Jio driving digital shifts

Jio driving digital shifts in the economy

by | Jul 20, 2020 | Deal, Technology, Telecom

Jio’s aggressive push to translate itself into a digital services behemoth can further redefine India’s already transforming economy.
Share to lead the transformation

For most of the companies, the past few months have been extremely challenging due to the unprecedented breakdown in economic activities, resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. While enterprises are trying to deal with matters such as changing consumer behaviors, work-from-home setups, and psychological effects of the pandemic on their employees, with telcos like Jio driving digital shifts in the economy.

While this sudden outbreak has impacted many traditional brick-and-mortar businesses to the extent that they had to close their shops, for companies like Jio Platforms, it has accelerated growth, led by a new surge in opportunities.

A gold rush for Jio Platforms

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Jio Platforms, the telecoms and digital arm of the Indian multinational Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has raised over Rs 15.2 billion (Rs. 1,52,056 crore) by attracting investments in 13 companies.

From the likes of Facebook, Google, Qualcomm, and Intel to General Atlantic and Mubadala, leading tech- and private-equity giants seem to yearning to retain some stake in the world’s most treasured digital player of the moment.

This has not only helped company Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) to pare a literal mountain of debt, but also set it on a clear path of turning RJio into a digital products and services behemoth of a global scale.

RJio stands to leverage a plethora of new-age technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, cloud and edge computing, block chain, analytics, and augmented and mixed reality to develop solutions and services that could reshape the user experience for its growing base of customers.

On path to becoming a digital multinational

Amidst the global downturn and massive growth in internet consumption due to the pandemic-enforced work-from-home environment, the recent investments have given Jio a strategic leapfrog.

With most of the population expected to stay indoors even after the lockdown is gradually phased out, the market will need innovations and digital products that could meet customers need at their convenience. Jio Platforms has clearly realized this early on.

Its telecom unit, Jio Infocomm, has already surged past the competition by providing quality services at surprisingly low costs. Now, the company is strategically poised to enter new digital domains by leveraging partnerships.

In this context, the getting together of Reliance Jio (with around 400 million telecom subscribers) and Facebook (with around 300 million Indian users) is specifically important and will help Jio drive growth by potentially catering to a largely dispersed SMB sector of India. (See: Will FB–Jio deal create magic?).

Leveraging the potential of Facebook-owned WhatsApp messenger service, the company has already begun to bring local vendors, independent hawkers, and small ration stores to its Jio Mart platform, for delivering online groceries across 200 cities and towns in India. Its online delivery services are well-backed by Reliance Retail, which is country’s largest retailer in terms of revenue.

According to company sources, Jio has already prepared a roadmap to flesh out its e-commerce services beyond the groceries and is likely to offer a range of merchandise and solutions, competing directly with the likes of Amazon in future.

Mass market for niche consumer tech?

A very significant element of Jio’s recent intents is its focus to become a tech-solutions company.

Besides expanding its offerings as an e-commerce service provider, Jio is also looking at developing cutting-edge next-generation solutions to facilitate the surge in the use of video-based collaborative technologies. In its recently concluded AGM, RIL announced several new initiatives to accomplish its refreshed agenda.

By partnering with Google, for instance, Jio plans to increase the reach of digitization across the length and breadth of India, beyond the current 500+ million Internet users in the country. Jio has also entered into a collaboration with Google to develop an entry-level affordable smartphone with optimizations to the Android operating system and the Play Store.

Another interesting announcement that caught everyone’s attention was the company’s showcasing of a prototype virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) headset, called Jio Glass at its recent annual general meeting. While the company has refrained from sharing details around its market launch or pricing, it said that the device would work with over 25 applications and connect to the internet via a smartphone cable. Once available to the masses, Jio Glass can be a turning point for India’s video-conferencing market and give users more power to collaborate and connect virtually.

India’s education and health sector are likely to be the biggest gainers of the technology as it will enable schools and medical institutes showcase real time projections through various 3D models. Much will be dependent on the pricing of the product as both VR and MR products have so far remained restricted to niche markets.

A gear-making venture in the making

Reliance has also surprised the telecom gear makers by announcing the development of a made-in-India 5G solution to help global service providers roll out advanced 5G infrastructure. The solution is expected to be ready for field deployments next year.

This is a striking development as it will not only help Jio launch 5G services at a significantly lower cost but also endanger the existence of already pressured companies such as Huawei.

RIL hasn’t yet disclosed the roadmap or its vision to develop 5G solutions. However, 5G gear making may not be a cakewalk, considering the fact that players like Huawei are well-ahead in their tech journeys and Jio will need to do a lot of catching up.

At the same time, Reliance is also understood to be forging partnerships to develop other future technologies such as connected cars, drones, and smart homes.

There is no doubt that Reliance Jio is sitting on a unique hotbed of opportunities. The multiple technology partnerships that it has forged, along with its massive domestic telecom subscriber base, create a formidable combination that bodes well.

However, to prove its mettle globally and conquer new markets, the company will need to test different strategies, diversify its product mix, and move up the value chain.

Table: A quick glance at Jio Platforms investors

Investor Stake (%) Funding (in Rs crore)
     
Facebook 9.90 43,573.62
Google 7.7 33,737
Vista Equity 2.30 11,367
KKR 2.30 11,367
Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia 2.30 11,367
Silver Lake Partners 2.08 10,202.55
Mubadala 1.85 9,093.60
General Atlantic 1.34 6,598.38
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority 1.16 5,683.50
TPG 0.93 4,546.80
L Catterton 0.39 1,894.50
Intel Capital 0.39 1,894.50
Qualcomm 0.15 730
  32.79 152,055

 Source: RIL, BM Nxt

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NTPC’s push for GW-scale solar power continues

NTPC’s push for GW-scale solar power continues

The PSU has invited online technical and financial bids from eligible bidders for selection of solar power developers for setting up 1,200 MW ISTS-connected solar PV power projects anywhere in India through reverse auction.

Request for selection (RfS) documents will be made available at e-Tender Portal from 14 August 2019 and can be accessed up to 2 September for examination and downloading. The technical bids will be opened on 2 September itself. All interested parties are required to get registered with M/s ISN Electronic Tender Services website https://www.bharat-electronictender.com (if not registered already) in order to access the RfS documents.

The date and time of start of reverse auction shall be intimated separately by NTPC.

All bids are to be accompanied by earnest money deposit for an amount calculated at the rate of INR 400,000 per MW. For the 1,200 MW project, this works out to be INR 48 crore.

It seems that the appetite of solar power developers is yet to grow for multi-MW and GW-scale projects. That could be a reason why the responses to NTPC’s earlier projects of 1,000MW or above have been somewhat muted.

NTPC, on its part, has been proactive in either extending or refloating the project tenders. The following additional tenders from NTPC are still open:

  • Development of 20MW solar PV project at Rihand (closing date: 14 August 2019).
  • Selection of solar power developers for 1,200MW grid connected solar photo voltaic projects under open category (closing date: 13 August 2019).
  • Development of 20 MW floater solar power project at the reservoir of NTPC Auraiya gas power plant at Dibiyapur in Auraiya district of Uttar Pradesh (closing date: 20 August 2019).
DAE exhibits techs for clean water, environment

DAE exhibits techs for clean water, environment

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India, is organizing a two-day exhibition on DAE spin-off technologies for non-power applications at New Moti Bagh recreation club, New Delhi. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Chairman, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Rakesh Gupta here today. The exhibition is open to public for two days on Aug 11–12 2019.

The exhibition is covering technologies developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Raja Ramanna Centre for Advance Technology, Indore and other Units of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), which are useful for the common man in day-to-day life, e.g., in the field of health, agriculture, water, food security and environment, said a PIB release.

The details of the exhibits are as follows:

Water: DAE has developed technologies for clean water to fulfill departmental requirements and as spin-off developed many techniques which finds applications in ultra-filtration membrane, RO membrane, multistage flash evaporation and water hydrology based on radiotracers. Low cost water filters for removal of all contamination from drinking water have been displayed.

Environment: DAE technologies are finding a lot of applications for Swatch Bharat Mission where bio-methanization and urban sludge hygienization technologies are being deployed across the country. “Nisargruna” plant is a bio-methanization plant for digesting kitchen food waste and green vegetable wastes from agriculture markets to methane gas which can be used for cooking/generating electricity or even for running biogas vehicles. This plant can digest animal waste from slaughterhouse also.

Agriculture: DAE has developed 44 high yielding seed varieties by inducing mutation to suit local weather conditions across the country. DAE has also developed technologies of fertilizer production from bio-sludge and encourages organic farming. The disease resistant, low maturity period and high yielding crops have been well accepted by the farmers. Rural technologies are also being made available to rural youth through ‘AKRUTI’ program.

Health: In health sector there are three segments i) Development of Radio Pharmaceuticals ii) Production & Distribution iii) its implementation for diagnosis and therapeutic application. The treatment of cancer is managed by Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), a fully autonomous aided institution of DAE, provides comprehensive treatment to cancer patients. Medical devices for Tele-ECG, Bhabhatron–a radiation tele-therapy machine, screening of TB and cancer are on display.

While inaugurating the exhibition, Rakesh Gupta expressed his happiness that such exhibition is being organized in New Delhi. He said that these technologies are helpful in day to day life for common people. He added that Government officials act as opinion leaders, so they should visit the exhibition and understand these technologies. Gupta emphasized that these technologies should be adopted in the whole country at a large scale.

The Secretary, DAE, Dr. K.N. Vyas reviewed the preparations for exhibition yesterday. The former Secretaries of DAE, Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Dr. M R Srinivasan were present. The former Secretary DST and member of Atomic Energy Commission, Dr B Rama Rao, also visited exhibits, along with CMD, NPCIL, S.K. Sharma.

News and all pix: PIB

Reform farm sector and conserve water: Naidu

Reform farm sector and conserve water: Naidu

The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has called for introducing structural reforms in the agricultural sector along with financial assistance schemes like Direct Benefit Transfer to make agriculture profitable and sustainable.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojna of the Jharkhand Government, in Ranchi, Jharkhand today. Lauding the Jharkhand government for coming up with the scheme, he expressed hope that it would go a long way in addressing agricultural distress in the state, said a PIB release.

Under the scheme, all the small and marginal farmers of the state, who have arable land up to a maximum of 5 acres, will be given a grant-in-aid at the rate of Rs 5,000 per acre per year, which will also reduce their dependence on loans. This amount would be given in two installments through Direct Benefit Transfer to the beneficiary’s bank account. This will be in addition to PM Kisan Nidhi Yojana under which each small & marginal farmer’s family having combined landholding/ ownership of up to two hectares is paid Rs 6,000 per year, said the Vice President.

Naidu opined that Direct Benefit Transfer would eliminate middlemen and ensure that every penny of the financial assistance given by the government reaches the beneficiaries.

The Vice President said that the Government of India had taken a firm resolve to double the income of farmers by 2022. He added that the government was continuously increasing the minimum support price of food grains to achieve this objective.

He asserted that development would be meaningless until the benefits of progress reached the rural areas and made the lives of our farmers better.

The Vice President also stressed the need for water conservation and said that “Conservation of natural resources like water is essential. For this, a massive campaign of rainwater conservation should be carried out, which will replenish our ground water.”

He cautioned that groundwater levels are continuously falling due to uncontrolled exploitation of groundwater. Due to which the cost of irrigation is increasing. The Vice President also urged the farmers to adopt traditional techniques to support groundwater conservation.

The Governor of Jharkhand, Draupadi Murmu, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Raghuvar Das, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Co-operative Department, Government of Jharkhand, Randhir Kumar Singh, and others were present on the occasion.

News and pix source: PIB.

Pradhan releases EoIs for UCO biodiesel in 100 cities

Pradhan releases EoIs for UCO biodiesel in 100 cities

The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Dharmendra Pradhan today released the Expression for Interest (EOI) by National Oil Marketing Companies (IOC, HPCL and BPCL) for procurement of biodiesel, made from Used Cooking Oil (UCO). On the Occasion of the World Biofuel Day today, Pradhan, along with the Chief Guest, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Harsh Vardhan, launched a sticker on RUCO viz., Repurpose Used Cooking Oil and a mobile app to facilitate the collection of UCO. This year the theme of the World Biofuel Day is “Production of Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil (UCO)”.

As reported earlier by Time Green earlier, the EoI was to be released on World Biofuel Day. (See: EoIs for biofuel coming on World Biofuel Day)

The EOI on biodiesel from UCO provides that the entrepreneurs setting up biodiesel plants get remunerative price and assurance of complete offtake of production by the Oil companies. To be launched in 100 cities, EOI will ensure that Rs 51 per liter is paid for biodiesel for the first year, Rs 52.7 for the second year and Rs 54.5 for the third year. The oil companies will also bear the cost of transportation and GST for the first year, said the PIB release for this news today.

Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Chief Guest Dr. Harsh Vardhan, launched a sticker on Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) and a mobile app to facilitate the collection of UCO. (pix source: PIB)

Describing biodiesel as low hanging fruit in the scheme of alternate source of energies, the minister said that abundant raw material is available for the purpose (pix source: PIB)

Speaking on the occasion, Pradhan said the Prime Minister has given a target to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to bring down import dependency of oil products by 2022, and this can be achieved by enhancing production, improving energy efficiency, promoting conservation and encouraging alternate fuels. He said that the government is promoting the alternate sources of energy in a big way. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is working on a four-pronged strategy in this regard—promoting Ethanol, 2-G ethanol, compressed biogas and biodiesel. Pradhan said that the ethanol blending in petrol has gone up from 1% to about 8% and is likely to touch 10% soon. He said the Government is planning to allow production of ethanol from surplus food grains which now sometimes go waste and also entail expenditure on storage. On the issue of compressed biogas, the minister said that CGD network being set up in over 400 districts will give a big fillip to it, and already 300 letters of intent have been signed with entrepreneurs for setting up CBG plants. Describing biodiesel as low hanging fruit in the scheme of alternate source of energies, the minister said that abundant raw material is available for the purpose. It is a good waste to wealth concept. He said that the budget this year has underlined the transformation of Annadata to Urjadata.

Mentioning about the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Scheme, Pradhan said that the Scheme will achieve its target of 8 crore beneficiaries by October this year, well before the deadline. He said that the scheme has environmental, economic, social and health benefits. Similarly, the scheme of collecting the Used Cooking Oil and its conversion to biodiesel will have environmental, economic and health benefits, besides helping the country attain self-sufficiency. He called upon the OMCs to support the entrepreneurs in their endeavor, as the biodiesel production also promote Sswacchh Bharat mission.

The minister complimented the Ministry of Health in joining hands with the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, in taking up the projects concerning the health of the people.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan enumerated number of technologies developed within the country to convert the waste into useful products. He said that PMUY has helped millions of people in improving their health. The Health Minister emphasized on enforcement, educating and raising awareness about perils of repeatedly using cooking oil, besides offering incentives for disposing it in productive, useful and safe manner. There is need to develop societal movement around it, he added. He said that the Government has launched Eat Right India campaign, and there is need to extend it Eat Less also.

The RUCO sticker launched today will imply that the establishment having it conforms to the RUCO ecosystem and does not reuse the cooking oil. The RUCO App will enable stakeholders to track and trace all transactions.

Leather Mission launched on World Tribal Day

Leather Mission launched on World Tribal Day

leather mission

As part of the Leather Mission, KVIC is giving leather kits to the leather artisans across the nation.

Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC) distributed as many as 50 leather kits and 350 bee-boxes with live bee colonies in tribal-dominated village in Sirohi district of Rajasthan, one of the aspirational districts in India identified by the NITI Aayog, on World Tribal Day today.

While addressing the villagers, KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said that programs like Leather Mission, Kumhar Sashaktikaran Mission, and Honey Mission are the reflection of KVIC’s commitment to uplift the lives of marginalized communities in society.

He said that KVIC is launching a new program ‘Leather Mission’ on World Tribal Day from the tribal-dominated village of Chandala. Under this new program, KVIC will give Leather Kits to the leather artisans across the nation. It will not only increase their incomes manifold but will also inspire the traditional leather artisans who had migrated to other jobs from their traditional skill to adopt this vocation again.”

350 bee-boxes were distributed at the function. Honey Mission has proved as a game-changer in the lives of tribals, farmers, SC/STs and unemployed youths. So far, KVIC has distributed over 1.15 lakh bee-boxes across the nation among the marginalized community, which has provided jobs to over 11,500 people. It has not only increased the income of the bee-keeping farmers but has also increased the yield of the crops by up to 30 percent due to cross-pollination of the honeybees.

3rd global EV conclave held in Delhi

3rd global EV conclave held in Delhi

ev future concept

A futuristic rendition of EV (Representative stock image)

The Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Arjun Ram Meghwal, inaugurated the 3rd International Electric Vehicle (EV) Conclave at the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Manesar, Gurugram, today. The Conclave was held to create a knowledge-sharing platform to ensure flow of information at all levels in the automotive sector.

The EV Conclave organized by ICAT in association with India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) has grown and transformed itself into a global event since its inception in 2017. Owing to the growth of electric mobility and in order to meet the demands of the automotive sector, the EV Conclave is organized with a focus on new trends and challenges in the field of electric mobility.

Addressing the Conclave, Arjun Ram Meghwal, said that the Electric Mobility Mission will be implemented in phases based on feedback from the auto industry. He also promised all support to the industry on policy matters to ensure smooth and efficient transformation of the automotive industry from internal combustion (IC) to electric powertrain. He informed that 3 lakh electric vehicles have already been sold under the FAME India Scheme. He said the provision of Rs. 10,000 crore have been made for electric mobility in the Union Budget of 2019-20.

The Conclave was attended by more than 200 delegates from more than 80 organizations. The next Conclave will be organized in July 2020.

On this occasion, an exhibition was organized in which component manufacturers, system suppliers and service providers showcased their products and services to promote self-reliance, encourage designers and promote innovations in the electric vehicle industry in India.

Arjun Ram Meghwal also inaugurated various new facilities including Photometry Lab for General Lighting and Power Train Engine Test Cell (ETC)- Expansion. In the expansion of the Photometry Lab for general lighting, various performance and safety testing facilities like mirror Goniometer, LED testing facilities were also inaugurated. Powertrain ETC lab expansion includes two transient and five Eddy current dynamometers-based test cells for functional validation of engines. (News source: PIB)

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