Ericsson to extend network exposure to the edge

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Lahore (Nut Desk)

Ericsson launches Edge Exposure Server to enable new enterprise and consumer services through simple and enriched APIs for edge applications.

5G and edge computing are opening a world of new revenue opportunities across manufacturing, transport, gaming and mission-critical services. Combined they enable new services requiring low latency, high bandwidth and capabilities such as device processing and data offload. Edge computing consists of five technology areas including edge infrastructure, -user plane, -routing, -orchestration and exposure.

Exposure makes network capabilities, such as location and quality of service, and data easily available for the ecosystem to innovate on to improve existing services or create new services. Edge exposure is a function with enriched APIs specifically for edge applications requiring quick API responses and secure communication between application and devices. Since providing new services based on 5G and edge computing often involves several companies in the ecosystem, for example application developers and hyperscale cloud infrastructure providers, there is also a need to support flexible business models catering for the needs of all involved parties.

Ericsson Edge Exposure Server is an addition to the current product Ericsson Cloud Core Exposure Server and provides network exposure capabilities to support simple and developer-friendly APIs to edge application ecosystems. Making it easy for developers is foundational to bring new services to the market quickly and with limited system integration efforts. The APIs will initially include device information and location and quality of services functions. Ericsson Edge Exposure Server also enables CSPs to add value within the ecosystem through functions such as edge application discovery making it easier for devices to connect to the right edge location and common exposure for monetization addressing the need of flexible business models. 

Monica Zethzon, Head of Solution Area Packet Core at Ericsson says: “​With the launch of the Edge Exposure Server, we will further support CSPs to be part in delivering new enterprise and consumer services like drones, AR/VR and gaming while maximizing the quality of experience.”

Exposure capabilities are vital in making CSPs more attractive partners in the edge ecosystem, enabling innovation of services beyond mobile broadband. A typical use case involving edge exposure is connected drones that are used for mission critical tasks where both regulatory requirements and video streaming quality is important.

Caroline Chappell, Research director at Analysys Mason says: “Ericsson’s Exposure Server supports developer-friendly APIs and a path to API harmonization across CSP 4/5G networks. This will enable CSPs to add value within the edge ecosystem to application developers, system integrators, public cloud providers and device OEMs.”

 

Short Video Sharing Platforms Empower Revival

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Short Video Sharing Platforms Empower Revival of Endangered Pakistani Regional Dialects through Hashtag Challenges

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The world is home to nearly 8 billion people that share between 5000 to 7000 languages amongst them. However, with the pace of globalization and set standards of educational languages, most of the regional dialects are under threat. It is estimated that just 0.2% of the world’s languages are spoken by more than half of the global population. This has led linguists to believe that 50% to 90% of the regional languages will either be endangered or dead by the year 2100.

Pakistan, is the world’s sixth most populous country so it comes as no surprise that there 75 different languages spoken across the nation. 65 of these 75 languages are regional. Sadly, however, 8 of them are endangered. These languages are distinct national assets and protecting them is a holistic responsibility.

Thankfully though, we live in a world where social media spans every part of the world. These platforms play a particularly effective role in highlighting some of the most critical issues, no matter which remote corner of the globe they occur in. Nowadays, short video sharing platforms are garnering renewed hype and applications like Likee, which is amongst the most popular ones in the country, are raising awareness regarding under-rated challenges.

In light of the serious situation of language desertification, Likee launched the #LanguageChallenge to allow Pakistan’s vibrant dialects in achieving the spotlight that they deserve. With 677 total posts and 359 creators engaged, the hashtag generated viewership from nearly 900,000 people. Creators used their mother tongues and regional dialects to highlight how every language is important.

Creators like Romma and FadiRajpoot posted interesting videos comparing common phrases and conversations in some of the mother languages of Pakistan like Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Saraiki and Pashto. The videos drew immense appreciation from their fans and audiences in general, giving the hashtag, the traction that it deserved.

Expressing his views regarding the campaign, Likee representative stated; “As a responsible and audience focused platform, Likee attaches immense importance to the dynamics of markets that it caters too. We want to bring some dialects that are being forgotten to the spotlight. We are glad to have served a unique role in the promotion of regional languages in Pakistan and will continue to introduce such initiatives in the future as well.”

Short video sharing platforms like Likee are playing a conducive role in showcasing some of the most important angles of society. In its essence, this is what social media should aspire to be.

Zong 4G redefines digitalization with its latest TVC

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Zong 4G redefines digitalization with its latest TVC that unveils its new tagline: Let’s Get Digital

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Zong has taken the industry by storm with its recently launched TV Commercial starring some of the most prolific Social Media influencers who unveil the new tagline for the brand- Let’s Get Digital. Embracing the digital revolution and leading it from the front, Zong 4G has stretched the conventional boundaries and has proved to be the youth’s brand of choice for their digital needs.

As a brand that truly understands the ever-evolving needs of its customers and adapts quickly to meet them, the new clutter-breaking TV Commercial showcases how Zong 4G is resonating with the youth’s feelings and empowering them on an emotional level. Transitioning seamlessly from its former tagline ‘A New Dream’, Let’s Get Digital represents Zong’s digital journey and how effectively it built a solid foundation that caters to the nation’s ever-changing connectivity needs.

 “At Zong, we understand that leading the nation to a digital future requires much more than just basic infrastructure. Rather it also needs a digital partner, which enables the digital lifestyle and provides them with unmatched digital experience. ” Shared Zong’s official spokesperson. “We are the youth’s preferred digital partner because we connect with them like no other and understand their ever-changing connectivity needs.”

“With the new tagline, we’re telling Pakistan just that: we’re the digital partner in the country. This is proven by the fact Zong is the one that is carrying the largest share of the data traffic in Pakistan and hence we want Pakistani to embark on the journey of digitalization with us. We are excited about the new TVC and hope that our customers will be able to connect with it,” the spokesperson added.

Over the past years when digital connectivity has become imperative for economic growth, Zong has played a pivotal role in connecting Pakistan and providing a strong foundation for its economic and digital uplift. As a brand that truly understands the needs of its customers, last year saw Zong become the only brand to partner with the likes of Google Maps, YouTube, PUBG, Punjab Skills Development Fund and Sehat Kahani.

As a true enabler of digitalization, Zong 4G is powering more than 60% of Pakistan’s Data traffic through its seamless connectivity solutions. With the new tagline, Zong is now ready to take the nation to the digital future it has been creating for over a decade. ‘Let’s Get Digital’ is also more relevant as Zong continues to spearhead the ICT-powered digital transformation in Pakistan and be a key enabler of the government’s Digital Pakistan agenda.

Zong is the No.1 choice of the nation. Its leadership in digital innovation has been recognized on many occasions which is an affirmation that Zong 4G has been at the forefront of providing unrivalled digital solutions, matchless connectivity, and the most advanced customer care.

For over a decade, Zong has led the country’s ICT-powered digital transformation in the country, taking the lead on many fronts. From pioneering 4G in Pakistan to testing 5G for the first time here, and from free YouTube and Google Maps to industry-leading My Zong App, Zong continues to lead Pakistan to a digital future that the nation envisions. Leveraging on state-of-the-art technology, the company is providing unmatched data connectivity to Pakistanis and continues to be customers’ foremost preference in Pakistan.

Canon organized Pakistan first Wedding Photography workshops for young professionals

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Canon Image Products Pakistan, a leader in digital imaging solutions, has organized Pakistan’s first wedding Videography &photography workshop in order to trainer Young professional with latest technics and emerging tools to make their photography more professional. The Canon has arranged Pakistan leading Photographer trainers to empower young professional in wedding photography field. The renowned Videographer Mr. Shahrukh Bhatti and Mr. Erfan Ehson Wedding Photography specialist led this workshop to enhance the skills of the participants in shooting and editing the content. The Workshop has witness positive response from local Photojournalist community helping future generations of storytellers to continue to learn and grow through the power of their creativity.

The workshop offer hands-on experience to participants in which Trainers were involved in live bridal Photography and videography session to demonstrate real shoot of Model bridal and groom. The Hands-on experience has enabled the trainees to experience the actual professional shoot from Pakistan renowned Photographer and Videographyand helped them to learned highly professional technics of shooting wedding ceremonies and editing content by applying most advance tools to make their work more natural. The participants are exposed to real life photography and Videography session from top professionals in this field.

On this occasion, Mr. Sarshar Ali Country Manager Pakistan Canon Image Products appreciated the participants response and thanks Trainer to make this workshop successful to enhance the skills of wedding Photographer and Videography. He further added “ Canon is committed to revolutionize the Photography to next level through best utility ofcanon professional cameras, lenses and accessories by highly skilled professional. This workshop exposure to Canon’s superb digital imaging technology, truly represents the embodiment of what our company stands for—an unwavering dedication to help people tap into their creativity to reach new heights of their potential.”

This workshop is continuation of Canon global initiative of annual program that offers a unique learning environment for young photojournalists. Canon has been engaged with leading Photographer & Videographer of Pakistan to raise the skilled level of young professional in producing high grade imaging solutions to their customers.

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Knowledge Platform, in collaboration with GSMA and CreditPer

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Knowledge Platform, in collaboration with GSMA and CreditPer, launches Pakistan’s first educational device

Our goal with this device is to bring education to every household in Pakistan at an affordable price.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Knowledge Platform, a leading ed-tech organization in Pakistan, has launched Pakistan’s first educational device in collaboration with GSMA and CreditPer, a leading digital lending platform that provides easy access to digital credit to under-served and un-served market segments.

Launching such a device and facilitating access to it on easy installments via CreditPer is a game changer that is expected to eliminate the digital divide in education in Pakistan. This device offers everything a student required to study. One can easily get the device of their choice recommended by Knowledge Platform, on installments through CreditPer with instant financing options.

The device comes pre-loaded with learning solutions powered by Knowledge Platform, a library of content including videos, games, and assessments and mobile data

Only 1 million out of 49 million school-going (grade 1-12)students in Pakistan have access to dedicated educational smart devices. This means that~98% of students are significantly affected and disadvantaged when it comes to education and learning opportunities.

Knowledge Platform, a pioneer in ed-tech, has therefore stepped up to bridge the digital divide in education with Pakistan’s first-ever educational device. The device comes with Learn Smart Pakistan’s state-of-the-art learning solutions, which include curriculum-aligned digital content for K-12 students. It is also preloaded with Parhai Buddy (Pakistan’s first AI-powered learning coach), Exam Prep Master (Learn Smart Pakistan), 1-on-1 competitions, and teacher-led trainings.

To increase mobile adoption, CreditPer is offering easy installment plans to meet unique individual needs. To increase internet adoption in the region, we have also partnered with Jazz Telecom to come up with an Edu-data sim containing a subsidized internet package at PKR. 150 per month.

The project has been recognized, and nominated for the Global Mobile Awards, by the GSMA as a best mobile innovation for the emerging markets and is considered an outstanding contribution to the UN SDGs.

Mahboob Mahmood CEO, Knowledge Platform said “We are honored to bethe change makers in theed-tech industry. Affordable devices and internet access are key barriers to online education. With the launch of this educational tablet, we have moved a step closer to our goal of bridging the digital divide. Through this deal with CreditPer, the device is available on installments to people with low-income streams, providing them access to personalized learning, digital content, games, assessments, and data. Over the years, the way education is practiced has evolved rapidly and it is good to see tech companies joining hands to transform education.”

“CreditPer is on a mission to bring affordable and accessible credit for every Pakistani to improve their lives, and this partnership with Knowledge Platform as Pakistan’s leading education technology organization, helps us in the pursuit and fulfillment of this mission. Parents will be able to order the Knowledge Platform education device, access Learn Smart Pakistan’s learning solutions & Parhai Buddy (Pakistan’s first AI-based learning coach), and Jazz mobile connectivity, all from the comfort of their homes and places of work. Additionally, they will also be enjoying swift loan approvals and product delivery from via CreditPer, thus being empowered to better equip their children for online learning. At CreditPer, we are honored and thrilled to be a part of this initiative to help eliminate the challenges (of device affordability) faced by a majority of Pakistani students. ”Says Owais Zaidi, CEO CreditPer.

 

Faizan Sheikh hosts show ‘Square Cut’ on Daraz App alongside Khurram Manzoor*

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The incredibly talented actor Faizan Sheikh is hosting a cricket show called ‘Square Cut’ on Daraz App along with guest expert cricket Khurram Manzoor. The show goes live before and after every PSL 7 match and is available to stream on the Daraz App.
Square Cut is full of entertainment and Faizan Sheikh will be talking about all the action happening on the field in detail and giving updates to the viewers.
After showcasing his talent on the silver screen and on television in different shows along with hosting a show called ‘The Mazedaar Show’ this is the first time ever that the actor will be hosting a sports show.

Ericsson 5G portfolio update

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Ericsson 5G portfolio update puts energy efficiency center stage

  • Seven new RAN products and solutions led by the flagship dual-band Radio 4490, which consumes 25 percent less power compared to current product.
  • Easy-to-deploy portfolio additions also include compact active-passive antennas, high-capacity ultra-lightweight Massive MIMO radios, and software features for energy savings and enhanced 5G performance.
  • Powered by next-generation Ericsson Silicon, the additions will lead to lower-footprint 5G sites, boosting bandwidth, energy efficiency and user experience.

(NUT DESK)  continues to strengthen its radio access network (RAN) portfolio with solutions that address the 5G rollout and sustainability goals of communications service providers. Announced today, the portfolio additions will deliver sizeable energy savings and up to ten-fold capacity increases – with minimal or no added footprint.

Leading the portfolio enhancements is Radio 4490, a dual-band radio that delivers 25 percent lower power consumption and lesser weight compared to the current product. This radio type is compatible with most of the radio sites globally as it supports the main FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) bands being used by many service providers for their 5G deployment.

Ericsson is also launching a high-power version of the new dual-band radio, 4490 HP, which enables up to 50 percent more output power compared to current radios. The two new radios apply passive cooling – reducing power consumption further, as fans are not needed. They are also Cloud RAN-ready.

Per Narvinger, Head of Product Area Networks, Ericsson, says: “We continue to evolve our RAN portfolio with more solutions for smart, slim, and sustainable 5G networks. Our latest innovations will further optimize 5G sites for both purpose-built and Cloud RAN deployments.”

5G rollouts are accelerating across the world, with frontrunners gearing up for the shift to 5G Standalone to drive new consumer and enterprise use cases. Introducing 5G means added spectrum and hardware – which is where Ericsson’s new products play a key role through the ability to raise capacity while slashing power usage – fueling efforts to break the energy curve.

The portfolio additions also include:

  • Easy-to-install 64T/R Massive MIMO AIR 6428 for mid-band, with 400MHz bandwidth for efficient RAN sharing, in a single-person-carry 25kg radio.
  • Highly integrated, multi-band Antenna 4602 – only 398mm wide, designed for best wind load durability and for maintained site build requirements.
  • Next-generation Interleaved AIR 3218 with industry-leading low height and weight, enabling Massive MIMO rollouts without growing visual antenna footprint.
  • Expanded Deep Sleep mode software for new radios and Massive MIMO portfolios. Consumes up to 70 percent less power per radio during low traffic hours.
  • Coverage Boost is a versatile 5G carrier aggregation software that delivers 60 percent wider reach for mid-band TDD (Time Division Duplex) compared to dual connectivity. It supports RAN Compute and Cloud RAN platforms.

The new products are powered by next-generation Ericsson Silicon, with its footprint-reducing, less power-consuming multi-band, and wide-band capabilities for remote and Massive MIMO radios.

Videos: Ericsson experts explain the benefits of the new RAN products

Gede Darmayusa , Director and CTO, PT XL Axiata, says: “XL Axiata always strives to provide the best customer experience to meet the ever-increasing demand for data services through the adoption of new technologies and other network initiatives. We have been pioneering the use of Ericsson’s first-generation dual-band radio technology since 2019. With the launch of the new dual-band 4T4R radio, we expect this innovation to continue to help us maximize user experience with greater energy efficiency and operational excellence.”

Ed Gubbins, Principal Analyst at Global Data, says: “With this launch Ericsson has shown its commitment to sustainability through energy-efficient products and solutions for 5G rollouts and site expansions. Ericsson’s recipe includes in-house silicon, innovative radio and antenna product engineering, and advanced software features.”

Learn more about the new RAN portfolio additions

Askari Bank partners with Hysab Kytab

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Askari Bank partners with Hysab Kytab to integrate Personal Finance Management (PFM) solution into Askari Digital Banking

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Hysab Kytab – one of the leading Fintech has signed an agreement with Askari Bank. This collaboration will empower Askari bank’s Internet and Mobile banking app users to take greater control of their financial well-being.

With PFM, users can effortlessly record and track expenses, create budgets in various categories, plan and track saving goals, view all accounts in one place and much more.

Speaking about the partnership and why PFM solutions are a must-have for banks Veqar-ul-Islam – CEO & Director JBS and Founder of Hysab Kytab said ” I believe the partnership between FinTech and banks is key for the development of compressive solutions offering to end customer. This collaboration with Askari bank will help to boost the digital financial awareness and inclusion of banking customers”.

Speaking about the partnership Yasir Ilyas – Head of Hysab Kytab said ‘’ This partnership is a major milestone. Hysab Kytab is a PFM born in Pakistan and I thank Askari Bank for trusting and selecting it for their own digital platform. This is the kind of support that our local banks can offer to help Pakistan’s FinTech industry to grow and provide solutions for the local requirements.

Commenting on the partnership Mr.Khurshid Zafar COO of Askari bank said: “Askari Bank has always strived to provide state of the art digital solutions to its customers. Our partnership with Fintechs is yet another step forward in this endeavor. We are equipping our customers with a digital tool that will enable them to track their spending patterns in the most effective way possible. I strongly believe this partnership will help us achieve our goal towards digitization.”

Mr. Shehryar Ali Shah CDO of Askari Bank said: “We are very excited to collaborate with Hysab Kytab on this project as it aligns with our strategic vision to be the best digital bank for our customers. This technology will capitalize on our momentum towards the use of digital and self-service channels and will elevate customer experience through Askari Bank’s Digital Channels with an unrivaled mobile banking technology.”

Mastercard expands its Business Intelligence Platform for Financial Institution

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Mastercard Market Trends is an interactive business intelligence platform that brings together up-to-date payments data, consumer and industry insights

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Mastercard has announced the expansion of its new interactive business intelligence platform Mastercard Market Trends in the Middle East and Africa. The new platform provides a comprehensive view of payments insights, competitive intelligence and industry trends for banks and financial institutions across the world and now within the Middle East and Africa. 

In the Middle East and Africa (MEA), the platform enables a comparison of over 300 cards from five key markets, access to market reports, analysis of global and regional leading fintechs and thought leadership on key payment industry and technology trends, such as Open Banking and Blockchain. Mastercard Market Trends provides a simple, curated view of reliable research – all in one place. 

“Access to relevant insights, data, and analytics to inform smart decisions is critical to business success. Mastercard Market Trends offers a one-stop shop for financial institutions to access key information, which will allow for better decision-making and results. The platform brings together the latest market, industry and consumer insights, enabling financial institutions to really understand their customers and confidently embrace the constant evolution in how people shop and pay,” said Dimitrios Dosis, President, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard.

Mastercard Market Trends includes five key features:

Market Assessment: easy-to-access reports providing insights into socio-economic, payment and digital KPI data curated at local level by Mastercard teams with five key MEA markets (Egypt, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Arab Emirates) analyzed in detail.

Card Comparison: filtering and benchmarking features of card products issued by different schemes and issuers to help users understand the current MEA competitive landscape. This includes an overview of key metrics at a local level. This includes an overview of key metrics and features at the local level. More than 6,000 cards are available for comparison from 62 countries across the world.

Consumer Research: access to research studies commissioned by Mastercard globally and regionally to provide insight across a wide range of topics

New Payment Experience: analysis of leading regional and global Fintechs and best practices to help inform strategies in a constantly evolving payments landscape e.g., use cases and company profiles.

Industry Insight: access to our repository of videos, studies and global thought leadership on technology trends that are shaping the industry.

This platform is the latest offering from Mastercard Data & Services and is available now for issuers and acquirers across the Middle East and Africa by accessing the Mastercard Market Trends website via www.trends.mastercardservices.com with their Mastercard Connect credentials.

Mastercard Market Trends, after a successful launch in Europe, the Americas and Asia, is slated to see further expansion through 2022.

OPPO Announces Strategic Partnership in Mobile Imaging with Hasselblad

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Global technology brand OPPO announced a three-year partnership with Hasselblad, the legendary camera manufacturer, to co-develop industry-leading camera technologies for OPPO’s flagship Find series. The two brands will focus on breakthroughs in color science to create an improved mobile photography experience on Hasselblad Camera for Mobile.

Since the integration of OPPO and OnePlus, research and development resources between the brands have been combined to maximize efficiency and improve user experience. With the imaging advances made in the partnership between OnePlus and Hasselblad, OPPO is excited to elevate the strategic partnership to the corporate level for both the OPPO and OnePlus brands.

“Following the success of OnePlus and Hasselblad’s collaboration in the past year, we are very pleased to see the partnership enter a new stage of development, giving more users around the world a chance to enjoy the legendary Hasselblad mobile imaging experience,” says Pete Lau, Chief Product Officer. “Camera color performance has always been a focus for OPPO and a part of Hasselblad’s DNA. We are very excited to be able to explore the future of Hasselblad Camera for Mobile together.”

Building top-tier imaging systems capable of delivering a world-class mobile photography experience is a key strategy for OPPO to bring forth a next-generation premium smartphone experience. Following the launch of OPPO’s first self-developed imaging NPU MariSilicon X, OPPO is further committed to creating a world-class photography experience through its cooperation with Hasselblad.

OPPO and Hasselblad will now work together to further develop advanced imaging solutions through R&D collaboration, which aims to provide users with more natural colors and a more refined imaging experience. Leveraging Natural Color Calibration with Hasselblad, OPPO also targets to bring the most natural skin tone possible to its portrait photography.

Starting with the software improvements for natural color tuning, the three-year partnership will further enhance the color calibration solution and target to establish the new benchmark for smartphone camera color performance, delivering a consistent natural color performance for OPPO mobile phones to cover all scenarios and across the entire camera system.

The result of this collaboration, “OPPO | Hasselblad Camera for Mobile”, will be first introduced in the next generation of OPPO’s flagship Find X series in the first quarter of 2022.