past decade, she observed, adding that the aforementioned decline might be attributable to a shift by criminal networks to other crimes, such as oil bunkering and theft.

She urged States in the Gulf of Guinea region, alongside the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission, to step up efforts to establish a stable maritime environment, including through the full operationalization of the maritime security architecture as laid out in the Yaoundé Code of Conduct in 2013. However, she also noted that the Yaoundé Code of Conduct has faced challenges, including the lack of sustainable financing. Its forthcoming tenth anniversary will provide an opportunity to assess its implementation and set out a strategic roadmap for the next decade, she noted, adding that the Council’s support for this process will be invaluable.