高通在美国对华为提起诉讼，指控华为未经授权使用其多项专利，特别是在5G技术领域。华为则反诉高通滥用专利权，要求高通支付合理的专利使用费，并停止对华为的专利侵权指控。

Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions' 182-MW Maryneal Windpower in Texas Starts Commercial Operation

Duke Energy

CHARLOTTE, N.C., August 9, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions,* a nonregulated commercial brand of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), today announced the commercial operation of the 182-megawatt (MW) Maryneal Windpower project in Nolan County, Texas. The Maryneal project increases Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions’ U.S. wind capacity to over 3,000 MW. The site will provide enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 54,000 U.S. homes. In 2019, Sprint, now part of T-Mobile, signed a 12-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for 173.3 MW of the wind generated by the project. The VPPA agreement, which will settle on an as-generated basis tied to Maryneal Windpower’s real-time energy output, will enable T-Mobile to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and will match approximately 9% of T-Mobile’s energy consumption. “Projects like Maryneal Windpower play a huge role in T-Mobile’s commitments to fight climate change and bring us another step closer to achieving our goal of using 100% renewable energy by the end of 2021 – even after our merger with Sprint in 2020 almost doubled our company footprint,” said Brigitta Witt, T-Mobile vice president of Social Impact and Sustainability. “Working with companies like Duke Energy, we’re able to make a positive impact not only on the environment but also in the local community – it’s a win-win for everyone involved.” Along with indirect economic benefits that accompany wind project development, such as increased local spending in the service and construction industries, Maryneal Windpower created approximately 200 jobs during peak construction. Additionally, the site will have a positive economic impact on the local community by providing significant local tax revenues during assessment years of commercial operation to the county and local school districts, as well as meaningful payments to participating landowners. “Wind projects such as Maryneal contribute to a cleaner, stronger economy and help create a more diverse energy infrastructure in Texas,” said Chris Fallon, president of Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions. “We’re excited to work with T-Mobile to create jobs, strengthen the local economy and generate clean energy, while also helping them address their renewable energy goal.” The long-term VPPA complements T-Mobile’s long-standing sustainability strategy, which includes reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, conserving natural resources such as water and paper, eliminating waste from all corners of the business and responsibly recycling waste when possible. Schneider Electric Energy and Sustainability Services advised T-Mobile on the Maryneal VPPA, supporting project selection and negotiations. Wanzek Construction was the contractor for the project, and Nordex USA supplied 38 4.8-MW wind turbines for the site. Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions will perform the site’s long-term maintenance and operations. As one of the nation’s top renewable energy providers, Duke Energy plans to reach 16 GW of renewable energy by the end of 2025 and 47 GW by 2050. About Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions is a leader in sustainable energy, helping large enterprises reduce power costs, lower emissions, and increase resiliency. The team provides wind, solar, resilient backup power, and managed energy services to over 1,000 projects across the U.S., with a total electric capacity of more than 5,100 megawatts of nonregulated renewable energy. Visit Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions and follow on LinkedIn and YouTube for more information. Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy strategy to create a smarter energy future for its customers and communities – with goals of at least a 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is a top U.S. renewable energy provider, on track to operate or purchase 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. About T-Mobile T-Mobile U.S. Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com. Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by terms and phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "continue," "should," "could," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "will," "potential," "forecast," "target," "outlook," "guidance," and similar expressions. Various factors may cause actual results to be materially different than the suggested outcomes within forward-looking statements; accordingly, there is no assurance that such results will be realized. These risks and uncertainties are identified and discussed in Duke Energy’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than Duke Energy has described. Duke Energy expressly disclaims an obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. * Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions is a nonregulated commercial brand of Duke Energy Corporation, which includes the following subsidiaries of Duke Energy Corporation that are registered to transact business in various states and may be branded as Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions for marketing purposes: Duke Energy Commercial Enterprises, Inc.; Duke Energy One, Inc.; Duke Energy Renewables, Inc.; Duke Energy Renewables Commercial, LLC; Duke Energy Renewable Services, LLC; Duke Energy Renewables Solar, LLC; Duke Energy Renewables Storage, LLC; Duke Energy Renewables Wind, LLC; and REC Solar Commercial Corporation. Contact: Jennifer Garber 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Duke Energy on 3blmedia.com

August 09, 2021 08:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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China Tower 5G development gains traction and Two Wings business scales rapidly, Profit attributable to owners of the Company increased by 16.1%

China Tower Corporation Limited

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 9 August 2021 - The world’s largest telecommunications infrastructure service provider China Tower Corporation Limited (“China Tower”, or the “Company”) (Stock Code: 0788.HK) is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2021. Performance Highlights Our total revenue maintained steady growth in the first half of 2021 while profitability continued to improve. Our operating revenue recorded a year-on-year increase of 7.2% to RMB42,673 million; our EBITDA 1 amounted to RMB31,184 million, representing growth of 7.2% year-on-year with an EBITDA margin 2 of 73.1%. Profit attributable to owners of the Company totaled RMB3,457 million, up by 16.1% year-on-year, with a net profit margin of 8.1%. Our cash flow remained sound and ample. In the first half of 2021, net cash generated from operating activities amounted to RMB24,238 million. Capital expenditures amounted to RMB10,360 million, a reduction of 27.6% year-on-year, which resulted in our free cash flow 3 reaching RMB13,878 million, an increase of 8.6% year-on-year. Our debt leverage ratio was contained at a reasonable and manageable level and our financial position remained healthy. As of 30 June 2021, our total assets were RMB333,195 million and our interest-bearing liabilities stood at RMB114,191 million, representing a gearing ratio 4 of 37.0%. In the first half of 2021, centered around our “One Core and Two Wings” strategy, we continued to leverage the benefits of effective resource coordination and sharing to achieve higher efficiency in our asset operations, and as a result further reinforced our competitiveness. Building on the stable development of our TSP business, our TSSAI and energy businesses continued to increase in scale and grow rapidly. Maintaining stable and healthy growth in our TSP business, cementing industry leadership Given the growth in 5G networks deployments during the first half of 2021, we used our market-oriented approach to focus on customer demands as well as the new features of 5G network construction. In this context, we utilized our ability to coordinate and share resources, making full use of our existing and social resources. We have also focused on construction and service model innovation, in view of improving our asset operating efficiency and meeting our customer’s network coverage demands in a cost-effective, intensive and high-performing manner. As a result, our TSP business maintained stable growth, further cementing our leadership in the telecommunication infrastructure construction and operation sector. We completed the infrastructure of approximately 256,000 5G projects in the first half of 2021, of which 97% were completed by utilizing existing resources. This underscored our strength in sharing resources to support the large-scale construction of 5G networks in a cost-effective manner. At the same time, the impact of 5G on improving our revenue has begun to show its effects, with 5G becoming the key growth driver of our TSP business. As of the end of June 2021, we were managing a total of 2.035 million tower sites, a net cumulative addition of 12,000 sites from the end of 2020. During the same period, we gained 53,000 new TSP tenants, bringing the total number to 3.228 million. Our TSP tenancy ratio also increased from 1.57 at the end of 2020 to 1.59. Our DAS business cumulatively covered buildings with a total area of 4.41 billion square meters, up by 41.3% year-on-year. We also covered a total of 14,431 kilometers of high-speed railway tunnels and subways, an increase of 31.8% year-on-year. In the first half of 2021, our TSP business revenue amounted to RMB39,808 million, an increase of 4.5% year-on-year, of which our tower business revenue accounted for RMB37,722 million while our DAS business revenue accounted for RMB2,086 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 3.7% and 21.3% respectively. Rapidly scaling our Two Wings business, gaining new momentum for further development Leveraging our unique advantages in resources and capabilities, we focused on product innovation and the optimization of our platform operations, to maximize the benefits of our sharing model. As a result, our Two Wings business continued to expand rapidly while gaining new momentum for sustainable development. The Two Wings business has shown potential in supporting and reinforcing the Company’s multi-pillar development plan. In the first half of 2021, Two Wings business recorded revenue of RMB2,737 million, an increase of 73.3% year-on-year. TSSAI business: The Company seized opportunities arising from the further digitalization and informatization in China, fully leveraged our competitive advantages in mid-and high-point monitoring and proactively promoted the transformation of “Telecommunications Towers” into “Digital Towers”. Focusing on our video surveillance services, we enhanced our innovative business model and implemented unified technology and service standards, platform support and operations management. We integrated algorithms, terminals, transmission and data management as well as extended our collaboration with industry partners to expand our ecosystem. We have officially launched our “Tower Monitoring” business to serve a wide range of customers across sectors relating to the national economy and people’s livelihoods, including environmental remediation, disaster relief, eco-conservation and village governance. Our integrated information service capabilities were further enhanced, providing a strong basis for the rapid expansion of our TSSAI business. As of 30 June 2021, we had 195,000 TSSAI tenants and TSSAI revenue for the first half of 2021 was RMB1,853 million, an increase of 46.6% year-on-year. Energy business: We captured opportunities related to the push toward a low-carbon economy and the thriving new energy industry. Focusing on our core business segments of battery exchange and power backup, we expanded the scale of our operations and improved our delicate management approach. By standardizing our product platform and putting in place operating and management systems, we strove to enhance our core competitive advantages as the “largest industry player with best-in-class services”, creating smart energy applications with “China Tower characteristics”. As of 30 June 2021, we had cumulatively provided around 460,000 users with battery exchange services, a net increase of 160,000 compared with the end of 2020, making us the largest supplier of battery exchange services for light electric vehicles in China. We also cumulatively built 17,000 power backup sites, a net increase of 5,000 compared with the end of last year. In the first half of 2021, our energy business recorded revenue of RMB884 million, an increase of 180.6% year-on-year. Mr Tong Jilu, Chairman of China Tower said, “Looking forward in the second half of 2021, we will continue to capture opportunities brought about by the development of 5G new infrastructure, the digital economy and the new energy industry. Adhering to our goal of building an enterprise with the best potential for growth and value creation, we will continue to leverage our advantages in resource sharing and further implement our ‘One Core and Two Wings’ strategy. In doing so, we will be in the best position to maintain stable revenue growth, enhance the value of our Company and provide better returns to our shareholders.” Note 1: EBITDA is calculated by operating profit plus depreciation and amortization. Note 2: EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by operating revenue, and multiplying the resulting value by 100%. Note 3: Free cash flow is the net cash generated from operating activities minus the capital expenditures. Note 4: Gearing ratio is calculated as net debt divided by the sum of total equity and net debt, then multiplied by 100%. Net debt is calculated as the amount of interest-bearing liabilities minus the amount of cash and cash equivalents. About China Tower Since its incorporation on 15 July 2014, China Tower Corporation Limited (“China Tower”) has developed into the world’s largest telecommunications tower infrastructure service provider with compelling market advantage under the national strategy of Cyberpower. China Tower was listed on the Main Board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 8 August 2018 (Stock Code: 0788.HK), raising approximately HK$58.8 billion. The Company implements the strategy of “One Core and Two Wings”. “One core” refers to the traditional tower business and indoor Distributed Antenna System (DAS) business, which provide services to the TSPs based on site resources; while “Two Wings” refers to the Trans-sector Site Application and Information (TSSAI) business which mainly provides tower site resources and data information services to different industries, as well as energy business to satisfy the growing demands on energy services in the society, such as power backup and generation, charging, battery exchange and echelon use of batteries. China Tower adheres to the “sharing” philosophy for business development. It promotes site co-location and provides a wide range of services to fulfill the specific needs of its customers. As of the end of June 2021, the Company’s total assets amounted to RMB333,195 million. China Tower operated and managed 2.035 million tower sites across 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the PRC, and served over 3.423 million tenants with the tenancy ratio of 1.68. Contact Details iPR Ogilvy Ltd. Callis Lau +852 2136 6952 chinatower@iprogilvy.com iPR Ogilvy Ltd. Gary Li +852 3170 6753 chinatower@iprogilvy.com iPR Ogilvy Ltd. Emily Chiu +852 3920 7659 chinatower@iprogilvy.com iPR Ogilvy Ltd. Charmaine Siu +852 3920 7646 chinatower@iprogilvy.com

August 09, 2021 01:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Sarcos Robotics and T-Mobile Team Up to Integrate 5G into Guardian® XT™ Robot

T-Mobile

SALT LAKE CITY and BELLEVUE, Wash., August 6, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Sarcos Robotics (“Sarcos”), a leader in the development of robots that augment humans to enhance productivity and safety, and T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS), America’s 5G leader, today announced a collaboration to integrate T-Mobile 5G into the Sarcos Guardian® XT™ highly dexterous mobile industrial robot. The Guardian XT robot is a remote-controlled robotic system designed to help humans safely work in hazardous conditions, performing tasks such as lifting heavy materials or using power tools at significant heights. With T-Mobile 5G integration, the companies aim to improve performance and response time for remote operations, so the robots can perform tasks more quickly and more in tune with their operator’s movements. The Guardian XT robotic system is an upper-body variant of the award-winning Sarcos Guardian® XO® full-body, battery-powered industrial exoskeleton. It is platform-agnostic and can be mounted to a variety of mobile bases to access hard-to-reach or elevated areas and applies to many industries, including aerospace, automotive, aviation, construction, defense, industrial manufacturing, maritime, and oil and gas. Both the Guardian XO and the Guardian XT robots are expected to be commercially available by the end of 2022. T-Mobile 5G to Power Remote Viewing and Teleoperation The T-Mobile and Sarcos collaboration begins with the integration of 5G to develop a remote viewing system powered by T-Mobile’s high bandwidth, low latency 5G network. This enables workers, supervisors, outside experts, and others, whether they are based locally or remote, to watch tasks being performed by the robot as it is controlled by an operator in the field. The second phase of development is expected to include full T-Mobile 5G wireless network integration, allowing teleoperation of the Guardian XT robot over 5G, giving operators greater flexibility and increasing their safety by enabling them to perform tasks from a distance. “We are proud to collaborate with T-Mobile and we’ve made great progress leveraging their 5G network to enable the remote viewing management system,” said Scott Hopper, Executive Vice President of Corporate and Business Development, Sarcos Robotics. “This is a significant first step and we’re eager to continue the development toward full 5G wireless connectivity that will unlock a variety of new capabilities, including remote teleoperation, as we prepare for commercial availability.” “The Sarcos Guardian XT robot requires a highly reliable, low latency 5G network that its human operators can count on,” said John Saw, EVP of Advanced & Emerging Technologies at T-Mobile. “5G was designed from the ground up for industrial applications such as this and we cannot wait to further collaborate with Sarcos as they develop the next big thing in industrial robotics.” On April 6, 2021, Sarcos announced that it will become publicly listed through a merger transaction with Rotor Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: ROT.U, ROT, and ROT WS) (“Rotor”), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, at which point the combined company’s common stock is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol STRC. For more information on Sarcos, the Guardian XT robot, and the company’s advanced teleoperation control system, please visit www.sarcos.com. For more information about T-Mobile follow T-Mobile’s Official Twitter Newsroom @TMobileNews to stay up to date with the latest company news. About Sarcos Robotics Sarcos Robotics is a leader in industrial robotic systems that augment human performance by combining human intelligence, instinct, and judgment with the strength, endurance, and precision of machines to enhance employee safety and productivity. Leveraging more than 30 years of research and development, Sarcos’ mobile robotic systems, including the Guardian® S, Guardian® GT, Guardian® XO®, and Guardian® XT™, are designed to revolutionize the future of work wherever physically demanding work is done. Sarcos is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and backed by Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Delta Air Lines, GE Ventures, Microsoft, and Schlumberger. For more information, please visit www.sarcos.com About T-Mobile T-Mobile U.S. Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com. About Rotor Acquisition Corp. With approximately 100 years of combined experience in investing and managing capital across markets and industries, structuring transactions, and building businesses and led by Chief Executive Officer Brian Finn, Chairman of the Board Stefan M. Selig, and Director John D. Howard, Rotor Acquisition Corp. (“Rotor”) is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with potential target companies with certain industry and business characteristics within the areas of disruptive consumer and industrial technologies. For more information, please visit www.rotoracquisition.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, Rotor’s and Sarcos’ expectations or predictions of future business performance or conditions, Sarcos’ product roadmap, including the expected timing of commercialization or new product releases, the expected capabilities of Sarcos products currently in development and Sarcos’ use of capital following the transaction, including Sarcos’ ability to accomplish the initiatives outlined above. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by, or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates,” “intends” or “continue” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Sarcos’ management’s current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. However, there can be no assurance that the events, results, or trends identified in these forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Sarcos is not under any obligation and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports, which Rotor has filed or will file from time to time with the SEC. In addition to factors previously disclosed in Rotor’s reports filed with the SEC and those identified in this press release, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: risks and uncertainties related to the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the potential business combination, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals or stockholder approvals of Rotor are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed business combination; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the potential business combination; Sarcos’ ability to execute on its business strategy, including expected timing of commercial launch of the Guardian XO and Guardian XT, develop new products and services and enhance existing products and services; ability to respond rapidly to emerging technology trends; ability to compete effectively and manage growth and costs; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Rotor’s preliminary proxy statement filed with the SEC on August 2, 2021 and other documents of Rotor filed, or to be filed, with SEC. This communication is not intended to be all-inclusive or to contain all the information that a person may desire in considering an investment in Rotor and is not intended to form the basis of an investment decision in Rotor. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Rotor and Sarcos, the Proposed Business Combination, or other matters and attributable to Rotor and Sarcos or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. No Offer or Solicitation This press release does not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction. This press release also does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor will there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such other jurisdiction. No offering of securities will be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. Rotor, Sarcos and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Rotor, in favor of the approval of the merger. Information regarding Rotor’s directors and executive officers is contained in the section of Rotor’s Form S-1 titled “Management,” which was filed with the SEC on December 18, 2020. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the proxy statement and other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available. The documents filed by Rotor with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, these documents, when available, can be obtained free of charge from Rotor upon written request to Rotor Acquisition Corp., The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10174. Press Contacts: Sarcos Robotics Ben Mimmack 801-419-0438 pr@sarcos.com ir@sarcos.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from T-Mobile on 3blmedia.com

August 06, 2021 10:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Why 5G Is Crucial in Achieving a More Sustainable Future

Qualcomm

5G has the potential to help the world become more environmentally sustainable with technology that can reduce negative impacts caused by various sectors. ‍ What this means: These new networks’ high speed and reliability can help lower greenhouse gas emissions, better manage electricity, reduce water consumption and contribute to green job growth. Accenture’s “The Impact of 5G on the United States Economy” reports that 5G is expected to create or transform up to 16 million jobs across the U.S. economy. Many of these new jobs, according to Qualcomm Incorporated’s head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Angela Baker, will be associated with services and industries — like manufacturing, agriculture and transportation — that will have a positive impact on the environment and reduce pollution. such as manufacturing, farming and transportation cut back on their carbon emissions and improve their environmental sustainability. Here’s how: Transportation could become smarter, safer, greener and faster with the adoption of 5G. The background: Many governments are looking at the potential of 5G to lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing traffic jams, improving traffic control, ensuring cars are running efficiently and optimizing public transportation. Why it’s important: Evidence shows that connecting vehicles to their surroundings — such as to other vehicles, infrastructure and pedestrians — could save anywhere from 15-20% in carbon emissions. It also has the potential of reducing the severity of non-impaired accidents by up to 80% — reducing traffic by possibly 25%. 5G is also expected to help make smart farms more efficient and sustainable. Why it’s important: The agriculture industry accounts for approximately 80% of water consumption in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Sensors and monitoring devices paired with 5G help farmers remotely monitor and control their water usage effectively. These technologies ensure that crops are not being over-watered, thereby reducing the farm’s water consumption, improving its crop yields and increasing efficiencies. Smart factories powered by 5G and IoT have efficiencies built in. Qualcomm’s 5G breakthroughs can provide manufacturers better visibility, management and control over their energy consumption. This can help factories reduce carbon emissions. 5G’s sustainable influence can touch many in the value chain, including end users. For example, products like Always On, Always Connected PCs don’t need to be charged as often as regular devices, helping users reduce their energy consumption. 5G fridges could also help reduce a home’s food waste by providing alerts of when food is about to go bad. What Qualcomm is saying: 5G is going to be a game-changer in helping mitigate the effects of climate change. But to reap the benefits the U.S. needs to adopt regulatory frameworks for smart and sustainable mobility for the deployment of 5G. The country needs to boost investments in infrastructure and 5G, from the federal level down to the local level. The takeaway: Qualcomm is leading the expansion of 5G to meet these societal needs. “5G can help enable a more sustainable future by providing higher speeds and allowing us to do much more than we’re able to do now,” said Baker. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Qualcomm on 3blmedia.com

August 06, 2021 10:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CSG Delivers Future-Proof Agility and Automation for M1 Intercarrier Business, Helping Transform and Evolve Singapore’s Telecommunications Landscape

CSG

CSG ® (NASDAQ: CSGS) empowers today’s leading companies with future-ready solutions that drive extraordinary customer experiences and continual innovation. Today, M1 Limited (M1), Singapore’s first digital network operator, uses CSG’s cloud-based Digital Wholesale solution to streamline its business and seamlessly manage traffic without sacrificing quality. With CSG’s wholesale cloud platform at the heart of its intercarrier operations, M1 is re-envisioning how it interacts with customers for future growth and leveraging modernisation to drive down costs and improve margins. “Our mission at M1 is to not only do digital, but to be digital. What truly sets CSG apart is their ability to understand our intercarrier customer needs. CSG’s hands-on support throughout our implementation and their extensive experience in revenue management represent the best-in-class solution we need to go beyond connectivity and deliver game-changing results for our wholesale customers. With CSG’s cloud-based solution, M1 has the agility, automation, and future-ready technology to react quickly to market demands. Together, we went live on time and on target. CSG's commitment to our success is essential to our journey of becoming a digital native telco," said Nathan Bell, Chief Digital Officer, M1. CSG Digital Wholesale is the most widely deployed wholesale telecoms management system in the world, helping more than 150 customers reduce their costs without compromising quality. These capabilities help operators advance their market responsiveness and deliver competitive strategies that power advanced customer experiences while taking the complexity out of wholesale relationship management. "The digital wholesale market is key to enabling 5G strategies, and ambitious operators, like M1, need agile cloud solutions that allow them to evolve and adapt as fast as the market does," said Ian Watterson, head of CSG’s Asia-Pacific business. "CSG’s public cloud platform enables M1 to accelerate their digital transformation and leverage the scalability and flexibility of the cloud to future-proof their business. Our long-standing relationship and in-depth knowledge of M1’s business and their customers’ needs have been the keys to success for this implementation, ensuring business continuity and an on-time deployment." With CSG’s solution, M1 can now: Deliver extraordinary wholesale customer experiences: Access to data helps M1 better understand its customers as well as protect and improve margins. M1 can quickly react to changing customer demands and take advantage of made to measure routing and pricing to enhance the customer experience. Leverage real-time insight: Real-time reports provide visibility into cost savings, loss, and profitability, giving M1 a complete view of its business performance and the ability to react to and resolve issues before they impact the business. Lower capital and operating expenditures: By consolidating national and international operations, M1 can handle every kind of traffic through an integrated platform that powers increased efficiency. This allows M1 to reduce the number of manual, error-prone tasks while taking advantage of profitable routing opportunities as soon as they become available. Trade intelligently: Tariff-setting is quick, easy, and automated. With customer-specific layouts and on-the-fly rate negotiations, M1 can leverage commercial insights to keep its product portfolio and business model as dynamic as the market. CSG Route is part of the company’s broad portfolio of revenue management and digital wholesale solutions that allow companies to shorten their time to market and reduce operational costs while delivering innovative services and extraordinary customer experiences. Leading telecommunications companies across Asia-Pacific and the world rely on CSG to monetise new offerings and protect and maintain existing revenue streams while they focus on their business requirements. For more information on CSG revenue management, visit https://www.csgi.com/capabilities/revenue-and-customer-management/. # # # About CSG For more than 35 years, CSG has simplified the complexity of business, delivering innovative customer engagement solutions that help companies acquire, monetise, engage, and retain customers. Operating across more than 120 countries worldwide, CSG manages billions of critical customer interactions annually, and its award-winning suite of software and services allow companies across dozens of industries to tackle their biggest business challenges and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace. CSG is the trusted provider for driving digital innovation for hundreds of leading global brands, including Airtel Africa, América Móvil, AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, DISH, Formula 1, Hutchison 3 Indonesia, Inmarsat, Mastercard, Maximus, Microsoft, Mobily, MTN, New Leaf Service Contracts, State of California DMV, TalkTalk and Telstra. To learn more, visit our website at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About M1 M1, a subsidiary of Keppel Corporation, is Singapore’s first digital network operator, providing a suite of communications services, including mobile, fixed-line and fibre offerings, to over two million customers. Since the launch of its commercial services in 1997, M1 has achieved many firsts – becoming one of the first operators to be awarded one of Singapore’s two nationwide 5G standalone network license, the first operator to offer nationwide 4G service, as well as ultra-high-speed fixed broadband, fixed voice and other services on the Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (NGNBN). M1’s mission is to drive transformation and evolution in Singapore’s telecommunications landscape through cutting-edge technology and made-to-measure offerings. For more information, visit www.m1.com.sg. Copyright © 2021 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names that are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved. Contacts: Tammy Hovey Global / North America / Asia-Pacific Public Relations +1 (917) 520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Kristine Østergaard Europe / Middle East / Africa Public Relations +44 (0)79 2047 7204 kristine.ostergaard@csgi.com John Rea Investor Relations +1 (210) 687-4409 john.rea@csgi.com Contact Details Tammy Hovey +1 917-520-2751 tammy.hovey@csgi.com Company Website https://www.csgi.com

August 03, 2021 03:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time

News Release

Fisk University, HTC VIVE, T-Mobile and VictoryXR Launch 5G‑Powered VR Human Cadaver Lab

T-Mobile

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 3, 2021 /3BL Media/ - This fall students at Fisk University will attend in-person classes at one of the first virtual reality (VR) campuses in the nation. Fisk University, HTC VIVE, T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) and VictoryXR have teamed up to launch a first-of-its-kind interactive 5G-powered VR human cadaver lab for students in pre-med and biology-related majors. Fisk University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the top ranked HBCUs in the country. This new model of learning combines the in-person classroom experience with 5G-powered VR technology, enabling students to explore the complete skeletal structure, muscle structure and the eleven human organ systems while still engaging in-person with their classmates and instructors. “We’re combining the best aspects of virtual and in-person learning, and this is the future of education,” said Dr. Vann Newkirk, President, Fisk University. “Fisk University is emerging as a tech leader among colleges, and our effort to bring a virtual reality cadaver lab to campus exemplifies our commitment to provide students with a state-of-the-art education.” Inside the lab, students will examine the internal organs of various human systems, and the professor can even remove the organs from the body and pass them around for students to hold and open. Students will have the ability to enlarge the organ to a size large enough where they can even step inside to better learn how it works. In addition to organ systems, the cadavers will also include complete skeletal and muscle structures. “With this cadaver lab, our pre-med students will no longer need to rely on other universities for advanced anatomy and biology classes,” said Dr. Shirley Brown, Dean of Fisk University. “Virtual reality technology takes our university to a level equal to the most advanced schools in the country.” In the past, Fisk University has not purchased cadavers due to the high cost and maintenance. But with a virtual cadaver lab, the university can offer state-of-the-art scientific learning that’s affordable and easy to maintain. Virtual cadavers do not degrade, and over time additional specialties can be added to the software such as surgical procedures, comparative learning between human and animal as well as microbiology at the cellular level. In addition, the collaboration will enable Fisk University to offer in-person VR history courses allowing students to visit locations previously only seen in a book or video. Some of those places include key civil rights locations such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, and the National Mall in Washington, D.C. “The rise of virtual reality is redefining the classroom,” said Steve Grubbs, CEO, VictoryXR. “Remote learning is broken and VR campuses enable professors and students to again come together to teach, learn and solve problems.” 5G-Powered VR Learning Students will use HTC VIVE headsets to work inside the virtual cadaver lab developed by VictoryXR using the Unity real-time 3D platform. The VR cadaver lab runs on T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity 5G network, which provides the low latency, high capacity and speed needed to run a bandwidth-intensive VR application for a classroom of students simultaneously. With T-Mobile 5G, the experience offers higher definition graphical detail, making it possible for example to better discern veins and arteries. Meanwhile the low latency of 5G keeps the experience concurrent for multiple users, making sure the whole class stays in synch. The All-in-One HTC VIVE Focus 3 combines high-definition visuals, superior audio, and next level inside-out tracking and controllers to deliver extraordinary learning experiences. With best-in-class graphics and software, the HTC VIVE Focus 3 enables seamless remote collaboration and incredibly effective training opportunities. “Advancements in our hardware and 5G networks enable us to power more immersive and engaging learning experiences for students in ways we never imagined,” said Nigel Newby-House, Vice President, HTC Operator Solutions. “We’re excited to collaborate with Fisk University to help pioneer this innovative new model for learning.” With high-bandwidth, low-latency networks, classrooms of the future will engage students in immersive experiences using mixed reality content. A typical day of learning might include a virtual tour inside the human body, an exploration of the Louvre, a hike across the Amazon rain forest and a lesson taught by a hologram expert guest speaker. “5G opens up endless possibilities for applications that better connect us to our world, helping us learn and explore in ways that weren’t possible before,” said John Saw, EVP of Advanced & Emerging Technologies at T-Mobile. “With the largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network in the country, we’re working to fuel 5G innovation and transform the education industry.” For more information, visit Fisk University, HTC VIVE, the T-Mobile Newsroom and VictoryXR. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from T-Mobile on 3blmedia.com

August 03, 2021 11:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Get Ready for More 5G Products Changing Our Lives for the Better

Keysight Technologies

Mobile operators around the world are accelerating their pace to deploy 5G networks. Mobile device manufacturers are making 5G accessibility a default feature in their new products. 5G mobile users are experiencing faster connections. Does it mean that the 5G era is truly here? Is 5G changing your life right now as many companies have claimed? Mobile operators are taking the first step to turn on their 5G networks using a new radio access technology (RAT) that allows 5G devices to have different form factors and support a wider range of service types. They are ready for industry and consumers. The new RAT fundamentally supports three service categories: Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) Massive machine-type communications (mMTC) Ultra-reliable, low-latency communications (URLLC) 5G networks offer a wide range of spectral options to address the above use cases to deliver an optimized combination of high capacity, high data rates, ubiquitous coverage, and ultra-reliability. These unique features will make mission-critical applications such as remote surgery and autonomous driving possible. Industry users can also take advantage of 5G networks. Manufacturing plants can control and manage hundreds or thousands of robots through 5G networks. Farmers can remotely monitor their farms or livestock by using 5G-compatible sensors. Certainly, in these user cases, 5G devices are no longer cellphones. As a matter of fact, cell phones may just be at the tip of the iceberg. Potentially, there are so many other applications for innovative minds to develop. In the 5G era, anything could be connected. 5G accelerates your life, we accelerate 5G devices development In 5G devices, the radio unit is a critical component. It not only talks to cellular base stations but also determines what type of services or applications a 5G device supports. Other key performance indicators such as data throughput, power consumption (battery life), audio quality, mobility, and emergency application services are also important to 5G device development. 5G has a very wide frequency availability. It is not cost-efficient for 5G devices to support all 5G bands, from both the development and operations standpoints. Plus, there are also other options to support non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) architectures, 4G LTE compatibility, and other 5G features. Early access to 5G RF test tools that allow inspection of RF performance is key to accelerating the transition from prototypes to commercial 5G products. The test tools also need to support a wide range of compatibility to satisfy all design needs. Keysight’s S8702A RF Automation Toolset provides a suite of fully automated transmitter and receiver inspections that are based on the 3GPP 5G NR and 4G LTE test specifications. It is a comprehensive benchtop solution that enables 5G device development engineers to quickly inspect and verify the RF transmitter and receiver performance for new 5G NR devices. The core elements of the toolset are the Keysight E7515B UXM 5G Wireless Test Platform and Keysight’s Test Application Framework Software, which can be installed on a regular desktop computer. The UXM emulates a real-world 5G network, and the Test Application FrameworkSoftware provides control of the UXM. The toolset has different operation modes supporting a wide range of testing scenarios, from non-signaling for UE calibration to full signaling tests, providing a comprehensive set of features for engineers designing RF components and devices. The framework supports 4G LTE as well as 5G NSA and SA modes, and its full signaling test mode enables users to perform RF measurements while a call is in progress. Keysight’s E7770A Common Interface Unit, M1740A mmWave Transceivers, and test chamber extend the test range to mmWave frequencies including 24-, 28-, 39-, and 40-GHz bands. The complete toolset is capable of FR1 and FR2 testing for both 5G NR NSA and SA modes. This toolset has state-of-the-art logging, visualization and debugging functionalities. It provides optimized test execution times, enabling rapid RF transmitter and receiver performance inspection and verification. The integrated report generator can summarize a comprehensive test report for test campaigns. RF design engineers can quickly identify and focus on areas where performance is sub-optimal and quickly retest when the issue has been rectified. This will significantly accelerate your transition from prototypes to commercial 5G products. Soon, you will realize that more and more devices will have 5G accessibility other than your cellphones. They can be your personal computer, your car, smart watch, or home appliance. Many industries like manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and others will benefit from the advanced connectivity of 5G networks. The benefits of 5G technology will increase exponentially with a high variety of devices and applications. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Keysight Technologies on 3blmedia.com

August 03, 2021 11:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

Jangala: Meet the Team Closing the Digital Divide by Providing Internet Access to Offline Refugees

Cisco Systems Inc.

Now that the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2021 winners have been officially announced, we are excited for you to learn more about each winning team and the story behind each innovation. The Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge is an annual competition that awards cash prizes to early-stage tech entrepreneurs solving the world’s toughest problems. Now in its fifth year, the competition awarded its largest prize pool ever, $1 million USD, to 20 winning teams from around the world. This year, we offered a special Digital Inclusivity Prize. The $50,000 USD Digital Inclusivity Prize was awarded to a startup using technology that closes the digital divide. This award is being offered by Cisco’s Emerging Technologies and Incubation (ET&I) Group in the spirit of our new purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All. The partnership between the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge and ET&I is symbolic of our commitment and investment in the corporate social responsibility space and our passion to be at the forefront of innovation. Jangala, this year’s Digital Inclusivity winning solution, is focused on the same goals as our ET&I team, targeting corporate responsibility and innovation while closing the digital divide to build a more inclusive digital world. Jangala enables access to the internet for those who encounter barriers to access. Access to the internet is life-changing and is the key to countless obstacles for those without. Their first product, the Big Box takes, two and a half minutes to deploy and can serve up to 100 people; up to 3,000 people can be powered through routers that can also hook up to the Big Box. Jangala started formulating this solution in 2016, with Rich Thanki, co-founder and Head of Technology, Nils O’Hara, co-founder and Head of Operations, and Samson Rinaldi, co-founder and Head of Product Design and Manufacturing. Anna Hickman, Head of Partnerships, and Lamis Serroukh, Head of Fundraising, filled critical needs to get the company off the ground. Our ET&I team sat down with Jangala’s Rich, Nils, Samson, Anna, and Lamis to discuss their innovative product, their inspiration, and their comradery. What problem is your technology solution trying to solve? Rich: At Jangala, we want to use technology to make sure that every school and educational facility, healthcare project, and community resilience project can connect to the internet. In essence, that’s our mission. We want to collaborate widely to get there. We want to use our technology and other people’s technology. How does the solution work? Rich: Jangala’s solution works by bringing together a number of different technologies that are normally separated. So, Big Box uses any single form of internet backhaul, it has multiple 4G modems, and can use 5G as well. It can also use fixed-line broadband and point-to-point radios that can connect to simultaneous connections. And it has four Wi-Fi radios integrated as well that serve over 300 people. Big Box can also be the center of a bigger network, powerful enough to provide the central point of connectivity in a refugee camp of many tens of thousands of people. What inspired you to develop this solution? Nils: I was working in a camp in the Calais Jungle in northern France back in 2015. My parents fostered a refugee who came from that camp. So, I went to learn more about the people there, and the journeys that they made, and I started volunteering to help with initial needs, like food, clothing, shoes, shelter, and those kinds of things. And my sister and I had started a charity called the “Worldwide Tribe,” which had raised quite a lot of funds through a viral post, which was shared over 50,000 times. So, this kind of blew up, and I was going back and forth to this camp, giving out this aid that we’d been donated. And while I was spending all this time there, I could really see that, although we’re fulfilling these primary needs, there were all these secondary needs that weren’t being fulfilled, including the need for people to be able to communicate. People constantly asked me if I knew where the nearest free Wi-Fi was that they could use without being turned away. Because, in the restaurants and cafes in the area, any refugees would be shouted at and made to leave. So, I was constantly lending my phone to people. And after a few calls to Eritrea, and Sudan, and countries like that, I’m looking at my phone bill and quickly realizing that wasn’t a viable solution anymore. Luckily, a mutual friend, Ben, made the connection between our need and Rich’s work. He asked, “Nils, do you need Wi-Fi? Rich, you’re working with Wi-Fi solutions in Sub Saharan Africa, you should chat to each other.” Rich: Yeah, when Nils and I met, I was working with Microsoft in Sub Saharan Africa on TV whitespace technology projects, getting internet access to lots of hard to connect places in Kenya, Namibia, Ghana, and South Africa. I was lucky enough to see the economic and social benefits that internet access could create. And I got to spend a lot of time on the ground with incredible people using technologies, putting them together, and building all kinds of networks. But at the same time, I was hearing about what Nils was doing. I thought, “That sounds very cool” but didn’t think of helping more than donating money. And then Ben had the spark that I should offer my skills. So, I immediately put together a plan to connect the Calais Jungle using satellite photos and topographical maps. Within a few weeks, Nils and I were in the Jungle, in the mud and the rain, putting together a network based on what I had experienced in Africa. Lack of connectivity affected so many other things–people’s mental health, how well organizations could work, and then the Jungle as a whole. You know, it really made a difference. We had lots of users–from the refugees themselves, to the cafes, to the voluntary projects. We were very popular when the Wi-Fi was working. We got lots of free cups of tea. That’s when we started getting requests from all over Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. And, it was like, “Okay, how do we fulfill these?” At that point, we started to realize that we needed to make what we’d done more repeatable. And that’s when, as if by fate, someone forwarded me an offer of help from someone called Samson Rinaldi. Samson: So, yeah, I sent an email to these guys who had been working in the Calais Jungle. My background is in TV and film, and I saw the request for people to go and help build shelters in this refugee camp. So, I went out there with a team from my workshop, and we ended up developing a flat-packed shelter-building process. A few months later, I wondered what was happening around internet access. I searched for projects, found Jangala, and thought, “okay, obviously these guys know how to build networks.” But the hardware side of things, I can add some value there. Rich: At that time, we were still traveling out to connect these different situations, and we were still limited. We were thinking, “how can we make this process more efficient?” And that’s where the idea of Big Box came about. And we spent the autumn and winter of 2016 building the first prototype of Big Box. How will winning a prize in the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge help you advance your business? Anna: A lot of the work, since we conceived of the Big Box format for the Wi-Fi, has involved building systems to that we can deploy them at scale. Hopefully soon, we will be able to deploy hundreds, and then one day, thousands of systems. I came onboard to help manage, grow, and proliferate our partners. Once people heard about this technology, we started getting requests every week. So, if a healthcare clinic asks about whether they can partner with us, we can now help them connect their project with Big Box. We’re at the stage now where the technology is, as Rich said, really developed. We’ve been iterating with partners, and learning from them in all these challenging situations. Some of the upcoming tasks [include] being able to scale and properly manage thousands of boxes at once. And a lot of that involves the systems that we’re putting in place on the box, like a user interface so that partners can connect to the Box and see there and then, live, what is happening, how many people are connecting, and the signal strength. It will equip them with what they need to create the network exactly for their own specific situation and respond to their challenges. And so that we can also track with a lot more granularity how the systems are performing, which in turn feeds back into how we’re developing them. So, the Cisco prize money will be put directly towards this development work and bringing down these final barriers to scale. How has the global pandemic impacted your work? Lamis: The initial Big Box product is great and works so well in so many different contexts. But when the pandemic hit, we realized that there was great demand for good quality internet in lots of different contexts right here in the UK. So, the team pivoted and developed a second product, Get Box, which is a lot smaller and works more like your typical household Wi-Fi. Using a lot of the same technology as Big Box, the Get Box can be used to provide a full home Wi-Fi, as well as being used in larger buildings, such as shelters, community centers, or emergency accommodation. [This is] a huge lifeline for people who were stuck indoors without the internet. It’s people’s way of connecting with each other, their loved ones, but also entertainment to distract from what was going on. Now, loads of Get Boxes are being trialed and used across the UK and in Greece, in various contexts. And so, it was a really challenging time for the organization and for everyone. But actually, something really great came out of it. Why did you decide to start your own social enterprise versus going to work for a company? Rich: That’s a good question. I guess that, back when we started Jangala, it wasn’t even an enterprise. In late 2017, I was juggling three different things: Jangala, work with Microsoft, and work on a PhD. And it came to a point where I was like, “what feels most urgent right now?” Jangala really stood out. Having worked in the camps, having done all this stuff—it felt tangible. It felt like we could make a difference for people crying out for it. Nils: And it was quite organic, wasn’t it? We just fell into it in a way. Because at the time, if there had been something in the market that could solve the problem that we were having in the Jungle, then we would’ve used it. But we couldn’t find something within our budget. So, we decided to make it, and kind of cobbled together this thing. And, until Samson came onboard, it was mainly held together with gaffer tape! It was just so organic. And when we got our first requests from the outside, we were like, “this is getting pretty serious now.” Samson: Yeah, it became untenable. We were doing so much of this work while trying to hold down our regular day jobs. And there was one point when I was just out on a full two-hour meeting with you guys, while I was on a film set. Rich was like, “You need to be in.” And I was like, “Okay. This is way more important.” What advice do you have for other social entrepreneurs? Rich: Be imaginative. Be brave about the scope of what you can achieve. If you see one problem somewhere, don’t think that that’s the only instance of that solution that exists. the solution you make might be applicable across many different people. Lamis: And put people first! Think about why you’re doing what you’re doing. And aim to make that approach filter through every aspect of the organization. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cisco Systems Inc. on 3blmedia.com

August 03, 2021 08:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Qualcomm Announces Finalists of the 6th Edition of “Qualcomm Design in India Challenge”

Qualcomm

BENGALURU, India, August 2, 2021 /3BL Media/– Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) has announced the twelve finalists of the Qualcomm® Design in India Challenge 2021. Each finalist will receive an amount of INR 3.2 lakh along with mentorship and access to Qualcomm Innovation Labs, incentives for patent-filing, and business development opportunities with the help of Qualcomm Technologies’ global sales and business teams. Currently in its sixth edition, the Qualcomm Design in India Challenge was organized in collaboration with NASSCOM, Startup India and AGNIi and received close to 160 applications across industries. The finalists were selected through a virtual, rigorous selection process in June by a jury comprising of senior executives from NASSCOM, STPI, C-CAMP, NLU and various business units within Qualcomm. India is at the cusp of becoming the world’s largest startup ecosystem. The Qualcomm Design in India Challenge was conceptualised in 2016 with the objective of empowering this growing network with the latest technologies. Since then, it has become one of India’s longest-running wireless hardware startup incubation programs. Attuned to the ‘Digital India’ mission it focuses strongly on encouraging local innovation and protection of intellectual property (IP) by these startups. The Qualcomm Design in India Challenge is equity free and offers the following benefits to its finalists: Patent-filing incentives: Each startup will receive reimbursement for an amount of INR 1.6 lakh for a full utility patent application filed with either the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), after filing the same with the India Patent Office or the Indian Patent Office in respect of the proposal for Qualcomm Design in India Challenge and during the incubation phase of the program. This incentive by is limited to two patent applications per startup. Prize money: The twelve shortlisted startups will get an initial grant of INR 1.6 lakhs at the start of the incubation period. After a mid-cycle review, about five months into the incubation, the startups that meet the review requirements will be eligible for an additional grant of INR 1.6 lakh. In March 2022, a jury pitching session will be held, after which one winner and first and second runners-up will receive INR 65 lakh, INR 50 lakh and INR 35 lakh, respectively. Opportunity to be incubated at NASSCOM CoE for IoT: At its discretion, the program can recommend up to three startups to NASSCOM, where if selected, they will be given a combined total of 30 seat-months at a NASSCOM Center of Excellence – IoT & AI at no cost to them and without needing them to go through the usual application process. Accelerator services: Accelerator services will be available to all startups, at no additional cost, through a third-party vendor. These services will include diagnostic assessments; and mentorship workshops on business-related aspects such as operations, customers, competition, products, financials, organization-building, and investments. Participation at industry events/ forums and Govt engagement opportunities: The program offers opportunities for the finalists to engage with senior members of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)/ Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), showcase their products at industry events that are either hosted by Qualcomm India or have Qualcomm India as a participant and through stories and videos on various digital and social platforms. Access to Innovation Commercialization Fund: Starting 2020, the program instituted an Innovation Commercialization Fund (ICF) with an initial amount of INR 60 lakh. The fund size for 2021 will continue to be at INR 60 lakh. The ICF is available for application by all Qualcomm Design in India Challenge alumni startups subject to applicable terms and will be used for reimbursement of expenses incurred in taking the product commercial. This includes certification costs; costs incurred towards industrial design; and manufacturing costs. Sudeepto Roy, Vice President, Engineering, Qualcomm Incorporated, said, “Qualcomm believes in connecting the world through innovation and collaboration, which is the key to not just building a prosperous future but also sustaining it. Propelled by advanced technologies such as 4G, 5G, AI/ML, and IoT, Indian startups can take the lead in this space and contribute significantly to the vision of building a truly digital India. The Qualcomm Design in India Challenge is aimed at encouraging startups to come forward with ideas that can put India on the global innovation map, and in the process, also learn to protect their own innovations through patenting.” Rajen Vagadia, Vice President, Qualcomm India Private Limited and President, Qualcomm India & SAARC, said, “The startup ecosystem in the country has grown manifold over the years and is geared to help India achieve its vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India. Indian startups have the capacity to come up with innovations that can provide solutions not only for India but also the world. The Qualcomm Design in India Challenge is one of the efforts underway aimed at encouraging startups in important socioeconomic spheres such as Smart Infrastructure, Agriculture Technology, Robotics & Drones, Mobile Edge Compute, Industrial Automation, and Medical Technology. We see great promise in India’s startup ecosystem and will continue to nurture it through our programs.” The finalists of the Qualcomm Design in India Challenge 2021 come from diverse areas such as smart robotics, smart infrastructure, manufacturing, agritech, space tech, and medical technology. The list of these 12 startups and their respective solutions is as follows: Briota Technologies Private Limited: Point of care IOS (Impulse Oscillometer Spirometer) for real-time analysis Combat Robotics India Private Limited: “Tota” – a small, spherical robot to monitor the enemy in unknown territory while enabling seamless autonomous surveillance for the end-user Dhruva Space Private Limited: Enabling next-generation small satellite networks Emote Electric Private Limited: A “connected bike” platform that makes conventional two-wheelers smarter by providing towing/security alerts, engine/battery health, diagnostics, and performance insights on the mobile phone Enlite Research Private Limited: BIOS (Building Intelligence Operating System) – the world’s first contactless and wireless building management system (Note: Enlite has also recently received mentorship under the Qualcomm Women Entrepreneurs India Network initiative). M3 Toilet Resources India Private Limited: 100% contactless IoT-enabled smart bio-toilets with unique and interactive automation features Myelin Foundry Private Limited: “Fovea Stream” for efficient streaming of Ultra High-Definition content over 5G networks Neona Embedded Labz Private Limited: A high-performance AI-based smart gateway solution (NEL600 DCU) to meet the big opportunity in smart metering for energy, water, and gas Nimble Vision Private Limited: “Ni-The Smart Manhole Monitor” – a smart IoT solution for mobile and web that makes cities manholes “smart” by providing analytics on possible overflow, sewage quality, and harmful gases Ossus Biorenewables Private Limited: Smart IoT-enabled microbial device for on-demand hydrogen gas production using industrial effluents Probus Smart Things Private Limited: Smart-meters communicating over RF Mesh technology to remotely read, bill, and manage last-mile power distribution grids Xyma Analytics Private Limited: Continuous remote monitoring of non-invasive smart sensors for industrial applications Click here for more information on the Qualcomm Design in India Challenge About Qualcomm Qualcomm is the world’s leading wireless technology innovator and the driving force behind the development, launch, and expansion of 5G. When we connected the phone to the internet, the mobile revolution was born. Today, our foundational technologies enable the mobile ecosystem and are found in every 3G, 4G and 5G smartphone. We bring the benefits of mobile to new industries, including automotive, the internet of things, and computing, and are leading the way to a world where everything and everyone can communicate and interact seamlessly. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering, research, and development functions, and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Qualcomm on 3blmedia.com

August 02, 2021 03:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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