Internet Users in India to Reach 627 Million in 2019: Report

India’s internet users expected to register double digit growth to reach 627 million in 2019, driven by rapid internet growth in rural areas, said market research agency Kantar IMRB on Wednesday.

Internet usage in the country has exceeded half a billion people for the first time, pegged at 566 million, driven by rural internet growth and usage.

In its ICUBE 2018 report that tracks digital adoption and usage trends in India, it noted that the number of internet users in India has registered an annual growth of 18% and is estimated at 566 million as of December 2018, a 40% overall internet penetration, it observed.

It projected double-digit growth for 2019 and estimates that the number of internet users will reach 627 million by the end of this year.

Of the total user base, 87% or 493 million Indians, are defined as regular users, having accessed internet in last 30 days. Nearly 293 million active internet users reside in urban India, while there are 200 million active users in rural India, it said.

Mahindra Group Unveils Electric Super Car - Battista

Luxury electric vehicles brand Automobili Pininfarina, a part of the Mahindra Group, unveiled its luxury electric vehicle Battista here which is touted to be faster than a current Formula 1 race car in its 0-100 km/h sub-two  second sprint.

When it arrives in 2020, the Battista will be the most powerful car ever designed and built in Italy. It has the potential to accelerate to 62 mph in less than two seconds, faster than a Formula 1 car, and break the 250 mph top speed barrier all with a potential zero emissions range of over 300 miles, the company said.

It will deliver a level of performance that is “unachievable today in any road-legal sports car featuring internal combustion engine technology”, it claimed.

“This is the most authentic and exciting automotive story imaginable. The Battista is the hypercar of the future, inspired by a legendary past,” Automobili Pininfarina CEO Michael Perschke told reporters here. Electrification unlocks the door to a new level of performance and a zero-emissions future, whilst a passion and respect for automotive history will define how this landmark car looks and feels, he added. “We aim for the Battista to be a future classic and automotive icon, writing its own page in automotive history books,” Perschke said.

No more than 150 Battistas will be hand-crafted in Italy and allocated equally between the regions of North America,

Europe and Middle East/Asia, Pininfarina said. Customer service will be delivered through some of the world’s best luxury car retail specialists, it added.

The Turin-based company has named the model after Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, the founder of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina coach building company that he started in 1930. The all-electric hypercar is designed and hand-built in very limited numbers at Pininfarina SpA. Mahindra Group acquired Pininfarina in late 2015 for over EUR 50 million after months of negotiations. 

Data is the New Oil and Need to Leverage on its Potential, Says Kiran Shaw at CII Karnataka Meet 2019

Data is the new oil in today's world and it's crude oil in nature and we need to refine it before we use it, says Kiran Mazumdar-shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon Limited. Data is an immensely, untapped valuable asset. Like oil, for those who see Data’s fundamental value and learn to extract and use it there will be huge rewards. We are living in the most existing and best of times ever in terms of the potential we have to change the world with technology, Shaw said addressing at the Karnataka Annual Meet 2019: Public Session "Business Transformation & Agility in Volatile Times" on Wednesday in Bengaluru.

We are witnessing the birth of technologies that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work and relate to one another and Bengaluru is driving this trend in India. Today this city has 2 million software engineers that accounts to about 20 percent of Indian's best engineering workforce and another 10 percent of medical and other skilled professionals all living in Bengaluru.

The next decade will see cutting edge technologies such as Data Science, Cloud Computing, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence provide huge opportunities will create new employment opportunities, she informs adding that however, quality of air, water in the city is deteriorating and technology is the new enabler in this front. "Don't let Bengaluru follow in lines of Lucknow and NCR, who are ranked India's top polluting cities."

Another major issue is the traffic problems in the city and mobility is the huge challenge. "With electric vehicles coming in, the government, industry and associations like CII need to come together to address these problems using technology,  she adds.

As part of the Clean Air Policy, Azim Premji along with Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw will take it up to the governemt shortly. "We will continue to invest in science and technology in a big way," she concludes.

Addressing the new members of CII, K.J. George says eminent industriest like Narayana Murthy, Azim Premji and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw took the initiative to develop the industries in the city. Today with the fast growth, infrastructure is taking a beating. Today we got funds to develop to upgrade the infrastructure. Like the Metro project, the government generated its own funds. We are connecting the airport with city and also other parallel roads will connect the airport. We are also laying out a Peripheral Ring Road and other roads to ease the traffic in the city, he said.

"ITI, HMT which were once were well doing industries are today on the verge of closure mainly because they did not adopt new technology. But BHEL, BEL are doing well because they have implemented the new technology. Both the governemt and industry can come together to develop better infrastructure using technology," he remarks.

Others who spoke on the occasion include: Dr N Muthukumar, Chairman CII and also Dr Charan Singh, Chief Executive and Director, EGROW Foundation.

ABB Launches Digital Portfolio ABB Ability MineOptimize for the Indian Mining Sector

ABB Ability MineOptimize is an innovative, comprehensive portfolio of optimized electrification, drives and automation solutions, optimized engineering, digital applications and collaborative services. It combines in-depth sector knowledge, leading edge technology and global and local project management, engineering and digital transformation expertise developed by ABB over 60 years of working with the mining and minerals industry at every stage of the mining cycle.

This comes at a time when the Government of India last week announced the new National Mineral Policy 2019. With digitalization at its heart, ABB AbilityTM MineOptimize connects all electrification, automation and digital offerings to optimize all stages in the lifecycle from design and build to operation and service – of any open pit or underground mine and minerals processing plant. Also, in the current scenario when Indian mines are combining renewables with thermal generation and battery storage, the aim is to increase efficiency while reducing their carbon footprint and overall costs.

ABB AbilityTM MineOptimize comprises a suite of digitally connected products, services and solutions, which include state-of-the-art digital technologies for remote services, predictive maintenance tools as well as solutions for upgrades and retrofits. Advanced application libraries, software solutions and digital platforms reduce process complexity, promote safe and secure production and lower lifetime operating costs. By ensuring that the right people have the right information at the right time and from anywhere, ABB AbilityTM MineOptimize digital applications enable mine operators to maximize reliability, safety, productivity and energy efficiency while optimizing planning and visibility across operations and the entire enterprise.

“Optimization of mining and mineral processing operations in order to improve productivity, reduce downtime and protect workforce and the environment is essential and an important factor in being competitive in the market,” said Martin Knabenhans, head of product management for ABB’s Process Industries business unit. “The ABB AbilityTM MineOptimize portfolio offers open, digitally connected mining applications for unmatched operation, maintenance, process and production performance. As digital transformation partner ABB AbilityTM MineOptimize enables IT/OT integration for some of the world's most cost-effective mines.”

ABB will shape the future of mining by rolling out new electrification solutions, digital applications and collaborative services in the innovative ABB AbilityTM MineOptimize portfolio throughout the year to:

·         Enable sustainable mining by powering the all-electric mine

·         Re-invent mining automation with the next generation of ABB Ability™ System 800xA for Process and Power Control

·         Improve availability through enhanced collaborative services with new predictive cloud based analytics for grinding, hoists and conveyors

The new ABB AbilityTM MineOptimize digital applications complement electrification and automation solutions and dedicated mining systems for hoists, gearless or ring geared mill drives and material handling which can be applied in the building or revamping of a mine.  They will also sit alongside collaborative remote assistance, availability, performance and quality services.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in power grids, electrification products, industrial automation and robotics and motion, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization with two clear value propositions: bringing electricity from any power plant to any plug and automating industries from natural resources to finished products. As title partner in ABB Formula E, the fully electric international FIA motorsport class, ABB is pushing the boundaries of e-mobility to contribute to a sustainable future. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. www.abb.com.

Digitally-Led, Digitally-Driven: Spice Digital Changes its Brand Identity to DiGiSPICE

In a strategic development which underlines its position as the most trusted strategic partner in the digital transformation of private and public enterprises as well as governments, Spice Digital has revamped its brand identity to DiGiSPICE. As part of the rebranding, it has merged all of its business units and international operations across geographies such as the Middle-East, Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia under the DiGiSPICE brand. The company has also undertaken extensive employee re-orientation to help them understand what the brand stands for.

The move is aimed at reflecting the company’s continued evolution as a digital leader over the last 18 years, as well as its focus on utilizing its extensive expertise in new-age technologies to deliver impactful digital solutions. Post the revamp, DiGiSPICE also aims to make greater headway into emerging cutting-edge domains such as Blockchain, Robotic Process Automation, Big Data, Data Analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) etc.

Speaking about the need for the brand revamp, Dilip Modi – Founder & Chairman, DiGiSPICE, said, “With several major technological advancements having completely transformed the global business ecosystem, organizations across industries find themselves at a curious crossroads. They realize that they need to be ready for a digitally-led, digitally-driven future, but lack the specialized expertise to do so. This is where we come into the picture. Our brand revamp is aimed at reaffirming our digital-first strategy and highlighting the pioneering work that we have been doing, not just in India but on a global stage, as a cohesive business unit guided by a singular vision.”

Leveraging its core capabilities in engineering, analytics, and automation, DiGiSPICE enables customers to easily reinvent products, operations, and business models, while helping to build a strong digital ecosystem for brands and organizations across various sectors. Its in-depth knowledge of digital domains, acute technical insights, customer-first approach, and agile service delivery have enabled the company to achieve industry leadership across segments.

“As Spice Digital, we have blazed several new trails, assisting enterprises and organizations in their transformational journeys. As DiGiSPICE, we aim to take this proposition forward and raise the bar that we’ve set within the industry even higher. We believe the future will be completely digital, and we aim to empower enterprises and consumers across the globe by accelerating the adoption of digital technologies. We are confident that – in keeping with our brand vision – we will impact billions of lives globally, one innovation at a time,” Dilip added.

With a global presence in several high-potential international markets, DiGiSPICE has several cutting-edge digital products and services catering to four major domains: Enterprise, Entertainment, Government, and Financial Services. The company has been working with over 50 operators across 30 countries and over 40 enterprises, and has also undertaken exclusive tie-ups with governments and key enterprises to deliver a wide range of digital and technology-driven solutions.

Google Launches ‘Bolo’, a New Speech Based Reading-Tutor App

Aimed at bridging the learning gap in education, Google today launched a new app ‘Bolo’ that parents can download to help primary grade children improve their Hindi & English reading skills. The beta version of Bolo, launched in India first, is optimised for native Hindi speakers, and uses Google’s speech recognition and text-to-speech technology. It comes with a built-in fun and helpful reading buddy, “Diya”, that encourages, aids, explains, and corrects the child, as they read aloud. Designed to work offline, Bolo is available today on the Google Play Store, in India, for all smartphones running Android 4.4 (Kit Kat) and higher.

As per the annual ASER 2018 report, of all students enrolled in grade 5 in rural India, only about half of them can confidently read a grade 2 level textbook. Lack of reading ability can significantly impact further education, and ultimately children's ability to realize their full potential. While the reasons behind the lag in learning levels are varied and complex, limited access to quality material, under-resourced infrastructure, and barriers to learning outside the classroom, are amongst the primary ones.

Nitin Kashyap, Product Manager, Google India said, “Bolo is designed as a reading-tutor app that helps primary grade students to improve their reading -- anytime, anywhere. With Bolo, we aim to encourage and engage kids so their love for reading grows and it becomes a daily habit. We believe that technology can be a powerful enabler, and we want to ensure that students, parents, teachers and the education ecosystem, benefit from it. We have been piloting Bolo in 200 villages, and the early results are very encouraging.  We are now actively working with a number of nonprofit partners to take it to more people across the country who could benefit from it.”

Zohair Hyder, Engineering lead for Bolo said, “We all have our own personal experience and know that reading aloud with someone giving 1:1 feedback helps improve reading skills.  Many children, especially those in rural India don’t have this support. With Bolo we wanted to bring a similar experience to anyone who needs it, via their smartphone.”

Bolo helps children in many ways:

Read all by themselves: Just like a personalized reading tutor, the app assists them at every step, giving both positive and corrective feedback.
Choose from a large variety of engaging stories: All the reading material on the app is completely free and the initial catalogue from Storyweaver.org.in includes 50 stories in Hindi & 40 in English; with more being added soon.
Enjoy as they learn: Children can also play interesting word games and earn in-app rewards and badges, helping reading become both fun, and a daily habit.
Improve at their own pace: Multiple children can use the same app, and track their progress separately. Over time the difficulty level of recommended stories adjusts to their reading skills.
Understand English better: Diya - the reading buddy in the app can not only read out the text to your child, but also explain the meaning of English text in Hindi.
Read without distractions (and without data too): The app works even when offline, so children can just focus on reading, and is completely ads free.
Stay safe and secure: The app has been designed with children's safety and security in mind and all personal information always stays on device.

Google has been piloting Bolo with over 900 children in 200 villages in Uttar Pradesh, India, with the help of ASER Centre. The results are very encouraging, with 64% of children showing an improvement in reading proficiency in just 3 months.

ACT Fibernet and Netflix Announce Strategic Partnership Across India

ACT Fibernet, India’s largest fiber broadband provider and Netflix, world’s leading internet entertainment service, today announced a strategic partnership. As part of this partnership, ACT Fibernet’s existing and new customers who select from the newly launched 6-month and 12-month ‘Entertainment’ plan variants will be able to seamlessly pay for their monthly Netflix subscription through their ACT Fibernet bill. This will also enable customers to receive an assured cashback of up to INR 350 per month on their ACT bills, which will be added to their ACT accounts.  The offer will be available for ACT Fibernet customers from tomorrow, March 6, 2019 across Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and will be subsequently expanded to other markets.

Speaking on the partnership, Ravi Karthik, Marketing Head, Atria Convergence Technologies Ltd. said, " In line with our brand philosophy  Feel the Advantage, we are excited to partner with Netflix, one of the most preferred choice of entertainment for our customers, and provide exceptional benefits and convenience to our users who will now be able to stream and enjoy the best of 4K and HD content seamlessly.

Further, under our advantage entertainment promise, we are delighted to launch a unique assured cashback program for all our customers who choose to subscribe for Netflix via ACT.”

Speaking on the partnership, Abhishek Nag, Director - Business Development, Netflix India said, “Rising video consumption is at the heart of the growing broadband internet ecosystem in India. We are delighted to partner with ACT Fibernet to enable their customers to pay seamlessly for their Netflix subscription as part of their ACT bill and enjoy our incredible catalogue of content on any internet-connected screen.”

In Bengaluru, the ACT Entertainment variants are available on ACT Storm, ACT Lightning, ACT Incredible and ACT GIGA broadband plans. Likewise, in Hyderabad, ACT Entertainment variants are available on A Max-1050, A Max-1299, ACT Incredible and ACT GIGA. In Chennai, the ACT Entertainment variants are available on ACT Blast Promo, ACT Storm, ACT Lightning, ACT Thunder, ACT Incredible and ACT GIGA. Similarly, in Delhi, the ACT Entertainment variants are available on ACT Platinum Promo, and ACT Diamond broadband plans.