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☆ Singapore pushes for green data centers as growing AI demand strains energy resources
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SINGAPORE — Singapore is pushing for green data centers as the explosive demand for artificial intelligence puts a strain on energy resources. The city-state launched a green data center roadmap on Thursday to support its ambitions for the digital economy as demand for AI and computing grows. The roadmap aims to provide at least 300 megawatts of additional capacity in the near term, with more through "green energy deployments." Plans to provide additional data center capacity include raising energy efficiency of all data centers in Singapore, deploying energy-efficient IT equipment as well as offering incentives or grants for resource efficiency. The AI boom has boosted demand for data centers which house large amounts of data required to train and deploy AI models, making them extremely energy intensive.

Persons: Janil Puthucheary, IMDA, Tony Blair Organizations: State for Communications, Media Development Authority, Tony Blair Institute for Global Locations: SINGAPORE — Singapore, Singapore

☆ Singapore to triple AI talent to 15,000 experts, deputy PM says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken, June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE Dec 4 - Singapore plans to triple its pool of artificial intelligence experts, including machine-learning scientists and engineers, to 15,000, as part of its national AI strategy, deputy prime minister Lawrence Wong said on Monday. Singapore also pledged under its AI strategy to increase government incentives for the sector, including by backing accelerator programs for AI startups and encouraging companies to set up AI "centres of excellence." Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced on Monday a $52.3 million ($70 million SGD) initiative to develop Southeast Asia's first large language model, catering to the region's languages. Reporting by Fanny Potkin in Singapore; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lawrence Wong, Singapore's, Fanny Potkin, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, SINGAPORE, Microsoft, Nvidia, U.S Securities and Exchange Commission, Media Development Authority, Thomson Locations: Singapore, U.S, China, Taiwan

☆ Singapore's river-cleaning robots are producing 80% less carbon emissions than the human-powered boats they replaced
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Sarah Sloat | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

There are barista robots, construction robots, surgeon robots, and eldercare robots. And now another group of robots using 5G technology has entered the scene: river-cleaning robots. Weston Robot, a Singaporean company that develops robotic solutions, designed and produced the robots. The 5G cleaning robots replaced gas-powered boatsBefore the robots, people operating gas-fueled boats cleaned the waterways around Marina Bay. The IMDA said the robots, which run on a battery charge, can reduce carbon emissions by about 80% compared to the boats.

Persons: —, they're, Singapore's, Yanliang Zhang, Weston Robot, Zhang, IMDA Organizations: Service, Weston Robot, Infocomm Media Development Authority, Singapore's Ministry of Communications, Information, Weston, National University of Singapore, LTE Locations: Singapore, Marina Bay, Marina

☆ Tata to make iPhones in India after buying Wistron business
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of Tata Group is seen at a business meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi March 23, 2009. REUTERS/Vijay Mathur/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Tata Group is set to start assembling Apple (AAPL.O) iPhones in India after Wistron Corp (3231.TW) approved the sale of its Indian manufacturing unit to the salt-to-software conglomerate, a minister said on Friday. A Tata company will start making iPhones in India for domestic and global markets, Deputy Minister for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on social media platform X. The Wistron board approved the sale of Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing India Private Limited to Tata Electronics Private Limited for an estimated $125 million, according to a statement from the Taiwan-based supplier shared by the minister. Apple has been touting India as its next big growth driver as it looks to move some production away from China.

Persons: Vijay Mathur, Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Wistron, Narasapura, Munsif Vengattil, Blassy Boben, Alexander Smith Organizations: Tata Group, Confederation of Indian Industry, REUTERS, Apple, Wistron Corp, Tata, Information Technology, India, Limited, Tata Electronics Private Limited, Wistron, Pegatron Corp, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, DELHI, iPhones, India, Taiwan, China, Karnataka

☆ South Korea Had High Hopes for 5G. What Happened?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Jiyoung Sohn | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Journal Reports: TechnologyBillionaire Bets That a $12 Mobile Phone Can Get More of the World’s Most-Populous Country OnlineBy Newley PurnellSmartphones are financially out of reach for millions of people in India. Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio Infocomm’s new device can stream music and video.

Persons: Newley Purnell, Mukesh Ambani’s Organizations: Technology Locations: India

☆ Singapore's digital economy – from e-commerce to social media – nearly doubled in five years
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The study, published Friday, revealed that the economic contribution of the digital economy to Singapore's GDP nearly doubled to 106 billion Singapore dollars ($77.5 billion) in 2022, up from SG$58 billion in 2017, according to CNBC's calculations. The digital economy is divided into two parts: the information and communications sector; and digitalization in the rest of the economy. One-third of the digital economy was driven by the information and communications sector and two-thirds by digitalization in the rest of the economy. "The expansion of the digital economy has come on the back of increasing adoption of digital technologies by enterprises, which in turn contributed to the robust growth of tech manpower," IMDA said in the report. Comparatively, Singapore's digital economy performed better, contributing to 16.7% of its GDP in 2020.

Persons: Joseph Nair, IMDA Organizations: Central Business District, Getty Images, Media Development Authority, Singapore, digitalization Locations: Marina, Singapore, SINGAPORE, Estonia, Sweden, United Kingdom

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Israel-Hamas war will have a limited effect on markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Markets shook off fearsU.S. stocks rose Monday despite a 4% spike in oil prices caused by the Israel-Hamas war. Booming digital economySingapore's digital economy contributed 106 billion Singapore dollars ($77.5 billion) to the economy last year, comprising more than 17% of gross domestic product. "Despite the recent tech sector lay-offs, the demand for tech jobs is likely to remain resilient," said the country's Infocomm Media Development Authority.

Persons: Russell, Goldman Sachs, Goldman Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, CNBC, Japan's Nikkei, Palestinian, Hamas, United Nations, Hong Kong, Singapore, Media Development Authority Locations: New York City, Israel, Asia, Pacific, Shanghai, Gaza

[1/2] Mukesh Ambani (R), Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, poses with (from 2nd R to L) wife Nita Ambani, children Isha Ambani, Anant Ambani, and Akash Ambani before addressing the company's annual general meeting in Mumbai, India July 21, 2017. With Mukesh Ambani in his late 60s, "the time is probably right ... "This is also an attempt by Mukesh Ambani to ensure the next generation of Ambani siblings stay close to one another and do not have any discord." He is already the chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, the telecom arm of Reliance. Akash's twin sister Isha is driving the expansion of Reliance Retail into new categories and geographies, and is already a director on the boards of the retail unit, Reliance Retail Ventures, which houses the conglomerate's bets in India's brick-and-mortar and e-commerce industries.

Persons: Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, Isha Ambani, Anant Ambani, Akash Ambani, Shailesh Andrade, Isha, Akash, Ambani, Anant, Arun Dasmahapatra, Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh, Anil, Nita, Munsif Vengattil, Aditya Kalra, Tom Hogue, Mark Potter Organizations: Reliance Industries, REUTERS, India's Reliance Industries Ltd, Monday, Reliance, Brown University, Meta, Infocomm, Reliance Retail, Reliance Retail Ventures, Qatar Investment Authority, Investors, giga, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, BENGALURU, Jio, Bengaluru

☆ India's Jio launches Netflix subscription on prepaid plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A man walks across the LED board showing the logo of Jio at the ongoing India Mobile Congress 2022, at Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi, India, October 3, 2022. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 18 (Reuters) - Reliance Jio Infocomm, the telecom arm of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries (RELI.NS), said on Friday it has launched a Netflix subscription on prepaid plans. Jio said that around 400 million prepaid customers will get the option of availing a Netflix subscription through two packages, one priced at 1,099 rupees ($13.23), which will give access to Netflix on mobile platforms, and the other for 1,499 rupees, providing access to a basic package for large screens. Jio's peers, Bharti Airtel (BRTI.NS) and Vodafone Idea (VODA.NS), provide subscription to the Disney+ Hotstar streaming service through prepaid bundled plans. ($1 = 83.0797 Indian rupees)Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto; Editing by Sonia CheemaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Anushree, Mukesh, Jio, Tony Zameczkowski, Ashna Teresa Britto, Sonia Cheema Organizations: Mobile, REUTERS, Reliance Industries, Netflix, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Disney, Jio, Thomson Locations: Pragati, New Delhi, India

☆ Lucasfilm shutters its Singapore studio after nearly 2 decades in the country amid Disney's plan to save $5.5 billion this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lucasfilm is shutting down its Singapore operations after nearly 20 years in the country. The shuttering comes amid Disney's push to save $5.5 billion in costs this year. Lucasfilm Singapore was the company's first international studio, located in its Star Wars-inspired "Sandcrawler" office. Lucasfilm is shutting down its Singapore operations after nearly two decades, the city-state's government said Tuesday. "Over the next several months, ILM will be consolidating its global footprint and winding down its Singapore studio due to economic factors affecting the industry," Disney said in a statement to the AFP.

Persons: Disney, Bob Iger, George Lucas Organizations: Lucasfilm, Lucasfilm Singapore, Morning, ILM, Force, AFP, Infocomm Media Development Authority, Disney, Channel News Asia, Cartoon Network, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Blackstone Group Locations: Singapore

☆ Reliance Retail to launch $200-laptop to replicate phone success
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, July 31 (Reuters) - India's Reliance Retail will launch a $200 laptop next month as the Mukesh Ambani-owned retailer looks to repeat the success of its low-cost cell phone. The 4G-enabled laptop, called JioBook, is priced at 16,499 rupees ($200.63) and will be available for purchase through the company-run retail outlets and online platform Reliance Digital from Aug. 5. Last October, Reuters had reported citing sources that JioBook will be produced locally by contract manufacturer Flex. Its wireless venture Jio Infocomm upended the Indian mobile market with cheap internet plans in 2016. ($1 = 82.2350 Indian rupees)Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann ThoppilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mukesh Ambani, Infocomm, Hritam Mukherjee, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: Reliance, Reuters, Flex, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Bengaluru

Nokia and rival Ericsson (ERICb.ST) have been hit by slowing orders from customers, mostly in their high-margin North American markets. The results come after Nokia last week cut its annual sales and profit margin outlook and Ericsson reported a big fall in quarterly profit. Comparable operating profit in the second quarter fell to 626 million euros ($702.37 million) from 714 million euros last year, but beat market estimates. The decline in North American markets was somewhat offset by India but with a lower margin. Nokia made gains with Indian operators, particularly with the likes of Reliance Jio Infocomm, which was dominated by Samsung for 4G, he said.

Persons: Pekka Lundmark, Lundmark, Supantha Mukherjee, Niklas Pollard, Josephine Mason Organizations: Nokia, Ericsson, Apple, Samsung, 4G, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Finnish, India, North America, Stockholm

☆ India's Jio set to sign $1.7 bln deal with Nokia for 5G equipment - Economic Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, July 6 (Reuters) - India's Reliance Jio Infocomm is likely to sign a contract worth $1.7 billion with Nokia (NOKIA.HE) this week to purchase 5G network equipment, the Economic Times reported on Thursday, citing people aware of the matter. The contract could be signed as early as Thursday in Helsinki, Finland, where Nokia is headquartered, the report added. Jio and Nokia did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for a comment. Jio snapped up airwaves worth $11 billion in a 5G spectrum auction last August and had launched 5G services in several cities. Swedish telecommunication company Ericsson (ERICb.ST) had in October last year, announced a partnership with Jio to build a 5G standalone network in India.

Persons: Jio, JP Morgan, Finnvera, Varun Vyas, Rashmi Aich Organizations: Nokia, Economic Times, Reliance Industries, Google, HSBC, Citigroup, Ericsson, Thomson Locations: BENGALURU, Helsinki, Finland, India, Swedish, Bengaluru

☆ Singapore is not looking to regulate A.I. just yet, says the city-state's authority
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"We are currently not looking at regulating AI," Lee Wan Sie, director for trusted AI and data at Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority, told CNBC. It is calling for companies to collaborate in the world's first AI testing toolkit — called AI Verify — that enables users to conduct technical tests on their AI models and record process checks. Google , Microsoft and IBM are among tech giants which have already joined the AI Verify Foundation — a global open-source community set up to discuss AI standards and best practices, as well as collaborate on governing AI. "By creating practical resources like the AI governance testing framework and toolkit, Singapore is helping organizations build robust governance and testing processes," said Smith. Singapore has really sort of positioned itself as almost like the steward in the region of responsible and trustworthy use of AI.

Persons: Nicky Loh, Lee Wan Sie, IMDA, Lee Wan, chatbot ChatGPT, Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Lee, Haniyeh, Brad Smith, Smith, Josephine Teo, Teo, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Stella Cramer, APAC, Clifford Chance's, Clifford Chance, Stella Cramer APAC Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Media Development Authority, CNBC, Tech, IBM, Singapore Airlines, Tesla, U.S, National AI Advisory, Google, Microsoft, Singapore government's, Asia Tech, Singapore's, Communications, European Union, Artificial Intelligence Locations: Bay, Singapore, DataRobot, U.S, China

Senior Southeast Asian officials said the so-called ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics was taking shape and would try to balance the economic benefits of the technology with its many risks. The other ASEAN countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The sources declined to comment further on what the AI guide would look like, given the early stage of the discussions and confidentiality of the ASEAN process. The sources, who included officials in three Southeast Asian countries, declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The island city-state has been at the forefront of AI strategy in the region and is leading the talks to draw up the AI guide, according to three sources.

Persons: Fanny Potkin, Panu, Stephen Coates, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Regulators, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Senior Southeast, ASEAN Digital Ministers, Singapore’s Ministry for Communications, Information, European Union, Media Development Authority, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, BANGKOK, ASEAN, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, United States, Europe, U.S

SINGAPORE/BANGKOK, June 16 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian countries are drawing up governance and ethics guidelines for artificial intelligence (AI) that will impose "guardrails" on the booming technology, five officials with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Senior Southeast Asian officials said the so-called ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics was taking shape and would try to balance the economic benefits of the technology with its many risks. The other ASEAN countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The sources, who included officials in three Southeast Asian countries, declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The island city-state has been at the forefront of AI strategy in the region and is leading the talks to draw up the AI guide, according to three sources.

☆ India cabinet approves $11 bln revival plan for state-owned BSNL
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Rama Venkat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A man speaks on his mobile phone as he walks past a Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) advertisement painted on a wall outside its office in Kolkata, India, August 24, 2017. REUTERS/Rupak De ChowdhuriBENGALURU, June 7 (Reuters) - India's cabinet on Wednesday approved an 890.47 billion rupee ($10.79 billion) revival package for loss-making Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to help the state-owned telecom operator deploy 4G and 5G services in a market dominated by private players. "With this revival package, BSNL will emerge as a stable telecom service provider focused on providing connectivity to remotest parts of India," the cabinet said in a statement. Debt-laden BSNL, grappling with poor infrastructure, has been posting losses for the past 12 years. The losses narrowed to 69.82 billion rupees in the year ended March 2022 from 74.41 billion rupees a year ago.

Persons: Vivekanand Subbaraman, Sakshi Dayal, Rama Venkat, Krishna N, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: Nigam Ltd, REUTERS, Sanchar Nigam Ltd, BSNL, Tata Consultancy Services, 5G, Reliance Industries, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Das, Thomson Locations: Kolkata, India, Chowdhuri BENGALURU, New Delhi, Bengaluru

☆ India's Sterlite Tech swings to profit in Q4 on optical networking boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, May 17 (Reuters) - Indian networking solutions provider Sterlite Technologies Ltd (STTE.NS) swung to a fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday, aided by strong growth in its mainstay optical networking business. The company's consolidated net profit stood at 650 million rupees ($8 million) for the quarter ended March 2023, compared to a net loss of 220 million rupees a year ago, it said in an exchange filing. Consolidated revenue from operations jumped 25% to 18.72 billion rupees, the company said. Optical networking business, which contributed a hefty 80% of the company's topline, grew 40% to 15.05 billion rupees. Additionally, the company declared a final dividend of 1 rupee per share and approved fundraise of up to 10 billion rupees.

☆ Tech's been hit by layoffs. But Singapore is still investing big in its talent — in tech and beyond
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Audrey Wan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Demand for individuals with specialized tech talent isn't limited to the tech sector, says Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority. "This has been a consequence of tech companies anchoring and growing their higher-value tech development and corporate functions here," he said. Tech 'powers all the big banks'In finance, technology is the engine that "powers all the big banks," said Donald MacDonald, OCBC head of group data. and deep tech," MacDonald said. Specialized tech skills

☆ I'm a model for Las Vegas trade shows and conventions. The men are annoying and the days are long — but I make a good living and the perks are insane.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Perri Ormont Blumberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Tawny Triska Pollard works as a trade-show and convention model in Las Vegas. I live in Las Vegas with my husband of 11 years and our corgi, but I've worked in cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, New York, San Francisco, and Houston. I'm not exclusive to anyone, and the agencies I work with represent shows in Southern California and Las Vegas. Shows in Las Vegas throw a lot of big after-parties, which we're allowed to attend with our badge. There's a darker side to it as wellMen constantly hit on you, especially at the Vegas shows, and we don't typically receive tips.

☆ Indian carrier Reliance Jio's profit, rev growth hit five-qtr low
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, April 21 (Reuters) - Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, the telecom arm of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd (RELI.NS), reported its slowest profit and revenue growth in five quarters on Friday, due to higher expenses and lack of recent tariff hikes. Jio, India's biggest telecom carrier by subscribers, said net profit rose 13% to 47.16 billion rupees ($574.8 million) in the three months ended March 31, from 41.73 billion rupees a year ago. Its revenue from operations grew 11.9% to 233.94 billion rupees. Jio's revenue growth has been around 23% to 29% in the last four quarters, while profit has increased by 18% to 21%. ($1 = 82.0420 Indian rupees)Reporting by Rama Venkat in Bengaluru;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Reliance Jio to buy U.S.-based Mimosa Networks for $60 mln
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, March 9 (Reuters) - Jio Platforms, owned by Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd (RELI.NS), will buy communications equipment maker Mimosa Networks for $60 million to bolster its expanding 5G and broadband services, the companies said on Thursday. The deal is between Radisys Corp, a unit of Jio Platforms, and US-based Airspan Networks Holdings (MIMO.A), which owns Mimosa. Reliance Jio Infocomm USA, a unit of Jio, is a shareholder in Airspan and has a seat on its board, according to the statement. The Mimosa deal also comes at a time when some governments, including India, have either banned or discouraged the use of China's Huawei in national networks. Reporting by Yagnoseni Das in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Janane VenkatramanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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