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kauriart · 1 month ago

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Paragon, Renegade, Pilot Chapter 5

A NSFW Mass Effect fic | Joker/Kaidan/f!Shepard | Read it on AO3

Joker shouts himself hoarse within ten minutes of reaching the Citadel.

No one is particularly interested in listening to the pilot of a ship that has misplaced its Spectre. Especially when all his shouting boils down to: the ship with the giant ass is coming and everyone is going to die.

The tinny voice of the flight operator on the other end is annoyed — but not panicked — as they ping their way up the chain of command and Joker attempts to shout out dire warnings to the first, and second lieutenants, and then and the station captain who picks up the most recent comm request.

“You’re not Admiral Hackett,” Joker shouts, voice ragged. “I need to talk to the Admiral!”

“If escalation is appropriate we will—”

“It’s more than appropriate! I told you! There’s going to be an attack on the Citadel!”

“Lieutenant Moreau, as you’ve been told — repeatedly now — our sensors indicate no hostile activity, neither here, nor near any of the relays. Commander Shepard can use her Spectre-class access code to reach Admiral Hackett directly if—”

“She can’t. She’s a little busy trying to prevent a full-scale assault on the Citadel! If you can’t get me the Admiral, get me your commanding officer.”

Joker’s head throbs. He’s been slowly working his way up the chain of command on the Alliance side, while Pressly has been doing the same on the Galatic Council's side. Judging by Pressly’s pacing and wild gesturing on the video feed from the flight deck, he’s having no luck either.

Damnit, he did not leave Shepard and Kaidan (and Liara!) alone on Ilos for nothing.

“You know what, fuck it,” Joker mutters to himself. He takes a breath and then sends an unencrypted data package on Sovereign directly to the Alliance military through a broadband uplink. The information technically isn’t classified, but only because no one knew it existed in the first place. There might be a reckoning later, but Joker’s been in Shepard’s orbit too long, and the fuck-you-authority is starting to rub off on him.

“Lieutenant Moreau, you are attempting to share classified information across unsecured channels. That’s a—”

“I’m not attempting anything, goddamnit! Just look at the data I’m transmitting. That’s what’s coming for us.”

There’s total silence on the other side of the comm. Four solid minutes of nothing, and Joker seriously considers firing on the Citadel to force them into action.

And then; “Hackett here.”

Thank fuck.

“I have orders from Commander Shepard. She asked me to raise the alarm. Sovereign is coming for the Citadel. Now. It’s happening now. Uh, Sir, ” he adds with a belated huff.

Hackett is silent for exactly two beats. “Where is Shepard?”

“Ilos,” Joker says tersely. “Trying to stop this thing.”

This time, there isn’t so much as a pause for breath. “Deploy all Alliance military spacecraft within range to defend the Citadel. Hail Arcturus Station to send whatever they can in the way of air support. Divert non-military ships away from Citadel airspace. Lockdown the civilian populations. Inform the Council.”

Joker lets out a relieved breath, but the tension in his hands remains.

“Lieutenant Moreau,“ Hackett says. “You have command of the air defense.”

“Me? Sir…”

Hackett’s voice is grim. “You’re the only one who's seen Sovereign in combat.”

“Right. Ok. I have command, Sir.”

There’s a slight crackle on the comms as Joke’s feed is patched directly to nearly a dozen flight commands at once. The flight screen splits showing the status and position of all the ships under his command. Holy shit… It’s like half of the Alliance starfleet from Arcturus Station, and nearly every damn ship serving as Citadel defense; mostly Turian and Asari, but here and there the sleeker lines of Salarian cruisers.

Joker allows himself a full thirty seconds of quiet panic. Thirty seconds of where his chest tightens, and his breath is shallow, and he imagines that Shepard and Kaidan are bleeding out on Ilos, and he’s too busy presiding over the largest aerial defeat in Alliance history to save them.

And then he pulls himself the fuck together.

Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

“This is Flight Lieutenant Jeff Moreau of the SSV Normandy. There is a confirmed incoming attack on the Citadel by an entity called Sovereign.” He pulls up the holo of Sovereign and pings it through to the Alliance fleet. “Sovereign outclasses anything we’ve ever seen in terms of shielding and firepower. It’s not a ship. It’s a synthetic-organic hybrid. This thing can think and talk, and it’s a monumental prick.

“I don’t know what it wants. I just know that we have to stop it. Every station, every planet is counting on this fleet. On you.” Joker looks out across the stars, to Ilos— so far away it’s just a blurry fleck of light. But that’s where he’s left his heart.

“We are not alone. Commander Shepard is out there. We buy her the time she needs to bring this thing down. We save the Citadel. That’s it. That’s the mission.”

It’s not enough. A few terabytes of data and a battle plan that boils down to make sure we win.

They need more if they are going to survive.

Joker flexes his hands a few times. How does he explain what he knows in his bones to be true; how to handle the skies around Sovereign?

“I’m speaking directly to the Alliance and Citadel pilots, now. Sovereign is slow, but it doesn’t move like you’d expect because of its profile. We don’t yet know its weak points, so we’ll have to find them together. Sovereign has a Geth army at its back, so count on at least a squadron or two to show up. You cannot rely on your shielding, their weaponry is too advanced. Cut all non-critical power drains, and divert everything you’ve got to firepower and flight speed. And I mean every last drop. You’ll feel the change in the way the ship handles, so don’t overcompensate. No battle formations, nothing a machine can predict or calculate. Fly smart, but fly ugly. Trust your instincts. Watch the skies. We beat this thing together.

“Joker out.”

If this was a Blasto flick there’d be a dramatic swell of music, or a busty Asari kissing him goodbye, or a large-scale explosion, or… something. Not just silence and more silence. And it would be super cool if Sovereign just showed up already.

Joker flips the comm so he’s only talking to the Normandy crew. “Uh… that sounded pretty badass of me, right?”

A scatter of mostly sincere confirmations through the line, and one loud and distinctly amused Krogan laugh.

Joker patches into Wrex’s personal comm. “Eat my ass, Wrex.”

Another gleeful, raspy chuckle. “You know, Krogan tongues are like low-grit sandpaper.”

“Mmmn. Sounds so much better than waiting for Sovereign to not show up to his own surprise party.”

More silence. The waiting is awful. Joker buries his face in his hands.

“It was a pretty good speech, though.”

“Yeah I know,” Joker sighs. “Thanks, Wrex.”

The minutes drag on.

It hadn’t occurred to Joker that Shepard could have been wrong. Not even for an instant. Not until he’s assembled the whole goddamn Alliance navy and wasted his cool battle speech, and the seconds are counting down to when someone is going to remember that the entirety of the Normandy crew should be arrested, and their ship should be impounded, and—

“Incoming hostiles,” one of the Normandy flight crew says through the intercom. “Lieutenant, we’ve got a confirmed visual—primary hostile vessel, plus a full fleet in escort.”

“Thank fuck, ” Joker lets out a relieved breath, then a nervous chuckle. “You know what I mean.”

His eyes flick to the viewport as Sovereign breaches Citadel air-space, too close to the station to be anything but menacing. A moment later the Geth ships appear, black flecks against the sky, blinking out the stars around them. In a world without Shepard, there would be no opposition, just a handful of unprepared ships and C-Sec’s automated defenses. No alarms. No scramble orders. Sovereign and its Geth fleet would have carved through the heart of galactic command in minutes. Civilian casualties in the millions. Instead, Sovereign faces the entirety of the Alliance fifth fleet and the Citadel defense ships, forewarned and ready to fight.

“Surprise, asshole,” Joker grins, then shouts. “All ships engage!”

The alarms start –– an urgent, rippling claxon from the Citadel proper to the air defense as the skies dissolve into chaos.

The first wave strikes hard.

Geth fighters surge in tight formation, shields rippling, laser cannons locking onto key points of the aerial defense. Friendly ships scatter as the first volley of fire rips toward them. An explosion rocks the near side of an enormous Alliance cruiser, sending debris scattering into the void. Joker banks hard left, and feels the percussive blast of the explosion shudder against the Normandy. A Geth fighter streaks past the cockpit, just clipping the Normandy’s wing, but the shields hold—a flash of matte-black plating and a flare of blue.

Joker’s mind sharpens, cutting through the noise, focusing on what matters. His left-hand pilots the Normandy, while his right dances across a tactical holopad — a projection of the Citadel and its battlespace outlined before him, a mosaic of flashing alerts, ship movements, and distant explosions. He shifts the flow of battle, barking orders and pointing Allied ships to the dogfights they’re best suited for with a flick of his fingers.

The Geth are the immediate threat — they’re already tearing into the allied fleet, steadily eliminating the number of ships on the field –– but Sovereign is the primary target.

“Left quadrant, Sovereign’s going for the Citadel,” Jokers snaps through the fleet comms. “Keep it off her!”

The first Alliance salvos are ineffectual, skidding off the curve of Sovereign's hull. (Back?) The Reaper drifts closer and closer to the Citadel, implacable as a storm cloud. Ships from the Alliance fleet and Citadel defense attack Sovereign in waves, each as ineffective as the next. Some try for what might be its face, others aim for the spindly legs, but it makes little difference.

“Shields too strong,” Joker mutters to himself with a shake of his head. “We can’t break through.”

There’s a Geth trailing him trying to get a lock, so he picks up speed banking hard and then drops suddenly back. The Geth overshoots, streaking past the Normandy, but Joker is ready. He starts firing even before his targeting system locks on. The Geth ship explodes — close enough that the Normandy’s shields flare blue as he flies through the plume of fire and debris.

Then, a spatter of panic over the comms.

“Comms are down! The Citadel has gone black.”

“Lieutenant! The Citadel’s arms are closing!”

They are— the arms of the station are slowly enveloping Sovereign in its embrace. Once sealed, they’ll have no hope of getting to the Reaper. Not without destroying the entire ass end of the Citadel first.

“Motherfucker!” Joker punches the throttle towards the Citadel and dives headlong through a cluster of debris — a ruined Geth fighter slowly spinning end-over-end, trailing fuel and flame like blood.

Think, think, think.

How can they retake control of the Citadel like this? If the Citadel’s standard communication channels are down, the Alliance must still have a way to connect with its military officers. He refuses to believe that on a station of over 13 million, there are no QECs between Systems Alliance personnel in the Citadel and the outside world.

Sweat stings Joker’s eyes, but he needs his hands so he tries to blink it away. Christ, he’d give his left nut to have Shepard around right about now. She’d know what to do.

Then all at once a familiar crackle of static in his ear, distracting enough that Joker nearly flies straight into another Alliance ship, only managing to shift his course at the last second. It sounds… it sounds like someone remotely connecting to Normandy’s ground-flight comms.

But that’s not possible.

It’s not.

There are only three people in the world who have access to the other end of that comm channel, and they’re currently marooned a few trillion miles away.

A tiny ping of confirmation and the static resolves into a perfectly clear signal.

“Joker !”

He nearly jumps out of his flight chair. “ Shepard! What— How— Where are you?”

“I’m on the Citadel!”

He shakes his head speechless.

Joker can hear a faint spatter of excited cheering from the Normandy crew through the internal comm system that acts like a feedback loop through the ship. Through Shepard’s side, he can hear the clear sounds of a firefight — the bouncy ping of her assault rifle and a biotic slam, followed by a small explosion. Joker listens hard, waiting for the sound of Kaidan’s heavy pistol, and there… thudding in the background like a steady, measured heartbeat.

Safe. They’re both safe.

The burst of relief is so bright he’s almost sick with it. For the briefest moment, his hands shake.

“The conduit— it’s a conduit to the Citadel. There’s a miniature mass effect relay in the middle of the fucking presidium! We followed Saren through it."

Oh shit.

Joker’s eyes go wide. Saren and his Geth have had a back door to the Citadel all along.

“It’s a relay into dark space,” Shepard shouts to be heard over the gunfire. “The whole Citadel is a giant relay! The Reaper invasion starts today if we don’t kill Sovereign now.”

All Joker can think of is Eden Prime. An entire colony of almost four million souls was wiped away by a single Reaper. Nothing left but corpses and husks and one terrified Alliance Marine.

Ashley…

What kind of damage could a dozen Reapers do? A hundred?

“We can’t,” Joker shouts back. “Shepard. Sovereign has control of the Citadel. It's sealed up inside. And even if it wasn’t, its shields are too strong. We can’t even scratch it!”

Shepard swears. In the background, someone lands a tremendous biotic detonation — Kaidan or Liara or both of them are kicking ass.

A sound of frustration from Shepard and more gunfire. “Just be ready to take out Sovereign. I’ll handle the rest,” Shepard says.

“Affirmative, Commander,” Joker pings the Normandy crew. “Inform Hackett that Shepard’s on the Citadel. Garrus! Tali! Find me a weak point on that thing!”

He doesn’t even wait for confirmation before taking a strafing run against a cluster of Geth fighters harrying a Turian cruiser. They break off their attack, peeling away, and Joker manages to shoot off a section of one of their wings. The Geth fighter tumbles away, trailing smoke. Disabled but not destroyed.

The battlespace is getting harder to navigate. Broken ships litter the skies, and the defense has torn through enough of the Geth fleet that they’re losing formations and becoming difficult to track, and even more difficult to predict. Nearly sixty percent of all surviving allied spacecraft are reporting varying levels of damage. But, at least with Sovereign inaccessible, they can focus all their efforts on the remaining Geth forces.

The tide turns slowly in their favor. More Geth ships blink out than Alliance. And Joker throws everything he has into saving as many allied ships as he can and keeping the Normandy from harm.

And then, one of the flight crew shouts. “Comms are back! Sovereign's losing control of the Citadel!”

And Joker sees out the viewport, the arms of the Citadel slowly, slowly opening, revealing Sovereign, black and ominous, sunk in like a tick.

No sound from the outside world can pass through Normandy’s hull, but all at once Joker hears it, a menacing bwaaa that slices into his senses even as the skies light up in a flare of red from Sovereign's main canon. A Turian dreadnought caught in the beam disintegrates so quickly that Joker blinks and it’s just gone. All wreckage and crew burned up in an instant.

All at once Joker feels too small for the fight he needs to hold together. There’s no time for strategy. Just instinct.

“Eyes on Sovereign!” Joker roars to the fleet. “Drop kinetic barriers to a minimum, and push all excess power to speed. We have to stay the hell out of that beam!”

They try a run on Sovereign again. A barrage of cannon fire that lights up the darkness — fireworks against a stormcloud — enough to cripple the largest ship in the Geth fleet. But when the plasma cannons hit Sovereign, the energy diffuses instantly, no more effective than raindrops. Sovereign's shields barely even shimmer.

“Shit,” Joker swears under his breath. “C’mon Shepard… c’mon…”

Then he hears it. A mayday through the chaos swirling around the Citadel.

“What the fuck are they doing? ” He hisses, tracking the Citadel’s flagship through the mess of his flight screen.

“This is the Destiny Ascension. Requesting immediate support in evacuating the Council from Citadel airspace.”

"The… whole Council?” Joker blurts, horrified.

Shouts erupt across multiple channels all at once.

“Lieutenant, the Destiny Ascension is starting to break apart! They can’t take much more!”

“Shields are failing—”

“The Destiny Ascension—”

“Sovereign’s shields are down!”

“The Council. No shields remaining—!”

“We have a window to attack!”

In his heart, Joker knows he was not made for a decision like this. He knows it will make everything from here on out, harder. He knows it will damage relations with the council species. He knows Shepard will shoulder the blame.

And he knows he can’t take the risk.

Sovereign sits naked and exposed; he has no idea how long it might last.

“Stay the course! Sovereign is the priority,” he orders the fleet. “We take it down, or we lose everything!”

The comms light up with acknowledgments. Ships peel off, diving toward the exposed Reaper.

Most pilots don’t look outside their viewports. But Joker does. And so he watches ten thousand people die on his orders.

A volley of fire from a Geth destroyer hits the Destiny Ascension. The shields flare in one last, weak, death rattle. A piece of the Asari cruiser shatters, drifting off into space like broken glass. A plume of fire follows, red and blue, and then a tremendous internal explosion, bright orange cracks along the hull as the ship holds its shape for a moment before it doesn’t. It happens so fast. A series of explosions and the foundations of the ship fracture. One moment, an Asari dreadnought, wounded and tumbling through space, the next, just debris. Pieces of what was a spaceship, but isn’t anymore. A mere tangle of metal, shattered, twisted, glinting in the light of the Serpent Nebula’s sun.

Joker makes a broken sound, breathing hard. “Damnit…” Then he squares his shoulder and snaps into the comms. “Sync targeting arrays to me –– hit Sovereign now . ”

A barrage from a hundred plasma cannons arcs across the sky with one. singular. purpose.

Death.

“That’s for Sargent Ashley Williams you fuck face!” Joker shouts.

Unshielded, a portion of Sovereign’s carapace explodes in a flare of blue-green fire, and another shears off at an angle, sliding down to the citadel. Joker can hear the cheers through the comms and on Normandy’s bridge as the rest of Sovereign breaks apart moments later, falling almost gracefully to smash against one of the Citadel's arms. A plume of fire erupts, a tiny wound against the vastness of the station. The remaining Geth forces retreat almost instantly, vanishing into the blackness of space. Without Sovereign, they have no reason to stay.

Silence. Stillness.

The skies around the Citadel have become a graveyard — littered with shattered Geth ships, Alliance frigates torn in half, and the wreckage of the station’s own defense fleet. The surviving ships fly through the debris field, slow and deliberate. Their hulls scorched. Lights dimmed. Kinetic barriers running on backup reserves.

Victorious.

Sweat runs down the bridge of Joker’s nose.

Or maybe it’s just tears.

***

It’s quiet in the room — relatively speaking.

Outside, the rest of the medical ward is a flurry of motion, dozens of med-techs and doctors perform some sort of complicated ballet, weaving between hundreds of patients and bits of machinery; ordering tests, analyzing results, administering care with a brutal efficiency. Watching them feels akin to watching ships zoom around a starport — blurry with speed, but somehow managing to never crash into each other.

They’d given Shepard her own room, even as patients lined the halls and the floors of Huerta Memorial Hospital. Even as the wounded pile up, and those without life-threatening injuries aren’t even being let inside.

The whole of Huerta Memorial Hospital smells of smoke and that peculiar reek of melted plastic and metal. It nearly obscures the usually acerbic scent of medical spaces. Joker hates it. Hates everything about hospitals. Has spent too much of his life staring up at a hospital ceiling wishing he’d been born into someone else’s body.

But he just can’t leave Shepard’s side.

They’d pulled her out from under the pieces of Sovereign’s remains, Anderson had told him. And all Joker could think about was the fierce elation he’d felt when he’d watched the thing fall from its perch on the Citadel, not knowing Shepard and Kaidan were below. Not knowing he’d given Sovereign one final chance to destroy the people he loves.

It took an hour to dig Kaidan out of the wreckage.

It took another three to find Shepard.

The Normandy had docked at the end of the battle where the majority of the damaged ships had merely hung static in space, attending to what emergency repairs they could. But then, the Normandy didn’t have a scratch on her. Not many ships could say the same.

Out the window, one side of the presidium is still smoldering. The lake has a slick of oil and debris drifting across its surface, but they’ve managed to fish out all the bodies at least. Some of the trees have burned away, black smears marring the landscaping. Joker presses his hand against the window, blotting out the damage from Sovereign and the Geth. The other side of the presidium is almost pristine. Polished white paneling, gleaming floors, untouched by flame or debris. An Avina stands at the foot of a bridge, smiling.

Two halves of the same station. Two worlds. Before Sovereign. After Sovereign. His hand curls into a fist against the glass.

“Jo-Joker?”

He’s at Shepard's side in two heartbeats, knuckling tears from his eyes apologetically. “Hey.”

She blinks up at the brightness of the overhead lights, eyes unfocused and bloodshot. “Kaidan? Where—”

“He’s alright," Joker reassures her immediately. "He’s good. Took a couple of hard hits. Pretty wiped out too, bioticly speaking, but he’s fine. He’s okay. Liara too. Dr Chakwas had them brought back to the Normandy, but they couldn’t move you. You almost—” Joker swallows back the words. “You almost had me worried.”

Joker looks at all the equipment adorning the small space. She’s plugged into almost every device in the room, the heart monitor is still making soft little medical-sounding beeps in a steady, reassuring rhythm. When Joker first arrived at the hospital they wouldn’t let anyone near her room. It had taken two shouting matches and a call from Anderson to gain entry. Once inside, he’d stood at her bedside for over an hour, staring at the monitors, listening to her heartbeat and the sound of her breathing, heart overflowing with quiet gratitude.

“Don’t worry. I’m hard to kill,” Shepard says. Her voice is wrecked from two solid days of shouting over gunfire. His isn't much better.

“I know it. And now Saren knows it too. Bastard . Hope you did punch him for me before you killed him. ” Joker tries to summon a Commander at the end of his sentence, but he can’t quite manage.

“I—” Shepard hesitates, expression sobering. She looks unsettled.

Joker takes a step closer to her bed, uncertain.

“Saren killed himself, in the end," she says, voice quiet. "Shot himself to get out from under Sovereign's control.” A dry, humorless laugh. “It didn't make any difference though.”

And then she tells him about the final battle. How Saren’s corpse had sprung back to life, little more than a Turian-shaped husk. More than indoctrination. Like Sovereign had carved out his insides and rebuilt them with wires and tubing and the slosh of dark oil. Towards the end, it had rained black as they chipped away at the carapace that kept him — it — together. Part machine. Part monster.

“Maybe it wasn’t Saren at all. Maybe it was never Saren we were fighting. There was so little of him left. Just a husk in Turian skin.” She shudders, then makes a pained noise in the back of her throat, shifting restlessly on the narrow bed.

Joker frowns.

Shepard had come in with a lot of internal damage. They’d practically had her swimming in omni-gel, but it can only do so much. Joker knows more than anyone the limits of modern medicine. It can mend his broken bones but it can’t make them stronger. And Shepard is built so much from impossible things that he sometimes forgets she’s flesh and blood too.

“Saren was so sure… so sure they would spare him… He gave the Reapers Eden Prime, and Zhu’s Hope, and the scientists at Peak 15. Thousands dead so Saren could save himself,” Shepard shakes her head. “And it didn’t even work. What happened to Saren… that’s what the Reapers do to their allies.”

A flash of anger in Shepard’s emerald eyes. A bright and bitter hate that’s breathtaking in its depths. Joker knows it for what it is. She’s not mad at Saren. She’s mad at Sovereign for his disloyalty.

He sits on the bed beside her. He shouldn’t, but there isn’t a chair or any other surface available, and he’s not sure he can stand much longer. He feels a bit like they had to drag him out of the rubble too. Exhausted and battered from too much adrenaline and emotional whiplash. Plus he probably reeks. Can’t even count the times he’s sweated straight through his shirt in the last 24 hours.

Joker wipes tiredly at his face and feels the grit of dried sweat and tears, but his fingertips come away relatively clean. Half of the staff on this ward, and nearly all of the patients are coated in a fine, dark silt of ash and dust; including Shepard, though someone has made a halfhearted attempt to wipe the dust from her face.

She reaches for his hand and he lets her take it. It’s… smaller than he thought, and fits neatly in his own. It shouldn’t. Someone who shapes the world shouldn’t have hands this small. He looks down at their clasped hands for a long time in silence. Shepard’s nails are short and blunt and caked in dried blood. He can feel the calluses on her palms, and along the side of her trigger finger, earned from long days at the gun range and even longer days in the field.

Twenty-four hours ago he held Kaidan’s hand in the mess hall and felt the shiver of biotics across his skin. Now he’s holding Shepard’s in the hospital on the Citadel, a Reaper corpse just a few wards away. And between that moment and this one, a whole lifetime’s worth of fear, and adrenaline, and worry, and impossible odds they’d both beaten to make it back here.

“What a day,” Joker leans back with a little shake of his head. “I can’t believe it started with us hijacking the Normandy. I kinda expected that to be the highlight.”

"It was,” Shepard makes a breathless sound that’s too dry to be a chuckle. “The rest of it was pretty awful.”

“I dunno. I said fuck on an active comm to the entire Alliance fleet stationed on Arcturus.” He flashes a brief, wry grin. “Twice. I said fuck twice.”

“A true legend.” There's a twist of a smirk on her lips. “But that’s not what they’ll remember. You killed a Reaper today .”

“I killed the entire galactic Council today.”

In the silence, Joker can hear exactly what that does to Shepard’s heart rate. The bright-sounding beeps on the monitor falter and start hammering away. He hadn’t meant to say it like that, or maybe at all, but the words seemed to crawl up his throat to come tumbling out of his mouth.

“The Council. And the crew of the Destiny Ascension, all ten thousand of them.” He frowns down at her hand. “The Alliance lost almost half-a-fleet worth of ships, but that one… That one’s mine. I think I could have saved them. But I just…" he looks at Shepard, lost. "I didn't."

Shepard's expression is serious. “Out of everyone we lost today, I’ll mourn them the least. They knew, Joker. They knew. And they did nothing.”

A wave of anger swamps him, smothering the guilt.

What a waste. What an enormous waste.

Shepard has that look on her face, eyes narrowed and focused, playing out all the ways this might change the game. She’s already in the next battle. The next five. The next twenty.

Joker squeezes her hand, gently. “Hey. Don't do that. One step at a time. Just tell me what happens next.”

“The Alliance expands its official guidance on mako drops.”

He groans. “I’d almost forgotten. They are gonna be all sorts of mad at me today.”

“I doubt it. We would have lost the Citadel today without you.” Shepard says quietly.

“Without you, you mean.”

“Without us .”

Joker’s stupid heart skips about a hundred beats, and he stares at the way her hand curls so easily in his. “Okay… us .”

#my fic #mass effect #joker moreau #battle of the citadel #space is so hard to write for reals #if this was dragon age then the mages just wave their arms and do magic #here space ships fire stuff #is it lasers #is it plasma #who fucking knows

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warningsine · 11 months ago

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https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/communications-disrupted-bangladesh-amid-student-protests-2024-07-19/

DHAKA, July 19 (Reuters) - The Bangladesh government has decided to impose a curfew across the country and deploy the army, BBC Bangla reported on Friday, citing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's press secretary, amid widening student-led protests against government job quotas.

An official decision regarding the curfew would be issued soon, the prime minister's press secretary, Nayeemul Islam Khan, told BBC Bangla.

Three people were killed in the country on Friday as police cracked down on unrelenting student-led protests against government job quotas despite a ban on public gatherings, local media said.

Police fired tear gas to scatter protesters in some areas, Reuters journalists said. One said he could see many fires across the capital Dhaka from a rooftop and smoke rising into the sky in several places.

Telecommunications were also disrupted and television news channels went off the air. Authorities had cut some mobile telephone services the previous day to try to quell the unrest.

Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo reported train services had been suspended nationwide as protesters blocked roads and threw bricks at security officials.

Violence on Thursday in 47 of Bangladesh's 64 districts killed 27 and injured 1,500.

The total number of those dead from the protests reached 105 on Friday night, AFP separately reported, citing hospitals. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports and police have not issued a casualty toll.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka said that reports indicated more than 40 deaths and "hundreds to possibly thousands" injured across Bangladesh.

In a security alert, it said protests were spreading, with violent clashes being reported across Dhaka. The situation was "extremely volatile", it said.

The protests initially broke out over student anger against quotas that set aside 30% of government jobs for the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan.

The nationwide unrest - the biggest since Hasina was re-elected this year - has also been fuelled by high unemployment among young people, who make up nearly a fifth of a population of 170 million.

Some analysts say the violence is now also being driven by wider economic woes, such as high inflation and shrinking reserves of foreign exchange.

The protests have opened old and sensitive political fault lines between those who fought for Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971 and those accused of collaborating with Islamabad.

The former include the Awami League party of Hasina, who branded the protesters "razakar" - making use of a term that described independence-era collaborators.

International rights groups criticised the suspension of services and the action of security forces. The European Union said it is deeply concerned by the violence and loss of life.

"It is vital that further violence is averted and that a peaceful resolution to the situation is found as swiftly as possible, underpinned by the rule of law and democratic freedoms," it said in a statement.

Neighbour India said the unrest was an internal matter of Bangladesh and that all 15,000 Indians in that country were safe. Indians studying in Bangladesh were returning by road.

Violence linked to the protests also broke out in distant London, which is home to a large Bangladeshi population, and police had to quell clashes between large groups of men in the east of the British capital.

TELECOMS DISRUPTED, WEBSITES HACKED

Friday began with the internet and overseas telephone calls being crippled, while the websites of several Bangladesh newspapers did not update and were also inactive on social media.

A few voice calls went through, but there was no mobile data or broadband, a Reuters journalist said. Even text messages were not being transmitted.

News television channels and state broadcaster BTV went off the air, although entertainment channels were normal, he said.

Some news channels displayed a message blaming technical problems, and promising to resume programming soon.

The official websites of the central bank, the prime minister's office and police appeared to have been hacked by a group calling itself "THE R3SISTANC3".

"Operation HuntDown, Stop Killing Students," read identical messages splashed on the sites, adding in crimson letters: "It's not a protest anymore, it's a war now."

Another message on the page read, "The government has shut down the internet to silence us and hide their actions."

The government had no comment on the communications issues.

On Thursday, it had said it was willing to hold talks with the protesters but they refused.

Many opposition party leaders, activists, and student protesters had been arrested, said Tarique Rahman, the exiled acting chairman of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Reuters could not confirm the arrests.

#Sheikh Hasina #bangladesh #protests #news tag

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mostlysignssomeportents · 2 years ago

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This day in history

I’m kickstarting the audiobook for “The Internet Con: How To Seize the Means of Computation,” a Big Tech disassembly manual to disenshittify the web and bring back the old, good internet. It’s a DRM-free book, which means Audible won’t carry it, so this crowdfunder is essential. Back now to get the audio, Verso hardcover and ebook:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctorow/the-internet-con-how-to-seize-the-means-of-computation

#20yrsago Sen Coleman admits to downloading MP3s, but denies inhaling https://people.well.com/user/doctorow/coleman.mp3

#15yrsago DHS border policy: we can steal anything from you, read all your data, and disclose it to anyone we want https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/content/article/2008/08/01/laptops.html

#10yrsago Prominent politicians and negotiators in poor countries speak out against TPP https://www.techdirt.com/2013/07/30/discontent-with-secrecy-one-sided-nature-tpp-spreads-among-participating-nations/

#10yrsago NSA-loving, Internet-hating Rep Mike Rogers’ staffers say criticism is ��defamation” https://www.techdirt.com/2013/07/30/staffers-rep-mike-rogers-apparently-claim-they-could-sue-me-defamation/

#10yrsago NSA bribed UK spooks GBP100M for spying privileges https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/01/nsa-paid-gchq-spying-edward-snowden

#10yrsago Schneier: NSA secrecy kills trust https://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/31/opinion/schneier-nsa-trust/index.html

#5yrsago Toronto councillor praises gerrymandering plan to silence “left-leaning” voices in the city https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/toronto-council-votes-to-oppose-ontario-bill-to-cut-number-of-councillors-1.4033548

#5yrsago Now that telcos have “abandoned rural America,” the only broadband comes from cable monopolies https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/07/comcast-or-charter-is-the-only-25mbps-choice-for-68-million-americans/

#5yrsago Leaked documents reveal Google’s plan to create a censored search engine for the Chinese market https://theintercept.com/2018/08/01/google-china-search-engine-censorship/

#5yrsago California home-buyers are increasingly reliant on parental gifts to afford their down-payments https://www.kpcc.org/news/2018/07/31/85109/where-do-people-get-money-to-buy-california-homes/

#5yrsago Wealthy investors are buying Long Beach’s old low-rent buildings and evicting everyone, making them homeless https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-fi-evictions/#

#1yrago “View A SKU”: A plan to turn Amazon into a dumb pipe https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/01/dumb-pipes/#original-asin

#pluralistic

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rachayita98-blog · 2 years ago

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That's How I Know Taylor Swift

It was the summer of 2009, I was in the 5th grade. My sister had come home for her vacation. Her friend came over to exchange home assignments and also transfer some new music collection to our PC. Those were the days of PCs and pendrives. I had this curiosity to sit by the PC when someone was working on it and observe carefully whatever was being done–the files transferred, the keyboard shortcuts used and the entire technological mechanism seemed enthralling to me since always. As her friend, whom I called Dada (Brother) was doing his work, I kept staring at the monitor and kept tracking all the new music folders that were being pasted on our PC. Dada asked, " Do you listen to Western music? I have some cool collection". My sister was least interested because she was a Hindustani Classical singer and listened to Hindi songs only. My eleven-year old mind was open to some novelty. I said "Transfer whatever new music you have". My sister was crazy about the Twilight movie which was a huge phenomenon back then. She read the novel in her hostel and became a fan of Edward Cullen a.k.a Robert Pattinson. But it was difficult to watch the movie without the subtitles, obviously.

Having exchanged their assignments which was to be submitted to their school after the vacation, Dada left – left me fascinated to explore the brand new music, the Western music!

I was also being trained in Hindustaani Classical music along with my sister but I was always highly intrigued by the west; never quite had any exposure to it....and this was my golden opportunity to unlock the treasure!

I sat down and began my treasure hunt. My sister got busy with her projects and I, opening every folder that was created on the PC on a lookout for the music files. And finally found a folder which contained songs by various Western artists whose names I had never even heard of. There was Akon, Enrique, Owl City, Elvis Presley, Bryan Adams and all these were so, so new to me. I began playing those songs one by one and was so deeply moved by their musicality. But I couldn't comprehend the lyrics. We had BSNL broadband back then which gave 1 GB of data for monthly usage. It was a huge thing, I must say. I Googled and discovered azlyrics.com and lo! My work was half done. I played those songs on Windows Media Player and read the lyrics from the Chrome browser. And that was my entry to the world of Western music.

Akon 's "I'm So Paid" was a regular on-loop on my Philips mp3 player. Also, listened to "Lonely" and other hits by Akon. And then, I grooved to Summer of '69, Blue Suede Shoes, I Want It That Way, Somebody's Me, and several other superhits by various Western artists of the time.

One day, I found a folder that had some songs by female artists. There was a song titled "Butterfly Fly Away" and "I Miss You" by Miley Cyrus. Well, I had no idea who she was but I played those songs anyway. These songs were comparatively easier to understand and sing along. So, reading the lyrics from the browser tab, I began singing along. And that's how I learnt singing Western song!

Now, I was greedy to explore more female artists from the Western world. And then I found a video folder. God I tell you, that was the hidden treasure unlocked!

I found the music videos of Taylor Swift!!!

There were videos of Crazier, White Horse, Teardrops on my Guitar, Love Story, You Belong With Me and a few other. I was so deeply fascinated and enthralled and moved and touched by her voice that I decided she's going to be the Inspiration to my Western singing....and there was no looking back.

To understand her music, I didn't need azlyrics.com because she was so fluent and easy on her diction and pronunciation that I quickly understood and caught up with her songs. The soft melody in her voice and the beauty in her lyricals were just incredible to me. I instantly fell in deep love and admiration for Taylor Swift.

Next up, I began Googling other songs by her– her albums , latest releases and also her photos for my desktop wallpaper! She was my obsession, my guide, my mentor, my friend and most of all, my Guru. She was and is with me through the best of times and the darkest of phases. She has been my constant.

She taught me to be Fearless and to Speak Now without being so conscious of the Reputation built in people's minds. She left a Blank Space in my heart which is only to be filled by her. She inspired me to survive through the darkest Midnights and make it up with any Bad Blood. She has my heart and soul, and I know it All too Well.

Fun fact: I performed her songs playing the guitar in school and college events. Crazier being the first one, followed by Safe and Sound, Red, and several more to go!

#taylor swift #taylor's version #swifties #music

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stockmarketupdates · 1 hour ago

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ASX All Ordinaries Today: Telstra Group (ASX:TLS) Drives Telecom Expansion

Highlights:

Telstra Group maintains robust operations across fixed, mobile, and enterprise telecommunications.

The company continues to scale its digital infrastructure strategy through fibre and 5G services.

Telstra is listed on both the ASX 200 and the All Ordinaries index, anchoring its role in Australian telecom.

Telecom Sector Outlook with ASX All Ordinaries Today Index Telstra Group (ASX:TLS) operates in the telecommunications sector, offering fixed broadband, mobile networks, cloud solutions, and enterprise services. As a major component of both the ASX 200 and the All Ordinaries index, the company is among the key drivers of Australia’s telecom infrastructure. The All Ordinaries reflects the largest listed companies on the Australian Securities Exchange by market capitalisation, capturing broad exposure across industrial, energy, healthcare, and telecommunications segments.

Telstra's role in the telecom space is reinforced by extensive infrastructure assets, including subsea cables, data centres, and national mobile networks. These operations are supported by long-standing wholesale and consumer segments, delivering digital connectivity and core telecom products across metropolitan and regional areas.

Infrastructure Leadership and 5G Expansion Telstra continues to scale its 5G network, aiming to extend national mobile coverage and accelerate mobile data speeds. This includes investment in mobile towers, regional network upgrades, and urban densification initiatives. Through its growing infrastructure portfolio, the company supports both personal and enterprise mobile demand.

The company’s national broadband services also operate across fixed-line and fibre networks, integrating high-speed capacity for residential and commercial usage. Telstra’s network investments are complemented by wholesale agreements and industry partnerships, enhancing national coverage and improving capacity in high-density zones.

Enterprise Services and Digital Transformation Telstra’s enterprise business caters to government, business, and corporate clients with tailored solutions in cloud, networking, security, and unified communications. These services integrate with global operations to deliver managed platforms, data centres, and secure connectivity.

Digital transformation efforts remain central to Telstra’s strategy, featuring automation, digitised customer service, and streamlined internal systems. The company’s platform approach involves consolidating legacy systems and deploying cloud-native software to modernise service delivery. Enterprise products are delivered through scalable service models, facilitating data and voice communication across industries.

Fibre Network Strategy and Wholesale Segments The company’s wholesale infrastructure division provides connectivity through fibre-based services, catering to other telecom operators, internet providers, and enterprise customers. Telstra’s fibre network enables backhaul and core traffic distribution across national and international systems.

High-capacity cables support service continuity for bandwidth-heavy applications across business sectors and government institutions. Wholesale services also include mobile virtual network access and leased spectrum solutions. These systems are supported by resilient core network architecture and global transmission assets.

Index Performance and Sector Standing Telstra Group is included in multiple benchmark indexes such as the ASX 200 and All Ordinaries. These indexes reflect overall market performance, capturing a range of sectors and company sizes. Inclusion in these indexes signals the company’s relative scale within Australia’s listed market environment.

The All Ordinaries index, which encompasses the largest entities by market size, includes Telstra due to its extended operations and national significance. Its dual listing in key Australian indexes positions the company as a telecom representative for index-aligned observations and performance tracking across sectors.

ASX dividend yield scan continues to include Telstra among telecommunications providers maintaining consistent performance across income-focused metrics.

#asx all ordinaries today

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a1routes · 4 days ago

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What is VoIP and How Does It Work?

In today’s digital-first world, communication is more vital than ever. Whether you’re running a startup, a remote team, or a large enterprise, your ability to stay connected can make or break your business. That’s where VoIP comes in. Short for Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP is revolutionizing how businesses communicate — both internally and with customers.

At A1 Routes, we specialize in providing reliable VoIP solutions to businesses in Hyderabad and across India. If you’re new to the concept, this article will help you understand what VoIP is, how it works, and why it’s becoming the preferred communication choice for modern businesses.

What is VoIP?

VoIP is a technology that allows you to make phone calls over the internet rather than using traditional telephone lines. Instead of transmitting voice signals over copper wires, VoIP converts your voice into digital signals and sends it over your broadband connection.

This technology enables businesses to make and receive calls using computers, smartphones, VoIP phones, or even traditional phones equipped with a VoIP adapter. The result? Lower costs, better flexibility, and advanced features that aren’t possible with legacy systems.

How Does VoIP Work?

The process is simpler than it seems:

Voice Signal Conversion: When you speak into a VoIP-enabled device, your voice is converted into digital data.

Data Transmission: That data is transmitted over the internet to the recipient.

Reconversion at Destination: On the other end, the digital signal is converted back into audio so the recipient hears your voice in real time.

This entire process happens in milliseconds, enabling clear, instant communication just like a traditional phone call — but with added benefits.

Key Benefits of VoIP

Cost Savings One of the biggest advantages of VoIP is its affordability. Since calls are made over the internet, you can dramatically cut down on long-distance and international calling costs.

Mobility & Flexibility You can make or receive calls from any device with an internet connection, allowing your team to stay connected — whether they’re in Hyderabad or halfway across the globe.

Advanced Call Features With VoIP, you get access to features like call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, video conferencing, and call analytics — without paying extra.

Scalability Adding new users or phone lines is easy with VoIP. You can scale your communication system as your business grows, with no physical infrastructure required.

Why Choose A1 Routes for VoIP?

At A1 Routes, we offer powerful and affordable VoIP solutions tailored for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a startup or an established company in Hyderabad, our VoIP services are designed to keep your communication seamless, reliable, and future-ready.

Crystal-clear call quality

24/7 technical support

Easy setup and onboarding

Competitive pricing with no hidden charges

Let’s Get You Connected Switch to smarter communication with A1 Routes.

Call us now at 9246461828 Serving Hyderabad and businesses across India

A1 Routes — Redefining business communication with cutting-edge VoIP solutions.

#virtual phone numbers hydearabad #virtual phone numbers in hydearabad #virtual phone numbers india #voip #voip calling

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ariyankhan-mcm · 5 days ago

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How 5G Will Transform Wholesale VoIP?

The world of business communication is on the cusp of its next great evolution, driven by the rollout of 5G technology. Far more than just a speed upgrade for your mobile phone, 5G is poised to fundamentally reshape how enterprises connect, communicate, and operate. At the heart of this transformation lies Wholesale VoIP, a critical backbone for modern communication infrastructure. While VoIP has already democratized global connectivity, 5G's advanced capabilities promise to address existing limitations and unlock unprecedented potential, leading to vastly superior user experiences, innovative service offerings, and significantly increased market demand for wholesale VoIP solutions.

Understanding the Core Technologies of 5G Relevant to VoIP

To truly grasp 5G's impact on wholesale Voice, it's essential to look beyond the headlines and delve into the foundational technologies that make it so revolutionary. These aren't just incremental improvements; they represent a paradigm shift in network capabilities.

Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB): Paving the Way for Crystal-Clear Communication

The most widely publicized aspect of 5G, eMBB delivers two critical enhancements that are a game-changer for VoIP:

Higher Speeds: With theoretical peak speeds of up to 10 Gbps and sustained speeds significantly higher than 4G, 5G offers a massive increase in bandwidth. For wholesale VoIP, this translates directly into crystal-clear HD voice and ultra-high-definition video conferencing becoming the norm. Buffering and pixelation become relics of the past, ensuring seamless, natural conversations that are indistinguishable from in-person interactions. This immense capacity also supports faster data transfer for concurrent applications running alongside VoIP calls, vital for data-rich business operations.

Lower Latency: Latency, the delay between sending and receiving information, is a silent killer of good communication. 5G's latency can drop as low as 1 millisecond (ms) in ideal conditions, compared to 20-30 ms for 4G. For VoIP, lower latency means near-real-time communication, virtually eliminating the awkward delays and overlaps that plague current calls. This responsiveness is crucial for sensitive applications, improving the natural flow of conversations and enhancing the user experience dramatically.

Massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC): Indirectly Fueling VoIP Growth

While mMTC focuses on connecting billions of IoT devices, its relevance to VoIP, though indirect, is significant. As IoT deployments proliferate in smart offices, factories, and cities, these devices will increasingly generate data that might trigger communication events. Imagine a sensor detecting an anomaly and automatically initiating a VoIP call to a technician, or smart building systems routing calls based on occupancy. Wholesale VoIP providers will play a role in connecting these vast networks of connected devices to human communication channels.

Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC): Guaranteed VoIP for Critical Operations

URLLC is perhaps the most profound advancement for mission-critical VoIP. It's designed for applications where even a momentary loss of connection or slight delay can have severe consequences. For wholesale VoIP providers, URLLC enables:

Guaranteed Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Providers can confidently offer uninterrupted VoIP service with guaranteed uptime and performance for industries like healthcare (telemedicine), emergency services (first responder communications), and industrial automation (remote control systems).

Enhanced Reliability: This layer of reliability ensures that communication channels remain open and stable, even in congested network environments, crucial for business continuity and safety.

Network Slicing: Tailored VoIP Performance for Every Business Need

One of 5G's most powerful features for wholesale providers is network slicing. This allows mobile network operators to create multiple independent, virtualized networks on a single physical 5G infrastructure. Each "slice" can be customized with specific characteristics, such as bandwidth, latency, and security.

Dedicated Virtual Networks: Wholesale VoIP providers can leverage network slicing to provision dedicated network slices specifically optimized for VoIP traffic for their enterprise clients. This means a business can have its own private, high-performance communication network guaranteed to deliver optimal Quality of Service (QoS), isolated from other network traffic.

Premium, Tailored VoIP Solutions: This capability enables providers to offer a tiered service model, from standard enterprise VoIP to premium, mission-critical solutions with unparalleled performance guarantees, attracting a wider range of businesses.

Edge Computing: Bringing VoIP Intelligence Closer to the Source

5G edge computing pushes computational power and data storage closer to the data source – whether it's a user's device or an IoT sensor. For wholesale VoIP, this means:

Reduced Latency for Applications: Processing VoIP-related data at the edge further minimizes latency for applications like real-time language translation, AI-powered call analytics, or dynamic call routing, as information doesn't need to travel to a centralized cloud server and back.

Enhanced Real-Time Analytics and AI in VoIP: Edge computing facilitates instant analysis of call data, enabling features like immediate sentiment analysis during customer service calls, or highly responsive fraud detection systems that can identify and block suspicious calls in real-time.

Key Transformations in Wholesale VoIP Driven by 5G

The confluence of these 5G technologies will fundamentally reshape the wholesale VoIP landscape, offering businesses a more robust, intelligent, and flexible communication experience.

Unprecedented Call Quality and Reliability

The high bandwidth and ultra-low latency of 5G will largely eliminate the traditional pain points of VoIP: jitter, packet loss, and inherent delays. This means:

HD Voice and Video as Standard: Businesses will experience consistently pristine audio and sharp video, fostering more effective and engaging remote interactions.

Seamless Communication: The frustrations of broken speech or frozen screens will become a thing of the past, ensuring continuous and reliable communication flow across all platforms.

Enhanced Scalability and Flexibility

5G's robust architecture allows for remarkable elasticity, directly benefiting scalable VoIP solutions:

On-Demand Scaling: Businesses can rapidly scale their VoIP services up or down based on fluctuating demands (e.g., seasonal peaks, project expansions), without sacrificing performance.

Higher Call Density: 5G networks can simultaneously support a significantly greater number of active calls and users within a given area without any degradation in performance, vital for large enterprises and call centers.

New Service Offerings and Revenue Streams for Wholesale Providers

For wholesale VoIP providers, 5G isn't just about improving existing services; it's about unlocking entirely new markets and revenue streams:

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) as Primary Internet: 5G FWA provides a compelling alternative to traditional wired broadband, especially in rural or underserved areas. Wholesale VoIP providers can bundle VoIP services with 5G FWA, becoming a complete communication and internet solution provider for businesses where fiber is unavailable or too costly. This opens up vast new market segments.

Real-Time Analytics and AI Integration: Leverage edge computing to offer advanced services like real-time transcription, sentiment analysis, predictive analytics for customer service, and more sophisticated AI-powered call routing based on live call characteristics, providing immense value to clients.

IoT-Enabled Communications: As businesses adopt more IoT solutions, there will be a growing need to integrate these with communication systems. Wholesale providers can offer services that allow IoT devices to trigger automated VoIP calls, alerts, or conferences.

Private 5G Networks for Enterprises: Wholesale providers can offer "Network-as-a-Service" models, helping large enterprises deploy their own secure, high-performance private 5G networks for their internal communication needs, with VoIP as a core component.

Improved Mobility and Unified Communications

The seamless handovers and pervasive connectivity of 5G will profoundly enhance mobile VoIP and unified communications (UC) experiences:

Uninterrupted Calls: Users can move between Wi-Fi and 5G networks without dropped calls, a crucial benefit for the modern remote work and hybrid workforces.

Rich Mobile Experience: Mobile users will experience desktop-level quality for voice and video calls, seamless file sharing, and access to all UC features on the go, making any location a productive workspace.

Security Enhancements

5G inherently builds on stronger security protocols than previous generations, benefiting VoIP traffic:

Enhanced Encryption: 5G networks employ robust encryption mechanisms, offering a more secure foundation for transmitting sensitive VoIP data.

Improved Authentication: Stronger authentication processes at the network level contribute to a more secure end-to-end communication path, although continued vigilance and additional security measures by wholesale providers remain crucial to combat evolving cyber threats.

Challenges and Considerations for Wholesale VoIP Providers

While the opportunities are immense, wholesale VoIP providers must navigate several challenges to fully capitalize on the 5G revolution:

Infrastructure Investment: The transition to 5G requires significant capital expenditure in upgrading existing backbones and deploying new 5G core network elements. Providers need strategic investment plans.

Interoperability: Ensuring seamless integration between existing legacy VoIP systems, softswitches, and the new 5G network architecture will be critical to avoid disruptions and ensure backward compatibility for clients.

Evolving Security Concerns: While 5G offers enhanced security, the increased complexity and new attack vectors associated with a more distributed network mean providers must continuously invest in advanced security protocols, fraud detection, and threat intelligence.

Regulatory Landscape: The evolving regulatory environment for 5G, particularly concerning spectrum allocation, data privacy, and emergency services, will require constant monitoring and adaptation.

Skilled Workforce: There's a growing demand for talent proficient in the convergence of networking, cloud, AI, and VoIP technologies. Providers need to invest in training and recruitment.

The Future Landscape: What's Next for Wholesale VoIP with 5G?

The trajectory is clear: 5G will lead to hyper-connected enterprises where communication is not just a utility but an integrated, intelligent part of every business process. The capabilities of UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) and CCaaS (Contact Center as a Service) will accelerate, becoming more feature-rich, resilient, and responsive, driven by 5G's underlying network power.

We anticipate a rapid increase in 5G adoption among businesses, leading to significant VoIP market growth. This isn't just about faster calls; it's about enabling a new generation of smart, efficient, and deeply integrated communication solutions that power digital transformation.

At [Your Company Name], we are at the forefront of this revolution. We are actively investing in next-generation network capabilities and leveraging the power of 5G to enhance our wholesale VoIP solutions, ensuring our partners and their clients benefit from unparalleled performance, reliability, and innovative features. Our commitment is to provide the future-proof communication infrastructure that empowers your business to thrive in the 5G era.

Conclusion: Embracing the 5G Revolution for Superior Wholesale VoIP

5G is not merely an evolutionary step for wireless technology; it represents a fundamental shift that will profoundly impact the entire wholesale VoIP ecosystem. From guaranteeing pristine call quality and ultra-low latency to enabling revolutionary new services through network slicing and edge computing, 5G is setting new benchmarks for business communication.

For wholesale VoIP providers, this era presents unprecedented opportunities for growth and innovation. By understanding and strategically adopting 5G's core capabilities, providers can offer truly superior wholesale VoIP solutions that meet the complex and demanding needs of modern enterprises. The future of communication is here, and it’s powered by 5G, offering a truly transformative experience for businesses worldwide.

To learn more about how cutting-edge network capabilities are enhancing wholesale VoIP and to explore our advanced solutions designed for the 5G era, visit [Your Website Link to a relevant 5G/Advanced Solutions page, e.g., your homepage, or a dedicated "Why Choose Us" page that highlights your tech].

#mycountrymobile #wholesale voip #voip

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techupdatesweekly · 6 days ago

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Why JioHome Is a Game-Changer for Indian Home Broadband

JioHome is setting new benchmarks in India’s home broadband space by offering a unified service that blends both JioFiber and JioAirFiber into a single brand. This ensures users get the best connectivity option—either fiber or fixed wireless—depending on local availability.

With JioHome, users get more than just internet. The offering includes over 800 live TV channels and access to multiple OTT platforms, including Netflix, Prime Video, and Hotstar. The smart set-top box comes with a voice-enabled remote, making navigation effortless.

Unique features like JioPC allow users to use their TV as a computer, while JioGames offers a new way to enjoy cloud gaming at home. All these features are packaged with high-speed internet, making JioHome a comprehensive digital platform.

One of the most attractive parts of the service is the 50-day no-risk trial, which automatically shifts to a ₹599/month plan if not canceled. Other plans bundle premium OTT subscriptions and cater to varying data needs, offering true value for money.

Additionally, JioHome comes with perks like free installation on long-term plans, a smart Wi-Fi router, and the ability to connect smart-home devices. The JioHome app enhances the experience by enabling network monitoring, parental controls, and remote device management.

Compared to its competitors, JioHome’s integrated approach and all-inclusive entertainment offerings make it a compelling choice for families looking to upgrade their digital lifestyle.

Overall, JioHome is more than a wi-fi for home —it’s a smart ecosystem for modern living.

#jiohome

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digitalmore · 14 days ago

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#IFTTT #Digital More

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prachicmi2 · 14 days ago

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Terrestrial Trunked Radio Market is driven by mission-critical communications

The Global Terrestrial Trunked Radio Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 6.63 Bn in 2025 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.5% over the forecast period 2025 to 2032. The Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) market encompasses professional digital radio systems designed for secure, high-reliability voice and data communications across public safety agencies, utilities, transportation operators, and enterprise users. Featuring enhanced spectral efficiency, end-to-end encryption, group calling, and dynamic channel allocation, TETRA devices and infrastructure ensure seamless interoperability and robust coverage in challenging environments. These products deliver low-latency transmission, priority call handling, and direct mode operation, addressing critical requirements such as rapid dispatch, real-time monitoring, and emergency alerts. Terrestrial Trunked Radio Market Insights as organizations seek to modernize legacy analog systems, TETRA’s scalable architecture supports network expansions, enhanced capacity, and integration with IP multimedia subsystems and broadband technologies. Rising concerns over data security, regulatory mandates for reliable emergency communications, and the need to optimize operational efficiency are driving investments in trunked radio networks. Additionally, evolving market trends toward mission-critical broadband integration and LTE interworking offer market opportunities for hybrid communication solutions. With growing emphasis on incident management, asset tracking, and workforce coordination, demand for TETRA radios, base stations, and dispatch consoles continues to surge.

Get more insights on,Terrestrial Trunked Radio Market

#Coherent Market Insights #Terrestrial Trunked Radio #Terrestrial Trunked Radio Market #Terrestrial Trunked Radio Market Insights #Digital #Analog

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sweatybelieverfun · 18 days ago

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Critical Communication Technologies Market Drivers Shaping Global Connectivity and Security Trends

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the critical communication technologies market is gaining unprecedented momentum. This sector encompasses a range of communication solutions designed to provide reliable, secure, and instant connectivity, especially in mission-critical situations such as emergency response, public safety, military operations, and critical infrastructure management. The drivers propelling the growth of this market are multifaceted, stemming from technological, regulatory, and socio-economic factors that together fuel the demand for enhanced communication systems worldwide.

Increasing Need for Reliable Emergency and Public Safety Communications

One of the foremost drivers of the critical communication technologies market is the growing emphasis on improving public safety and emergency response capabilities. Natural disasters, accidents, and security threats have underscored the necessity for robust communication infrastructure that first responders and law enforcement agencies can rely upon without fail. Governments and municipalities are investing heavily in upgrading legacy communication systems to advanced solutions like LTE-based public safety networks and mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) systems. These technologies facilitate instant voice, video, and data sharing among emergency personnel, ensuring coordination and rapid decision-making during crises.

Rising Adoption of Advanced Wireless Technologies

Technological advancements play a pivotal role in the expansion of critical communication technologies. The migration from traditional analog radio systems to digital platforms such as Digital Mobile Radio (DMR), Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is transforming the market landscape. These digital systems offer superior voice clarity, wider coverage, better encryption, and integration with broadband data services. The development and deployment of 5G networks further enhance the capabilities of critical communication by providing ultra-reliable low-latency connectivity essential for real-time communication in emergency and industrial settings.

Growing Demand from Defense and Military Sectors

The defense sector remains a significant contributor to the demand for critical communication technologies. Military operations require secure, resilient, and interoperable communication networks that can function seamlessly in hostile and remote environments. The increasing geopolitical tensions and defense modernization programs globally are driving investments in sophisticated communication systems that integrate voice, data, and video in battlefield scenarios. Innovations such as software-defined radios and encrypted communication channels help maintain operational security, contributing to market growth.

Expansion of Industrial IoT and Smart Infrastructure

The integration of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies within critical infrastructure such as energy grids, transportation systems, and manufacturing plants is fueling the need for reliable communication networks. Critical communication technologies enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automation, which enhance operational efficiency and safety. For instance, smart grid communication requires secure and instantaneous data exchange between various control centers and field devices to prevent outages and optimize energy distribution. The proliferation of smart cities also drives demand for interoperable communication platforms to manage public utilities, traffic control, and emergency services efficiently.

Regulatory and Government Initiatives Supporting Market Growth

Government policies and regulatory frameworks globally are significant drivers in the critical communication technologies market. Many countries mandate the use of standardized communication protocols and systems for public safety and critical infrastructure sectors to ensure interoperability and nationwide coverage. Funding and grants provided by governments to upgrade communication networks for emergency services accelerate market adoption. Additionally, the emphasis on cybersecurity and data privacy regulations propels the development and deployment of communication solutions with enhanced security features.

Increasing Focus on Network Resilience and Security

In an era marked by rising cyber threats and infrastructure vulnerabilities, the importance of secure communication cannot be overstated. The market demand is increasingly driven by the need for communication technologies that are resilient to cyber-attacks, natural disasters, and network failures. Features such as end-to-end encryption, network redundancy, and secure authentication protocols are becoming standard requirements for critical communication solutions. Enterprises and governments prioritize communication systems that ensure continuous operation even under adverse conditions, thereby driving investment in advanced technologies.

Growing Urbanization and Industrialization

Rapid urbanization and industrial growth worldwide increase the complexity and scale of communication needs for public safety, transportation, and utilities. Expanding urban populations require efficient emergency communication networks to manage large-scale events and disasters. Moreover, industrial hubs demand seamless communication to coordinate operations and ensure worker safety. These factors contribute to the rising demand for sophisticated critical communication systems capable of supporting diverse and high-density user environments.

Increasing Collaboration Between Vendors and End Users

Another market driver is the strengthening collaboration between communication technology providers and end-user organizations such as government agencies, emergency services, and industries. Customized solutions that address specific operational needs, scalability, and integration with existing infrastructure appeal to these users. Vendors are focusing on delivering turnkey systems and comprehensive service packages, which encourage faster adoption and wider deployment of critical communication technologies.

Conclusion

The critical communication technologies market is set for significant growth driven by diverse and interrelated factors. From the urgent need for reliable emergency response communications to the adoption of cutting-edge wireless technologies and the growing emphasis on network security, these drivers collectively shape a dynamic market landscape. Government support, expanding industrial IoT applications, and increasing urbanization further enhance market prospects. As connectivity becomes an ever more critical pillar of safety, defense, and industrial efficiency, the demand for robust, secure, and interoperable communication technologies will continue to rise, paving the way for innovation and expansion in this vital sector.

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