Archive: February 29, 2024

China Unicom and Huawei Unveil Innovation Achievements to Forge Differentiated 5G-A Competitive Edge

Barcelona, Spain, February 29, 2024: During MWC Barcelona 2024, Huawei and China Unicom hosted an innovation release ceremony themed “AI Empowers Connections and Computing”, during which they unveiled pioneering cooperative achievements such as 5G-A, FTTR 3.0, and the AI foundation model.

At the ceremony, Liang Baojun, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom, and Li Peng, Senior Vice President of Huawei and President of Huawei ICT Sales & Service Dept, delivered speeches alongside leaders from GSMA and China Communications Standards Association. Ma Hongbing, General Manager of China Unicom’s Science and Technology Innovation Dept, released the innovation achievements, and several other industry representatives delivered keynote speeches.

Liang Baojun detailed the coordinated evolution of China Unicom’s unified communications and computing-powered digital intelligence businesses, which has driven constant improvements in terms of the company’s network capabilities, computing power, and AI foundation models. Liang said, “Unleashing the boundless potential and expansive growth opportunities within the digital and intelligent world necessitates collaborative efforts from all global stakeholders. China Unicom has been actively driving the deployment of 5G-A pilot networks and sample sites to achieve 10 Gbps downlink and 1 Gbps intelligent uplink, and boost service assurance capabilities. We have also been steadily enhancing our integrated computing, training, and inference capabilities to bring AI to both the consumer Internet and industrial Internet.”

Li Peng said, “China Unicom and Huawei have been working closely for years. We have been innovating nonstop to lead the industry in 5G. In 2024, Huawei will continue to support China Unicom’s innovation in networks, services, and ecosystem development to forge a differentiated competitive edge in the 5G-A era. Together, we will help drive new growth in the industry.” Li also noted that, as the transition from 5G to 5G-A gains momentum, Huawei and China Unicom are poised to further their innovation in 5G-A network technologies and scenario-based applications. The collaborative efforts between the two companies will drive standards and business maturity through leading network experience and applications.

Ma Hongbing stated that China Unicom has accomplished notable technological innovations in ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), RedCap, and passive IoT over the past year. In January 2024, the company reached a significant milestone by successfully completing China’s first large-scale 5G-A networking showcase in Beijing. This signified that China Unicom’s 5G Capital innovation project has entered the 5G-A era. The next-generation iFTTR product OptiXstar F50 played a pivotal role in supporting China Unicom’s FTTR 3.0 solution to comprehensively upgrade the network, ecosystem, and terminal connections. Moreover, China Unicom’s integrated computing power has laid the groundwork for developing foundational models, intelligent networks, service transformation, and applications for smart living.

John Gao, President of the 5G-A Domain of Huawei Wireless Network Product Line, highlighted that the joint innovation between the two parties has empowered the pioneering launch of key 5G-A technologies, such as URLLC, multi-band serving cell (MBSC), and RedCap. 2024 will be the inaugural year of 5G-A commercial use. The 5G-A era will be spearheaded by China Unicom, as they establish cutting-edge commercial networks with top-tier services and unmatched user experiences, all with the unwavering support of Huawei.

During the ceremony, Ma Hongbing, General Manager of China Unicom’s Science and Technology Innovation Dept, and Ma Hongbo, President of Huawei’s Wireless MAE Domain, signed the Wireless Network Open API Joint Innovation MoU. Together, China Unicom and Huawei will delve into the business potential and opportunities regarding the monetization of wireless network capabilities.

MWC Barcelona 2024 will be held from February 26 to February 29 in Barcelona, Spain. During the event, Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions at stand 1H50 in Fira Gran Via Hall 1.

With the 2024 commercial launch of 5.5G, Huawei is collaborating with operators and partners around the world to pursue exciting new innovation in networks, cloud, and intelligence. Together, we will drive 5G business and foster a thriving industry ecosystem, creating a new era for intelligent digital transformation. For more information, please visit: https://carrier.huawei.com/en/events/mwc2024

NSE Data and Analytics wins the 14th Aegis Graham Bell Awards (AGBA) for ‘Innovation in Finance.’

Bengaluru, February 29th, 2024: NSE FixedIn India’sbfirst fully integrated web-based fixed income analytics platform offered by NSE Data and Analytics Limited (NSE Data) wins the 14^th edition of Aegis Graham Bell Awards (AGBA) in the ‘Innovation in Finance’ category.

Aegis Graham Bell Award is India’s largest innovation award and the 14^th edition is supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. It aims to recognise and support innovations across sectors. The winners of the 14^th edition of Aegis Graham Bell Awards (AGBA) were announced in an event held in New Delhi on February 21, 2024, wherein Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Honourable Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Government of India congratulated the winners and finalists.

NSE FixedIn, with its seamless interface and advanced capabilities, provides investors with a comprehensive suite of tools like performance attribution and portfolio analyser to gain insights into fixed income portfolios and securities, through a highly interactive and user-friendly web-based interface. NSE FixedIn is available on a subscription basis.

Shri Mukesh Agarwal, CEO, NSE Data and Analytics Limited, said “NSE FixedIn empowers fixed income investors and asset managers with accurate and robust analytical tools to navigate the complex fixed income markets more effectively in terms of time, cost, and effort. It allows market participants to optimize portfolio performance and navigate the ever-evolving financial landscape with ease. We are very encouraged by the response NSE FixedIn has received from the market participants. We will continuously innovate and add new features to the NSE FixedIn platform as the markets evolve and leverage advanced technologies to enable more sophisticated analytics.”

Shri Sriram Krishnan, CBDO, NSE, said “NSE, as one of the most prominent exchanges of the world, has the vision of being at the forefront of providing innovative solutions to the market. With the fixed-income market in India set to grow exponentially in the coming years, NSE FixedIn will support our vision, enabling market participants to make informed investment decisions by offering rich insights into the fixed income markets. NSE FixedIn will act as catalyst towards the development of India’s fixed income market by providing cutting-edge analytics that fosters market growth.”

MinkasuPay granted patent for its pioneering biometric 2-Factor Authentication technology

Mumbai, February 29th, 2024:Minkasu Inc. aka MinkasuPay, a pioneer in biometric authentication solutions, founded by Silicon Valley veterans Anbu Gounder and Naveen Doraiswamy, announced that it has now been granted the patent in India for its biometric 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) technology, developed and launchedfive years ago and making RBI’s recent guidance for safer alternatives to OTP a reality, much ahead of its time.

MinkasuPay’s biometric 2FA solution provides an immediate big leap in payments security, resulting in reduced fraud andelimination of usernames, passwords, PINs and OTPs. MinkasuPay’s patent stands as a testament to its commitment to advancing secure payment solutions in compliance with regulatory standards, solidifying its position as a leader in the evolving landscape of authentication for financial transactions in India.

According to Anbu Gounder, CEO, MinkasuPay, “MinkasuPay welcomes the RBI’s forward-thinking proposal to establish a principle-based framework for authenticating digital transactions. We made this vision a reality five years ago with our patented biometric 2-Factor Authentication technology.  As a pioneer in biometric payment authentication, we take great pride in our partnershipswith brand name banks andmerchants, ushering in a new era of secure and seamless digital transactions. Our innovative solutions are redefining the landscape of online payments, providing both businesses and consumers with unparalleled security and convenience.”

MinkasuPay has been successfully working to enhance security across the Indian payments ecosystem over the past five years. In a move to bolster online security, ICICI bank and Axis bank have already partnered with MinkasuPay to enable biometric authentication for their net banking transactions.  Three more major banks are gearing up to launch the MinkasuPay biometric 2FA solution for both Net banking and Card transactions soon. Meanwhile, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has chosen MinkasuPay’s UPI biometric solution to do a POC.

Marqueemerchantssuch as MakeMyTrip, JioMart, TataCLiQ, Paytm Money, Yatra, FirstCry, AngelOne, ICICI Prudential, Goibibo, 5paisa, Ixigo and EaseMyTrip have adopted the MinkasuPay biometric 2FA solution to offer a frictionless in-app payment experience to their customers.

MinkasuPay uses a combination of device binding and device biometrics to offer a secure and frictionless 2FA solution,without needing access to any sensitive data, including bank account credentials, card details, PINs, or biometrics.The customers can use their Fingerprint or Face ID to make a payment in the merchant appsfor a very secure and superior payment experience. Merchants can plug the MinkasuPay SDK in their apps to offerthe MinkasuPay’s frictionless biometric experience.

Sanjeev Moghe, President & Head – Cards and Payments, Axis Bank said, “As India embraces digital transformation, ensuring secure banking solutions for our customers remains a top priority at Axis Bank. Recognizing the need for alternatives to OTP-based authentication to enhance digital payment security, we were delighted to partner with MinkasuPay. This collaboration enabled us to offer biometric authentication for our net banking transactions, reinforcing Axis Bank’s commitment to leading the way in digital payment security while providing a seamless payment experience.  We are also exploring other forms of authentication (Non OTP) including biometric based for card transactions to enhance security of transactions.”

Ashit Kumar, Payments Product Head, MakeMyTrip, said,“As the leading online travel aggregator in India, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to improve our customers’ digital experiences. Removing the friction caused by the OTP-based authentication while making a travel booking payment was one of our focus areas. We were excited to adopt MinkasuPay’s biometric authentication solution for digital payments, which offers to our customers, the best payment experience in the country. We have enjoyed tremendous benefits from improved transaction success rates and look forward to having their biometric authentication flow enabled for our Card and UPI transactions as well in our apps.”

Legendary Astronaut Rakesh Sharma Discusses Space Exploration and Global Harmony on Khul Ke App

Mumbai, February 29th, 2024: In celebration of National Science Day, watch iconic Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma engaged in a captivating discussion on the Khul Ke app, an innovative homegrown Indian social networking platform dedicated to catering meaningful conversations.

The thought-provoking Khul Ke’s RoundTable interaction centered around exploring the significance of space exploration, India’s space program advancements, and the potential of science and technology to foster global unity. As the first Indian in space, Sharma’s unforgettable words “Saare Jahan Se Acha” continue to inspire the nation, symbolizing unity and aspiration. Reflecting on Chandrayaan-3’s success, he expressed enthusiasm for India’s renewed drive towards becoming a developed nation.

Throughout the discussion on Khul Ke’s RoundTable, Sharma emphasized the importance of utilizing space for peace, underscoring the absence of national borders from the perspective of space. He plans to present visionary ideas on how Prime Minister Narendra Modi can promote “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The World Is One Family) on a global scale, encompassing even outer space, during the upcoming Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.

As India’s sole astronaut, Sharma holds an unparalleled place in its history. He made history in 1984 by becoming the first Indian to fly on a Soviet mission, earning the esteemed title of “Bharat’s first Antriksh Yogi” (India’s first space yogi) for practicing yoga in space. His contributions extend beyond space exploration, playing a key role in the development of the Tejas fighter aircraft.

Currently, Sharma serves as a consultant for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), offering invaluable expertise for the Gaganyaan Mission, India’s ambitious human spaceflight program.

The Khul Ke RoundTable with Rakesh Sharma provided a unique opportunity for users to engage with a national space pioneer and gain insights into the future of space exploration and international collaboration. Khul Ke remains a dynamic platform fostering meaningful conversations and inspiring ideas for positive change.

Khul Ke has wide range of knowledgeable content on science & technology such as Bharat Tech D2M Summit, RoundTable with Professor Annapuri Subramaniam, Director of Indian Institute of Astrophysics Bengaluru and Mr Sathvik S Shetty, Head, QL space Pvt Ltd, Perth, Australia and more. So, this Science day dive into the era of science and technology content on Khul Ke app with your family.

Link to the Interview video: https://www.khulke.com/roundtable?id=6513dad34969d38f162dc4a1

JITO Shark Angelsn launched in Dubai to Stimulate Entrepreneurial Growth and Innovation

India, 29th February 2024: “JITO Shark Angels” (JSA), promoted by JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF), the only community-based angel network in India, launched the ‘JITO Dubai International Summit 2024.’ This marked the first occasion of hosting JSA at an international summit. The event brought together a group of visionaries and industry leaders, igniting conversations about innovation and empowerment.

At the forefront of this path-breaking event were esteemed sharks who lent their expertise and support to the startups. Some of the esteemed investors were Motilal Oswal, Founder of MOSFL; Vimal Shah, CEO of Bidco Africa; Vinod Dugar, Co-Promoter of RDB Group; Vimal Kumar, Director of WMA Group; Anil Singhvi, Zee Business; and Sparsh Jain, Director of JG Group. Their invaluable contributions drove discussions and devotion toward advancing entrepreneurship, promoting the event’s significance in catalyzing innovative initiatives, and establishing industry growth.

JITO Shark Angels witnessed a record-high commitment of INR 20 crores from a seasoned panel of sharks, showcasing an immense push for industries such as logistics, space, fintech, and SaaS AI. The esteemed companies who received funds include Elixia, Astrophel Aerospace, GetPlus, Zintlr.

Mr. Rajat Mehta, Chairman, JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF), said, “In navigating the evolving entrepreneur landscape, platforms like ‘JITO Shark Angels’ nurture talent and drive impactful initiatives. This will set an unprecedented benchmark, showcasing the prowess of JIIF as a truly inclusive platform and highlighting the diverse talent and expertise of our esteemed sharks. We look forward to the continued support of all stakeholders in providing the necessary support and best resources to our entrepreneurs and being a catalyst in their growth journey.”

The event also struck a chord with the audience, demonstrating a shared interest in creativity and development. JIIF had previously hosted such events such as, JSA, for women-led startups. These events will pave the way for future collaboration and ideas, resulting in a positive shift in the startup ecosystem.