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News

A Vast Majority of Businesses Have Established Sustainability Targets with More than Half Still Using Manual Tools for Measurement

A Vast Majority of Businesses Have Established Sustainability Targets with More than Half Still Using Manual Tools for Measurement 

·       More than three quarters of businesses believe technology is essential for achieving global sustainability goals, with digital adoption key to accelerating progress

·       Budget constraints, complex supply chain and technology limitations are the top 3 most common barriers for enterprises to meet sustainability targets

 A significant 80% of businesses surveyed across Asia, Europe and the Middle East have established sustainability targets, but of those who have set sustainability targets more than half (53 %) continue to rely on manual methods for measuring their progress, according to a survey report titled “Tech-Driven Sustainability Trends and Index 2024” commissioned by Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group.

The report reveals that among businesses with sustainability targets, 92% have set emission reduction targets. However, only one-third of those organisations have committed to net-zero commitments with science-based targets (SBTs). The highest adoption of SBTs is in emerging Asian markets at 39%, followed by Europe at 35%, developed Asian markets at 30%, and the Middle East at 22%.

Around half of the businesses with sustainability targets cite driving growth (56%), compliance with regulations (54%), and a strong corporate purpose (49%) as their key motivations for establishing targets. Notably, among all markets, Indonesia tops the list with 70% of businesses prioritising growth, Saudi Arabia leads with 73% emphasising compliance, and the UAE excels with 61% prioritising a strong corporate purpose.

A significant 78% of businesses agree that technology is crucial for achieving global sustainability goals, with top markets including Malaysia (89%), Saudi Arabia (87%), Singapore (86%) and France (86%). Regionally, this belief is strongest in the Middle East (86%) with emerging Asian markets a close second (83%). Similarly, 78% believe that adopting digital technologies such as cloud computing and AI will accelerate progress toward meeting sustainability goals, with Saudi Arabia leading at 90%, followed by the UAE (84%) and Singapore (81%).  

Market Commitment Levels and Challenges

When assessing market commitment levels, Singapore ranks highest with an impressive sustainability index of 91%, followed closely by Germany at 89% and Indonesia at 86%. The sustainability index refers to percentage of businesses who have set up sustainability targets in the 13 markets.  

Businesses encounter various barriers in meeting their sustainability targets. Budget constraints emerge as the most significant obstacle, affecting 29% of organisations, particularly pronounced in the Middle East (41%) and Europe (31%). Complex supply chains further complicate efforts, impacting 28% of businesses, especially in the Middle East (35%) and Europe (29%). Additionally, technology limitations hinder 23% of companies, with the Middle East facing a slightly higher rate at 26%. Time constraints also present significant challenges across all regions, affecting 23% of organisations. For those yet to set sustainability targets, budget constraints (32%) and technology limitations (29%) remain the primary barriers to meeting sustainability targets.

Reliance on Manual Measurement

As businesses strive to enhance their sustainability efforts, the necessity for effective digital tools is evident. The survey emphasises the necessity for businesses to improve their understanding of digital tools, as 59% of respondents acknowledge a gap in their knowledge regarding how technology can help achieve sustainability goals. This sentiment is particularly evident in Singapore (83%) and Hong Kong (75%) and Thailand (70%).  

The report also shows a general reliance on traditional practices among businesses, which may present challenges in effectively achieving sustainability goals. The study indicated that over 50% of businesses depend on manual processes to measure sustainability performance using spreadsheets, emails, and similar methods. All markets, except for Hong Kong (29%), South Korea (43%) and France (49%), exceeded the 50% threshold, with the highest percentages in the UAE (68%), Saudi Arabia (61%), and the UK (60%). Meanwhile, only around a third of the businesses use digital software tools including cloud platforms for the sustainability progress and measurement. Indonesia (59%), Singapore (48%) and Japan (43%) demonstrate a higher adoption of cloud-based solutions, while the average usage is at 38%.

“The survey findings underscore the urgent need for organisations to reassess their sustainability measurement methodologies and embrace advanced technological solutions like cloud-based platforms and AI services. These digital tools not only streamline the measurement process but also provide actionable insights that can drive meaningful progress for sustainability,” said Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.  

“As a dedicated cloud service provider, we are committed to providing innovative and AI-powered solutions such as Energy Expert to enable enterprises to effectively measure and analyse carbon emission and energy consumptions to advance their sustainability goals. By addressing existing barriers and investing in such advancements, organisations can better align their sustainability initiatives with established targets,” she added.

“Tech-Driven Sustainability Trends and Index 2024” aims to provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of corporate sustainability while highlighting how technology can be applied to drive impactful change.

About the Survey 

Alibaba Cloud’s “Tech-Driven Sustainability Trends and Index 2024” was independently conducted by Yonder Consulting, a UK-based consulting firm, with advisory, design and analytical support from The Purpose Business, an Asia-based sustainability consultancy with offices in Hong Kong and Singapore. The survey collected feedback from May 10 to June 19, 2024, involving 1,300 business leaders and senior management from various industries, including technology and communications, finance, infrastructure, renewable resources, healthcare, transportation, retail, and manufacturing.

Respondents were located across 13 markets in Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Singapore and South Korea), Europe (France, Germany, and United Kingdom), and the Middle East (Saudi Arabia and UAE). In this survey, developed Asian markets refer to Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, while emerging Asian markets include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

News

Nemetschek Group Announces Vision for Artificial Intelligence Layer to Amplify Creativity across the Building Lifecycle

Nemetschek Group Announces Vision for Artificial Intelligence Layer to Amplify Creativity and Enhance User Experience Across the Building Lifecycle

The Nemetschek Group, a leading global provider of software solutions for the AEC/O and media industries, today announced the launch of an artificial intelligence layer to be embedded in all of the Group’s major solutions from 2025. The AI layer is set to revolutionise creativity and productivity in architecture, engineering and construction as well as management and operation. It will offer tools to simplify complex tasks and empower professionals to focus on innovative design and project execution.

Yves Padrines, CEO of the Nemetschek Group, comments: “Our goal is to empower architects, engineers, contractors, and building managers by providing them with tools that expand their expertise. We believe that human intelligence, paired with advanced artificial intelligence, can push boundaries. By integrating the new artificial intelligence layer into our key solutions, we aim to unlock new possibilities and revolutionise workflow efficiency.”

Nemetschek Group’s AI layer will leverage secure cloud technology to process user requests efficiently, whether they are making simple inquiries or conducting complex tasks. By managing users’ input quickly and delivering precise responses, the AI layer will support a large range of use cases, from design ideation to task automation. The layer is modular and can understand natural language, enabling fast and accurate responses while transforming and optimising the way users work with Nemetschek products.

The AI layer is designed to integrate seamlessly and enhance a wide range of functions: Intelligent automation plays a central role by offering automated task execution, adaptive project management, and natural language interaction, simplifying even the most complex workflows. Insight-driven decision-making is achieved through AI-powered data insights, which guide design processes and optimise decision-making. Additionally, design augmentation allows AI to assist in design iterations, pattern creation, and scenario simulations, enabling more innovative and creative project outcomes. Those features ultimately enable better planning and execution for a more sustainable building process and a better built world.

A key focus is on the user experience, making the interactions and engagements with the user more intuitive and efficient. The modular AI layer will also include collaboration tools that drive more effective communication between parties in the construction lifecycle; they will continue to improve based on user feedback.

Julian Geiger, VP Head of AI Product & Transformation, Nemetschek Group, says: “We are excited to introduce an AI-powered layer that will be integrated across all our brands and products, bringing new levels of intelligence and automation to our entire ecosystem. Our intention is simple: We aim to make creativity more creative and productivity more productive. By embedding AI into our offerings, we are enabling more efficient workflows, more precise decision-making, and more personalised experiences that empower professionals to do their best work.”

Nemetschek’s Vision of Ethical AI

Nemetschek’s vision for ethical and trustworthy AI focuses on transparency, data privacy, and reliability. AI decisions should be understandable to users, with clear explanations provided. Stringent data security measures are in place, including user consent and anonymisation where possible. Before deployment, AI models will undergo rigorous testing and validation, with human oversight in critical areas. Clear accountability needs to be established within the organisation. Additionally, AI is used to promote sustainability and the well-being of our society as well as to help its users adjust to new realities, and therefore adapt to evolving job roles and expectations.

“As a leading software provider in the AEC/O industry, we are dedicated to ensuring that our AI technologies are developed ethically, prioritising transparency, fairness, and accountability. We are committed to creating AI systems that are explainable and free from bias, promoting inclusivity for all users. Privacy and data security are at the core of our AI initiatives, and we implement strong safeguards to protect sensitive information”, adds Charlie Sheridan, Chief AI and Data Officer, Nemetschek Group.

About the Nemetschek Group

The Nemetschek Group is a globally leading provider of software for digital transformation in the AEC/O and media industries. Its intelligent software solutions cover the entire lifecycle of construction and infrastructure projects and allow creatives to optimize their workflows. Customers can plan, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure more efficiently and sustainably, and develop digital content such as visualizations, films, and computer games in a creative way. The software company drives new technologies and approaches such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, and open standards (OPEN BIM) in the AEC/O industries to increase productivity and sustainability. We are continuously expanding our portfolio, including through investments in disruptive start-ups. More than 7 million users are currently designing the world with the customer-focused solutions of our four segments. Founded by Prof. Georg Nemetschek in 1963, the Nemetschek Group today employs more than 3,800 experts.

The company, which has been listed in the MDAX and TecDAX since 1999, achieved a revenue of EUR 851.6 million and an EBITDA of EUR 257.7 million in 2023.

News

Alibaba Cloud Empowers Customers and Partners with its Proven Large Models and High-Performance Infrastructure

Alibaba Cloud Empowers Customers and Partners with its Proven Large Models and High-Performance Infrastructure 

Global Cloud Leader Collaborates with NVIDIA, XPENG, miHoYo, Atlas, Codium, UNESCO-ICHEI to Drive the Future of Mobility, Gaming, Travel, IT and Education

 Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, announced at its annual flagship event Apsara Conference that its proprietary foundational model Tongyi has attracted over 300,000 customers via its generative AI platform, Model Studio, a significant jump from 90,000 revealed in May.

Leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s Tongyi large models and its scalable global cloud infrastructure, businesses across automobile, gaming, travel, IT sectors have delivered enhanced customer experience and developed innovative solutions. Alibaba Cloud also unveiled a partnership with the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNSECO (UNESCO-ICHEI) to bring the benefits of generative AI to higher education institutes through digital training initiatives.

“Our collaborations with industry-leading organisations demonstrate our dedication to delivering enhanced customer experiences and boosting enterprise efficiency through innovative solutions. Together with our partners, we want to empower more businesses and individuals to unlock the potential of generative AI through digital training and accessible cloud solutions,” said Jingren Zhou, CTO of Alibaba Cloud.

Driving the Future of Mobility and Smart Cockpits with LLMs Built on NVIDIA

Alibaba Cloud today unveiled its large multimodal model (LMM) solution designed for automotive applications and co-developed with NVIDIA and Banma, Alibaba’s intelligent cockpit solution provider. This solution, which will be made available to China-based automakers, aims to deliver a more interactive experience for car owners and redefine the smart mobility journey.

Through this collaboration, Alibaba Cloud’s portfolio of proprietary large language model Qwen—including the Qwen2-7B language model and the Qwen2-VL vision language model—have been seamlessly integrated with the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin™ platform for autonomous vehicles. Additionally, NVIDIA’s model acceleration technology has significantly reduced computational costs and minimised latency in Alibaba Cloud models’ real-time processing of complex tasks. This ensures a smooth and uninterrupted intelligent experience for both drivers and passengers.

This initiative marks the first integration of Alibaba’s large models into NVIDIA’s automotive platform. Leveraging Qwen’s advanced capabilities in handling complex inquiries and processing visual intelligence, in-car voice assistants will be able to engage in dynamic, multi-turn conversations and even offer recommendations, ranging from providing information about nearby landmarks to proactively suggesting car headlights be turned on during snowy conditions.

As part of the LMM solution, Alibaba Cloud’s Mobile Agent—a multimodal AI agent for edge devices—will expand the capabilities of in-car voice assistants. Utilising the Mobile Agent’s strengths in complex task planning, self-reflection, and decision-making, users will be able to effortlessly execute voice commands, such as ordering milkshakes through a food delivery app, resulting in richer and more enjoyable in-car experiences.

Looking ahead, Alibaba Cloud plans to work with NVIDIA to adapt Qwen models on NVIDIA DRIVE Thor, NVIDIA’s next-generation centralised car compute platform that combines advanced driver assistance, autonomous driving, and AI cockpit capabilities into a single safe and secure system.

Partnering with XPENG to Enhance Smart Cockpit Experience

XPENG, a leading Chinese smart electric vehicle company, is leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s AI models and robust cloud computing capabilities to redefine its smart cockpit and autonomous driving experience.

It has tapped into Alibaba Cloud’s Qwen to enhance its AI voice assistant, Xiao P, for a superior smart cockpit experience. With no specific instructions needed, the LLM-enabled voice assistant excels at understanding complex conversational contexts and user intentions. It can engage in natural and intuitive dialogues with both drivers and passengers. For instance, when a user simply states, “It’s cold inside the car,” the voice assistant automatically adjusts the vehicle’s temperature.

In addition to utilising Qwen for the smart cockpit, XPENG is collaborating with Alibaba Cloud to integrate large models for various innovations. Users can design custom stickers for their car’s exterior through Alibaba Cloud’s text-to-image model, Tongyi Wanxiang, within XPENG’s mobile app. XPENG is also exploring the use of Alibaba Cloud’s Tongyi Lingma, an AI coding assistant powered by Qwen, to enhance R&D efficiency in the latest automotive technologies.

Alibaba Cloud also offers robust and resilient computing resources to help XPENG accelerate its training of large model for autonomous driving.

Powering Immersive and Scalable Gaming Experience for miHoYo

As a long-term partner, Alibaba Cloud has provided its cloud infrastructure support for miHoYo in launching its latest game Zenless Zone Zero, a new urban fantasy action role-playing game (ARPG) which received nearly 50 million pre-beta registrations, posting high demands on system stability and smooth access to the games’ reservation website.

With Alibaba Cloud’s infrastructure and comprehensive product suite, Zenless Zone Zero has successfully addressed challenges in high server load, large volume of game data processing, and strong demand on platform stability, providing a smooth experience for players who logged in simultaneously on the day of its grand launch on July 4. The game has reached 50 million downloads within the first week since launched.

Building A Strong Digital Foundation for Southeast Asia

Atlas, an innovative B2B travel technology provider in Singapore, has leveraged Alibaba Cloud’s infrastructure, machine learning and AI architecture innovations to serve over 50 global travel sellers and 150 low-cost airlines around the world. Alibaba Cloud’s LLM Qwen and Model Studio platform also support Atlas’ digital chatbot, providing customer support around the clock, addressing partner inquiries regarding booking procedures and payment options.

Since collaborating with Alibaba Cloud in 2021, Atlas has reduced operational expenses by 45%. Alibaba Cloud has aided Atlas in transitioning from a startup in Singapore to becoming one of the leading industry players, revolutionising the low-cost flight industry with its innovative travel platform.

Additionally, Codium, a prominent software company in Thailand specialising in digital workplace solutions, has partnered with Alibaba Cloud to utilise its scalable cloud infrastructure and reliable solutions. The partnership aims to establish a strong digital foundation for businesses in Thailand and improve the Thai cloud market ecosystem by offering accessible cloud services and providing comprehensive local support and expertise to Thai clients.

Empowering the Future of Education with UNSECO 

During Apsara Conference 2024, Alibaba Cloud signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with UNESCO-ICHEI to launch the GenAI and Cloud Micro-Certification online program for global learners.

The program targets educators and students in higher education institutes including universities and colleges across Asia and Africa. The program, featuring six courses, is designed to deliver the fundamental knowledge and applications of generative AI and cloud computing technologies with easily understandable graphics and best practices of integrating generative AI into teaching activities to make learning more engaging, personalised, and efficient.

After completing each course session, educators and students can take an exam to obtain a micro certification jointly issued by both UNESCO-ICHEI and Alibaba Cloud. With the gradual rollout of the program, the initiative aims to benefit around 12,000 educators and students globally by the end of 2025.

News

Vivitek Appoints Solstice AV in UK Distributor Partner Network Expansion

Vivitek a brand of Delta, the visual display brand for all meeting spaces – has announced that it has appointed Solstice Distribution Ltd (Solstice AV), the Technical Value-Added AV distributor. Founded in 2020 and based in Tewkesbury, Solstice AV specialises in adding value throughout the AV supply chain from manufacturer to end user.

Commenting on the appointment of Solstice AV, Holger Graeff, General Manager, Vivitek EMEA, said: “Vivitek’s channel partner network has been carefully curated to create the perfect best-of-breeds partnership. I am confident that Solstice AV’s appetite for success, technical knowledge and raft of value-add services, will complement the exceptional work done by our existing channel partners to help meet the growing demand for Vivitek’s AV solutions. I’m very excited about what the future holds for this dynamic new relationship.”

Under the terms of the partnership, Solstice AV will distribute Vivitek’s solutions, ranging from its digital projection to interactive products, and collaboration solutions. Offering pre- and post-sale end-to-end services – from conducting demonstrations to helping specify, install and support solutions – onboarding Vivitek will enable Solstice AV to realise its ambitions to increase its customer base across sectors ranging from education to retail.

Mike Tulip, Director at Solstice AV, added: “Vivitek is acknowledged in the AV industry, known for its innovative, high-quality, and sustainable solutions. Its channel-focused approach aligns well with our strategy to position Solstice AV as the preferred distributor for AV brands looking for effective market access and value-added services. We’re excited to partner with Vivitek as we work together to meet current demand and create new opportunities for growth.”

Vivitek’s AV solutions are designed to enhance visual communication and collaboration in various settings, such as educational institutions, corporate environments, and retail spaces.

News, Technology

Alibaba Cloud and Olympic Broadcasting Services Launch AI-Fueled OBS Cloud 3.0 for Paris 2024

  • Delivery of live signals over OBS Live Cloud becomes the main method of remote distribution to broadcasters – making another milestone in Olympic Games broadcasting 
  • Content+ Portal ensures seamless delivery of content and Multi-Camera Replay Systems provides frame-freeze slow-motion replays

Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), has today announced the launch of OBS Cloud 3.0 for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Paris 2024). A combination of cloud technologies powered by AI, OBS Cloud 3.0 makes the work of OBS and Media Rights-Holders (MRHs) easier and more efficient. For Paris 2024, OBS Cloud 3.0 will serve as the backbone infrastructure supporting several critical functions, fully utilising the benefits of cloud technologies including operational scalability and cost-efficiency, improved sustainability with enhanced remote working capabilities, effective real-time workflow collaboration, and more.

As part of OBS Cloud 3.0, OBS Live Cloud has become the main method of remote distribution to Media Rights-Holders (MRHs) for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, taking over from satellite which was launched during the Olympics Games Tokyo 1964. For Paris 2024, two-thirds of booked remote services (across 54 broadcasters) are now using OBS Live Cloud including 2 Ultra High Definition (UHD) broadcasters. 379 video (11 UHD, 368 HD) and 100 audio feeds will be transmitted via the Live Cloud. With the benefits of low latency and high resilience, content transmission via cloud has outperformed other methods of distribution when it comes to scalability, flexibility and cost while increasing the stability and agility of worldwide broadcasting of the largest sports event.  

Debuted at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 with an UHD broadcaster, OBS Live Cloud was offered as a standard service for the first time during the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 with 22 subscribed broadcasters. Prior to this technology breakthrough, broadcasters had to rely on dedicated and more costly international telecommunication optical circuits and spend a considerate amount of time to set up the equipment, in order to send live footage halfway across the globe back to their home countries.  

At the launch of the OBS Cloud 3.0 during the Alibaba Cloud International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) showcase opening, Yiannis Exarchos, OBS Chief Executive Officer, said, “With approximately half of the world’s population watching the Games, technologies like Alibaba Cloud help us tell the stories of the best athletes in the world, but also bring the world together in ways which are more exciting and inspirational. Broadcasting the Games is fundamental in trying to do that, and having partners like Alibaba that help us bring this dream to life are very valuable for us!”

A record-breaking 11,000 hours of Olympic Games content available via Content+ on the cloud 

Content+, OBS’ content delivery platform remains fully hosted on Alibaba Cloud, and continues to simplify remote production workflows and ensures seamless content delivery including live sessions, athlete interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and social media content.

For Paris 2024, OBS will produce more than 11,000 hours of content – a 15% increase from Tokyo 2020. The streamlined approach of this cloud-based portal simplifies remote production workflows and ensures seamless content delivering without disruption during the Games.

New functionalities in Content+ allow MRHs to create their own highlights from any location in the world in far shorter turnaround time. Content can be downloaded in three different resolutions facilitating usage including linear, digital and/or social.

Offering worldwide MRHs access to the wealth of Games content produced by OBS, Content+ will deliver content in UHD for the first time through Alibaba Cloud’s robust global infrastructure. This empowers broadcasters to produce even more engaging and refined content, with new features like vertical screen compatibility for optimal viewing on mobiles or other devices.

Selina Yuan, President of International Business at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, said, “We are very excited to see the evolution of Olympic broadcasting from Tokyo 2020 to Paris 2024, enabled by Alibaba Cloud’s extensive global infrastructure and proven AI technologies. The partnership between Alibaba Cloud and OBS amplifies our commitment to help transform the viewer experience at the Olympic Games, turning technology innovations into practical applications for tangible results. We are honored to support Paris 2024 as the most digitally compelling Olympics ever.”

AI-Enhanced Replay Systems Elevate Viewing Experience

During Paris 2024, the OBS Multi-Camera Replay Systems will provide frame-freeze slow-motion replays of athletes’ performances, allowing hardcore sports fans to access detailed information for deeper analysis of the athlete movements. For new viewers, these replays can serve as educational tools for better understanding of the Games at key moments.  

All the multi-camera replay systems used at Paris 2024 will be provided by Alibaba Cloud. These include 17 systems across 14 venues covering 21 sports and disciplines – including rugby sevens; badminton; athletics track and field; basketball; beach volleyball; table tennis; wrestling; tennis; judo; breaking; BMX freestyle; and skateboarding. The footage will be sent to the cloud, where Alibaba Cloud’s AI-driven computing capabilities enable live spatial reconstruction and real-time 3D rendering, before the chosen moments are shared as a replay through live or non-live feeds. The seamless reconstruction of the most exciting moments only takes seconds to get ready in the cloud and integrated as part of the live coverage.

Additionally, OBS Olympic Video Player (OVP), an advanced multi-platform video player service, will also leverage Alibaba Cloud’s infrastructure to support UHD live streaming for the first time. The OVP service provides MRHs, especially small and medium-sized organisations, with a turnkey solution to deliver high-quality videos to their audiences without complex in-house development.

Joined as an Olympic Worldwide Partner in January 2017, Alibaba Cloud and OBS launched OBS Cloud in 2018. The leading cloud company supported Tokyo 2020 as the first Olympic Games to be broadcasted via the cloud and has been working with OBS since to help maintain the highest Olympic broadcasting standards with its proven cloud technologies.

About Alibaba Cloud

Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud is the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. It offers a complete suite of cloud services to customers worldwide, including elastic computing, database, storage, network virtualization services, large-scale computing, security, big data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) services. Alibaba has been named the leading IaaS provider in Asia Pacific by revenue in U.S. dollars since 2018, according to Gartner. It has also maintained its position as one of the world’s leading public cloud IaaS service providers since 2018, according to IDC.

News

Colt and Proximus trial new Proof of Concept to test API collaboration and End-to-End Network as a Service automation

Colt and Proximus trial new Proof of Concept to test API collaboration and End-to-End Network as a Service automation

Colt Technology Services, the digital infrastructure company, and Proximus, Belgium’s leading telecommunication and digital services company, today announced a joint Proof of Concept (PoC) based on MEF LSO Sonata APIs, designed to streamline and enhance carrier-to-carrier automation. MEF is a non-profit industry forum of network, cloud, and technology providers collaborating to define new Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) offerings. Together, the members develop standards, certifications, and APIs that accelerate automation and empower enterprise digital transformation throughout the ecosystem.

The PoC – the first such collaboration between Colt and Proximus – has scoped and tested inter-carrier APIs  aiming to make it easier and faster for Colt to integrate and automate their end-to-end services so they can deliver a frictionless, connected customer experience and reduce delivery times.

For Proximus, MEF E-access is a key step towards a digital ecosystem enabling effortless national connectivity (End-to-End Network as a service). Through co-creation with a partner like Colt, Proximus is developing customer-centric and innovative solutions. As a next step in its digital transformation towards wholesale customers, Proximus will turn into a full digital service provider by adding extra features such as Universal CPE (uCPE) and Virtual Network Functions (VNF).

During the trial, network services were successfully provisioned between the UK and Belgium, enabled by Proximus’ new Wholesale E-Access service and Colt’s On Demand NaaS platform. This allowed NaaS-to-NaaS control using a programmatic API-to-API interface between the separate network architectures, proving that SDN-managed services can be set up across multiple networks in a fully automated way. They can also be managed and flexed in near-real time.

Peter Coppens, VP Infrastructure and Connectivity Solutions, Colt Technology Services said, “This exciting Proof of Concept with Proximus has explored ways to introduce a greater level of digitalisation and automation in global network access sourcing. It means that our NaaS platform can now expand seamlessly across carrier boundaries. Ultimately our Enterprise and Carrier customers benefit from a faster, simpler and fully-automated quoting, ordering and delivery experience helping them to stay connected and benefit from the enormous potential and power of the digital universe.”

Geert Standaert, Network & Wholesale Lead, Proximus, said, “This Proof of concept together with Colt reflects our ambition to embrace innovation through open ecosystems. At Proximus, we are proud to introduce E-Access, a new wholesale MEF-standardised solution, unique in Belgium, that redefines connectivity and allows telecom companies to establish seamless connectivity with their end-users at the click of a button. Such automated connection is only the beginning and a step towards a more efficient, sustainable and digitalised world.”

About Proximus

Proximus Group (Euronext Brussels: PROX), headquartered in Brussels, is a provider of future-proof connectivity, IT and digital services, operating in the Benelux and global markets. The Group is actively engaged in building a connected world and in ensuring the trustworthiness, security and sovereignty of digital services, to the benefit of society.

Proximus has the ambition to build the #1 gigabit network for Belgium and plays a central role in creating inspiring digital ecosystems, while fostering an engaging culture and empowering ways of working. Building upon these strengths, Proximus aims to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable digital society, delight customers with an unrivalled experience and achieve profitable growth both locally and internationally to deliver long-term value for stakeholders.

In Belgium, Proximus’ core products and services are offered under the Proximus, Mobile Vikings, Scarlet and Proximus NXT brands. The Group is also active in Luxembourg (Tango and Telindus Luxembourg) and in the Netherlands (Telindus Netherlands). The Group’s international carrier activities are managed by BICS, a leading international communications enabler, one of the key global voice carriers and the leading provider of mobile data services worldwide. With Telesign, the Group also encompasses a fast-growing leader in authentication and digital identity services, serving the world’s largest internet brands, digital champions and cloud native businesses.

With 11,654 employees, imbued with Proximus’ Think Possible mindset and all engaged to offer a superior customer experience, the Group realized an underlying Group revenue of EUR 6,042 million end-2023.

For more information, visit www.proximus.com & www.proximus.be.

About Colt Technology Services

Colt Technology Services (Colt) is a global digital infrastructure company which creates extraordinary connections to help businesses succeed. Powered by amazing people and like-minded partners, Colt is driven by its purpose: to put the power of the digital universe in the hands of its customers, wherever, whenever and however they choose.

Since 1992, Colt has set itself apart through its deep commitment to its customers, growing from its heritage in the City of London to a global business spanning 40+ countries, with over 6,000 employees and more than 80 offices around the world. Colt’s customers benefit from expansive digital infrastructure connecting 32,000 buildings across 230 cities, more than 50 Metropolitan Area Networks and 250+ Points of Presence across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and North America’s largest business hubs.

Privately owned, Colt is one of the most financially sound companies in the sector. Obsessed with delivering industry-leading customer experience, Colt is guided by its dedication to customer innovation, by its values and its responsibility to its customers, partners, people and the planet.

For more information, please visit www.colt.net

News, Technology

Ransomware: More pressure for transparency

Ransomware: More pressure for transparency
By James Blake, Global Head of Cyber Resiliency GTM Strategy at Cohesity

The recent Synnovis ransomware attack reveals how even critical infrastructures remain vulnerable and how complex and intertwined companies are today. This creates uncertain risks of failure. As a pathology laboratory, Synnovis is closely linked to some hospitals with its pathology services such as blood testing. The ransomware attack on the laboratory forced the affected hospitals to postpone a total of around 800 operations and around 700 outpatient appointments.

As a result politicians in the UK want to ensure companies are more transparent. Initial ideas are being discussed on whether all victims of ransomware attacks should be required to report incidents to the government. Affected businesses should also have to obtain a license before making extortion payments.

A complete ban on ransom payments for organisations involved in critical national infrastructure is also being proposed. The ban is intended to remove the incentive for hackers to disrupt these critical services by preventing them from monetising attacks. This would likely only reduce a subset of attacks though as nation-state actors are focused on destabilisation and destruction over cash reward.

The risk of successful cyberattacks on the well-being and lives of citizens will continue to drive politicians to enact new rules and regulations with the aim of strengthening security levels and cyber resilience. So there is likely to be more to come.

Companies should respond accordingly and create more transparency and control over their data and services internally. The following steps are essential for this:

  • Understanding data precisely: Companies need to know exactly what data they have and what value it has. Only then can they report to the authorities which data was corrupted in a successful attack. Companies must index and classify their data, including classification to their relevant record strategy. 

  • Regulating access: Once the data has been correctly classified, it can automatically enforce rules and rights that regulate access to it. 

  • Survive attacks: In order for a company to be able to create reports for the authorities at all, it must remain able to act. In the worst case scenario, however, nothing will work in the case of ransomware or a wiper attack. The IT teams of CIOs and CISOs will not even be able to react to this attack because all security tools are offline and evidence is encrypted in logs and on the systems. Companies should therefore implement clean room concepts where an emergency set of tools and system and production data is located in order to create emergency operation of the entire IT. This contains all the vital tools for the security teams so that they can begin the essential incident response process. This process is essential to generate correct and meaningful reports for NIS-2, DORA and GDPR violations.

Finance and Banking, News, Technology

Nutanix Study Projects Hybrid Multicloud Adoption for Financial Services Will Triple, as Organisations Prioritise Data Security & AI

Nutanix  has announced the findings of its sixth annual global Financial Services Enterprise Cloud Index (ECI) survey and research report, which measures enterprise progress with cloud adoption in the financial services and insurance industry. While current adoption of hybrid multicloud deployments remains consistent year-over-year in the financial services sector, respondents expect a significant 3x increase in adoption in the next three years, making it the leading IT model in the sector.

The Financial Services ECI report revealed that data security and ransomware protection, implementing AI strategies, and minimising cost are driving IT decision makers infrastructure priorities. 99% of ECI financial services respondents shared that they had experienced a ransomware attack at some point in the past three years. 89% agreed that their organisations had room for improvement when it came to their ability to protect against such attacks. AI was noted as a key driver of IT infrastructure priorities as well, as IT leaders are increasingly tasked to leverage AI solutions to improve decision-making and enhance customer experiences.

This evolution reflects the strategic deployment by financial services industries of diverse cloud environments tailored for specific operational, cost, compliance, and control requirements. Hybrid multicloud architecture’s appeal lies in its ability to offer diverse cost, billing, and deployment options, empowering digital enterprises with the flexibility to enhance application performance, bolster security, accelerate time to market, and optimise IT expenditures.

“It is startling to see that nearly all the financial services respondents in this year’s ECI Survey have experienced a ransomware attack,” said Lee Caswell, SVP Product & Solutions Marketing at Nutanix. “It’s a sign of the times that hybrid multicloud adoption is set to triple as financial services users gear up for heightened cybersecurity risks as new regulatory requirements, such as the EU’s 2025 Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), go into effect – making data protection and disaster recovery a hybrid multicloud imperative.”

Financial services respondents were asked about their current cloud challenges, how they’re running business applications today, and where they plan to run them in the future. Key findings from this year’s report include:

  • Financial services decision-makers share that cybersecurity remains paramount, yet emphasis on AI Investment and managing overall costs sit closely behind. Half of the respondents (50%) reported that their organisations required a few days or a few weeks to fully restore operations following a cybersecurity incident. Another 12% said that while operations were mostly restored within a few days or weeks, the impact of the attack on the enterprise lasted beyond the restoration of daily operations.
  • Sustainability and flexibility top the list of key factors for decision making. For financial service companies selecting cloud services (private, hybrid, or public), flexibility, security, and data capabilities have consistently been key criteria this year and last. When ECI respondents were asked to identify the single most important factor influencing their IT infrastructure purchasing decisions, sustainability was the top selection (15%), closely followed by the flexibility to manage workloads across various on-premises and cloud infrastructures (14%), and cost considerations (14%). This varied compared to other sectors where sustainability and cost were generally ranked as less important.
  • How FinServ CIOs are thinking about infrastructure priorities. As hybrid multicloud environments grow, so are infrastructure and workloads. Cloud (78%), data and AI (77%), and ransomware protection (77%) are seeing significant growth. Despite frequently citing sustainability as critical to purchasing decisions, few institutions plan to significantly increase investments in this area next year. The largest projected increases in IT budgets are for AI (39%), followed by ransomware prevention (34%) and IT modernisation (30%). Overall, 78% of respondents intend to boost spending on cloud computing, with 77% planning increases for AI and ransomware protection.
  • The desire to improve data access performance, security, and regulatory compliance are why financial enterprises relocate applications to a different infrastructure. Nearly all respondents (97%) in the financial services sector and 95% globally said they had moved one or more applications to a different IT infrastructure in the past 12 months, creating a need for simple and flexible inter-cloud workload and application portability. Application movement in financial services was motivated most often by a desire to enhance performance/data access speeds (42%), followed by improving security and regulatory compliance (41%).
  • The top-ranked challenges in financial services IT departments are cyber and compliance related. Among financial services respondents, ransomware prevention/data security and adherence to data storage/usage mandates, like DORA, were both cited as the top data management challenges today, each by 19% of respondents.

For the sixth consecutive year, Vanson Bourne conducted research on behalf of Nutanix, surveying 1,500 IT and DevOps/Platform Engineering decision-makers around the world in December 2023. The respondent base spanned multiple industries, business sizes, and geographies, including North and South America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia-Pacific-Japan (APJ) region.

To learn more about the report and findings, please download the full Financial Services Nutanix Enterprise Cloud Index, here.

News

DAMO Academy Partners Up with WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health to Advance Medical AI

DAMO Academy Partners Up with WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health to Advance Medical AI  

DAMO Academy, Alibaba Group’s research institute, has announced its partnership with the WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health to advance innovations in digital health and bring the benefits of medical AI to more developing countries.

As the first of its kind in the Western Pacific region, the WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health supports WHO in digital health information exchange, scientific research, international standards and technical training with its member countries.

The launch ceremony of the strategic partnership between WHO Collaborating Centre On Digital Health and Alibaba DAMO Academy took place at the AI for Good Global Summit, the leading United Nations platform promoting AI to advance health and other global development priorities, held in Geneva on May 30th.

Under the partnership, they will leverage their respective resources to conduct research and provide advisory in the fields of digital health, artificial intelligence, industrial development to support international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Telecommunication Union.

Given the inter-disciplinary nature of AI and digital health, they will also jointly conduct training related to medicine, engineering, digital health, artificial intelligence, industrial development, and other areas to help both parties cultivate professional talents with comprehensive capabilities in the field of digital health.

The WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health will also leverage its resource to help DAMO Academy bring the benefits of medical AI to more developing countries, actively advance the international outreach of digital health, and promote health and wellness through technology.

“In forging this partnership with the WHO Collaborating Center on Digital Health, DAMO Academy embarks on a mission to make the benefits of medical AI accessible to those in need. Together, we aim to improve healthcare for those in need through the advancements in medical AI development and digital health accessibility,” said Le Lu, Head of DAMO Academy’s medical AI team.

“By pooling our collective expertise and leveraging cutting-edge AI technology, we are set to drive transformation in digital health, especially for developing countries. Our collaboration symbolizes not just a shared vision but a joint commitment to harnessing digital innovations to foster global health and wellness,” said Shan Xu, Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Digital Health.

The medical AI team at DAMO Academy is collaborating with top global medical institutions to explore cost-effective and efficient new methods for multi-cancer screening using AI technology.

It has achieved significant progress in the early detection of seven common cancers through a single CT scan, including pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer.

In a large-scale, real-world pancreatic cancer detection test, its AI model achieved a sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 99.9%, according to a study published in Nature Medicine magazine by DAMO Academy in collaboration with over 10 medical institutions.

The technology has been applied in two hospitals in Lishui city in China’s Zhejiang province as part of Alibaba’s philanthropy program.

For more on DAMO Academy’s AI-powered tool for cancer screening, please click on this alizila story here: www.alizila.com/damo-academy-ai-for-good-cancer-who-healthcare-2024

News, Technology

Cohesity Offers Customers More Choice and Energy Efficiency with AMD EPYC CPU-Powered Solutions for Modern Data Security Infrastructure

Cohesity has today announced that the Cohesity Data Cloud now supports AMD EPYC™ CPU-powered servers, offering customers even more options for modern data security and management. Customers can now deploy and run Cohesity Data Cloud on AMD EPYC CPU-based all-flash and hybrid servers from Dell, HPE, and Lenovo.

As companies continue to generate increasing volumes of data, it’s critical they manage and secure that data properly. Organisations face many challenges, from ransomware and other cyberattacks to stringent regulatory requirements, IT constraints, tight budgets, and tough economic conditions. To solve these challenges, companies need to take advantage of technology that is best suited to their specific requirements.

“Customers each have unique needs but a common goal – securing and gaining insight from their data. They trust Cohesity, in part, because we strive to offer the largest ecosystem with the most choices to suit their preferences,” said John Davidson, group vice president, Americas Sales, Cohesity. “By supporting AMD EPYC CPU-powered servers, we’re opening up new options for our customers to customise and modernise their data centre, increasing performance and delivering energy, space, and cost savings so they can execute their data security and management strategy on their preferred hardware configurations.”

All-flash servers have become an increasingly popular choice for organisations with high-demand applications and workloads, stringent power budgets for their data centres, or increasing storage capacity requirements and little physical space within their data centre. Leveraging the performance, cost efficiency, and energy efficiency of AMD EPYC CPUs, Cohesity now delivers compelling AMD-powered all-flash servers from HPE to modernise customer data centres and meet the requirements of green initiatives through the greater density, performance, and cost savings all-flash servers provide over traditional servers. Single-socket 1U HPE servers based on AMD EPYC can reduce the number of required nodes and power costs by up to 33% when compared with dual-socket 2U servers based on other CPUs. Additionally, through HPE’s Secure Supply Chain, Cohesity’s software is preloaded at the factory, reducing deployment and increasing the security of the overall solution.

“Businesses increasingly demand more from their data centres to meet their business needs —more performance, more energy efficiency, more cost savings,” said Kumaran Siva, corporate vice president, Strategic Market Development, AMD. “AMD is uniquely positioned to help meet the demands of the modern data centre while enabling technology partners, like Cohesity, to deliver business critical applications like their AI-powered data security and management capabilities.”

Cohesity’s AI-powered data security and management capabilities are now generally available on AMD-powered all-flash servers from HPE and hybrid servers from Dell and Lenovo.

Learn more by reading the blog: “Revamping Your Data Centers with Cohesity on HPE Next-Gen Compute, Powered by AMD.”