January 25, 2022

Transsion and HERE partner to enhance location accuracy experience for smartphone users in emerging markets

Businesses and smartphone users in emerging markets will experience precise location fix on their apps and devices, even in challenging indoor and outdoor environments

Beijing and Mumbai – HERE Technologies, the leading location data and technology platform, today announced that Transsion, the leading provider of smart devices and mobile services in global emerging markets, has selected HERE Network Positioning to improve its location accuracy capabilities in emerging markets such as Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Thailand.

The global number of mobile internet users is expected to reach five billion by 2025, a 25% increase from 2020. This figure represents 60% of the world’s population, with much of the forecasted growth coming from emerging digital markets in Asia Pacific, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Latin America^[ⁱ^].

By deploying HERE Network Positioning, Transsion will be able to identify accurate positioning of its devices both indoors and outdoors. This works especially when satellite signals of Global Positioning System (GPS) are not available, such as when the device is located indoor or the GPS signals are blocked by objects. As a result, Transsion will enable its smartphone users to locate devices, people, and objects faster, with higher precision and confidence.

Robin Wang, Assistant President at Transsion said, “As a technology company with a focus on global emerging markets, we’ve long been committed to supporting local communities there. We’ve decided to deploy with HERE because they have presented a stand-out, compelling solution for markets that lack advanced infrastructure such as Africa and India.”

One use case that HERE Network Positioning will benefit is ride-hailing or ride-sharing. In Africa, ride-hailing has become increasingly popular over the years, with the number of users expected to grow 16% from 50.3 million in 2021 to 58.4 million by 2025^[ii]. Traditional taxi companies are also pivoting their business model to include services that can be booked via mobile applications, making it more transparent for customers than before.

For these urban mobility services to stand out from its competition, a good user experience is key. HERE Network Positioning enables Transsion to gain an edge over its competitors by providing its users with more accurate calculations of estimated times of arrivals (ETA) and precise pick-up and drop-off locations. End users of Transsion will also benefit from more accurate positionings which may otherwise be affected due to the presence of buildings, trees, tunnels, bridges and atmospheric conditions that can put direct drivers to wrong locations.

“For ride-hailing services, being able to identify the exact location for pick-ups and drop-offs – whether it’s the right side of the street or the right entrance/exists within large venues such as airport or stadiums – makes a huge difference in improving user experience. That’s the difference Transsion is here to provide,” added Wang.

Sammie Xi, Director and Head of Business for Greater China at HERE Technologies said, “Transsion is taking a big step forward in enhancing the quality of data within emerging economies. This is truly meaningful and inspiring. We’ve seen how the pandemic has profoundly impacted our lives, economies, and the global digital landscape. We are immensely proud to support Transsion in providing a more inclusive connected world for consumers. ”

Media contacts
HERE Technologies
Camy Cheng
+65 9088 4127
Camy.cheng@here.com

About HERE Technologies
HERE, the leading location data and technology platform, moves people, businesses and cities forward by harnessing the power of location. By leveraging our open platform, we empower our customers to achieve better outcomes – from helping a city manage its infrastructure or a business optimize its assets to guiding drivers to their destination safely. To learn more about HERE, please visit www.here.com and www.360.here.com.

About Transsion
TRANSSION Holdings is committed to becoming the most popular provider of smart devices and mobile services for consumers in global emerging markets. The company is best known for its high-quality multi-brand smart devices. Mobile phones are its core products, while it also offers mobile Internet services based on a self-developed operating system. To learn more about TRANSSION, please visit www.transsion.com.

^[i]The Mobile Economy 2021, GSM Association
^[ii] https://www.statista.com/outlook/mmo/mobility-services/ride-hailing-taxi/africa#analyst-opinion

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20220125_Transsion and HERE partner to enhance location accuracy experience for smartphone users in emerging markets_Press Release EN

January 25, 2022

Growatt dévoile le système de batterie AXE LV pour permettre le stockage d’énergie solaire hors réseau

SHENZHEN, Chine, 25 janvier 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Growatt, leader mondial des onduleurs photovoltaïques et des systèmes de stockage d’énergie, ajoute le système de batterie AXE LV à sa gamme de produits énergétiques intelligents, élargissant ainsi la portée du marché pour répondre à la demande croissante de systèmes résidentiels de stockage de batteries au lithium hors réseau.

Growatt unveils AXE LV battery system to empower off-grid solar energy storage

« Le nouveau système de batterie AXE LV couvre une large gamme de capacités allant de 5 kWh à 400 kWh, ce qui répond aux besoins différenciés des ménages quotidiens aux grands scénarios commerciaux et industriels », a déclaré Lisa Zhang, directrice marketing chez Growatt.

La modularité du système de batterie AXE LV facilite l’installation avec des prises internes, ne nécessitant aucune connexion par câble supplémentaire, tandis qu’avec tous les câbles externes intégrés sur une seule prise, sa connexion à l’onduleur est bien plus simplifiée. En bref, cette conception unique réduit considérablement la difficulté et le temps d’installation.

En termes de sécurité, ce système bénéficie de protections multi-niveaux de l’onduleur et du système de gestion de la batterie (BMS), telles que la surveillance de la sécurité des cellules et l’équilibrage. En revanche, en tant que batterie LFP sans cobalt, elle se démarque par sa résistance aux hautes températures, sa sécurité et sa stabilité élevées ainsi que par ses performances allant jusqu’à 5 000 cycles de charge. Il a également une durée de vie plus longue de plus de 10 ans, tandis que les batteries au plomb-acide traditionnelles ne peuvent durer que 2-3 ans. Globalement, il présente plus d’avantages en termes de TCO (coût total de possession) pour les clients.

En ce qui concerne la compatibilité, le système de batterie AXE LV peut être utilisé avec tous les onduleurs SPF hors réseau de Growatt. De plus, il fonctionne parfaitement avec les onduleurs de stockage des séries SPH et SPA.

Growatt offre des services à guichet unique pour garantir une meilleure expérience client. La société fournit un support technique lors de l’installation pour une exécution plus rapide. Pour une utilisation et une maintenance quotidiennes, il fournit une garantie complète du système, y compris le système de batterie et les onduleurs de stockage. Tout problème au niveau du système, s’il se produit, peut être rapidement localisé et résolu plus efficacement. En outre, Growatt permet aux installateurs de mettre à niveau le micrologiciel du système de batterie à distance, ce qui peut aider à réduire les coûts d’exploitation et d’entretien et à améliorer l’efficacité du service.

À propos de Growatt

Fondé en 2010, Growatt est un leader mondial des solutions énergétiques intelligentes. Selon IHS Markit et Wood Mackenzie, la société est le premier fournisseur d’onduleurs résidentiels au monde et se classe également parmi les cinq premiers fournisseurs mondiaux d’onduleurs commerciaux. Selon Wood Mackenzie, Growatt est le deuxième fournisseur mondial d’onduleurs de stockage hybrides.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1731353/Growatt_unveils_AXE_LV_battery_system_to_empower_off_grid_solar_energy_storage.jpg

January 25, 2022

Fighting COVID, solemn-faced Hong Kong leader explains maskless appearances

Published by
Reuters

By Marius Zaharia and Donny Kwok HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defended herself against criticism on Tuesday by saying she appears for newsconferences without a face mask so that people could see how “solemn” she was when talking about the coronavirus outbreak. A surge in locally transmitted infections with the Omicron and Delta variants of COVID-19 this year have led to the imposition restrictions that have made the global financial hub one of the most isolated major cities in the world. Lam has been criticised on social media and by some health experts for not wearing a m… Continue reading “Fighting COVID, solemn-faced Hong Kong leader explains maskless appearances”

January 25, 2022

Quectel lance sa solution Connectivity-as-a-Service pour un monde plus intelligent et plus connecté

SHANGHAI, 25 janvier 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Quectel Wireless Solutions, un fournisseur mondial de solutions d’IoT, a lancé sa solution Connectivity-as-a-Service (CaaS) pour fournir des modules connectés qui peuvent être expédiés pour être utilisés partout dans le monde. Cette nouvelle unité vient compléter la gamme Quectel de modules et d’antennes innovants qui prennent en charge les connexions cellulaires ; elle permet aux clients de simplifier leurs déploiements basés sur la périphérie en achetant de la connectivité en même tant que les modules, les antennes et les services de conception. Cette option de connectivité élargit le portefeuille de Quectel et augmente l’exhaustivité de son offre.

La connectivité Quectel sera d’abord lancée auprès des clients de la région EMEA, leur fournissant une connectivité mondiale, avant de s’étendre aux clients des régions Asie-Pacifique Amérique latine plus tard en 2022.

La connectivité Quectel est aujourd’hui disponible dans plus de 190 pays via plus de 500 opérateurs réseau et fournit actuellement des connexions 2G, 3G, 4G, NB-IoT et Cat-M. La connectivité Quectel est disponible sur l’ensemble du marché et profitera particulièrement aux déploiements qui permettent d’accélérer les délais de mise sur le marché et d’optimiser l’efficacité des entreprises en ayant recours à un fournisseur unique pour les modules, les antennes et la connectivité.

De plus, avec la généralisation des SIM embarquées et intégrées (eSIM et iSIM), il devient d’autant plus pertinent pour Quectel d’offrir des services de connectivité, car l’entreprise sera désormais en mesure de fournir des modules connectés. Cela simplifie encore davantage les déploiements des clients qui, auparavant, auraient eu besoin d’installer une carte SIM traditionnelle issue du marché local. Un module compatible eSIM ou iSIM associé à une connectivité Quectel, une fois mis sous tension, se connectera au meilleur réseau disponible.

« La connectivité Quectel repose sur le service, la qualité et la fiabilité, soutenus par des fournisseurs Tier 1 et de solides accords de niveaux de service (SLA), a déclaré Richard Hart, directeur de la connectivité mondiale à Quectel. Nous prenons en charge toutes les formes de modules SIM traditionnels, mais également les modules connectés qui peuvent être expédiés pour être utilisés partout dans le monde, ce qui signifie que les clients seront en mesure d’explorer des modèles commerciaux novateurs qui englobent les déploiements combinés de modules, de connectivité et d’antennes. Nous mettons un point d’honneur à offrir une flexibilité commerciale à nos clients afin qu’ils bénéficient d’une connectivité de haute qualité qui active leurs solutions d’IoT. Avec des tarifs auto-optimisés, nous pouvons réduire le risque de frais supplémentaires (par exemple, lorsque les mises à jour logicielles sans fil [OTA] utilisent de la bande passante supplémentaire) et, par conséquent, prévenir les mauvaises surprises de facturation. »

En plus de son expertise mondiale de longue date en matière de modules et d’antennes, Quectel possède également une expérience significative en matière de connectivité, ayant développé sa plateforme QuecConnectivity qui gère plus de 30 millions de SIM en Asie. L’offre CaaS peut combiner la connectivité avec des modules et des antennes, offrant aux clients un point d’entrée unique à l’ensemble des produits et services de Quectel.

« En ajoutant la connectivité à ses offres, Quectel réduit la complexité pour ses clients en simplifiant et en accélérant le déploiement des appareils IoT, a déclaré Patrick Qian, président-directeur général de Quectel. Quectel est engagé dans l’innovation qui génère des avantages pour les clients de l’industrie de l’IoT, et notre offre de connectivité constitue une nouvelle étape dans ce processus. Quectel aide les entreprises de l’IoT à bâtir un monde plus intelligent depuis plus d’une décennie, et maintenant, nous allons connecter ce monde plus intelligent. »

À propos de Quectel

La passion de Quectel pour un monde plus intelligent nous pousse à accélérer l’innovation dans l’IoT. En tant qu’entreprise axée sur le client, nous sommes un fournisseur mondial de solutions IoT, appuyé par un soutien et des services exceptionnels. Notre équipe mondiale grandissante compte plus de 3 000 professionnels, précurseurs en matière de connexion cellulaire, GNSS, modules WIFI/BT, antennes et IdO. Quectel est coté à la Bourse de Shanghai (603236.SS), et notre leadership international se consacre à l’avancement de l’IoT à travers le monde.

Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site www.quectel.com, ou les pages LinkedIn, Facebook et Twitter de l’entreprise.

January 25, 2022

Covid-19: Pandemic causing ‘nearly insurmountable’ education losses globally – UNICEF

GENEVA–School closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have caused “nearly insurmountable” losses in education among children around the world, UNICEF said.

More than 616 million students are still being affected by full or partial school closures, the United Nations children’s agency said.

In many countries, in addition to depriving millions of children of the chance to acquire basic skills, these disruptions have affected students’ mental health, put them at greater risk of abuse and prevented many from having access to “a regular source of nutrition”, UNICEF added.

“Quite simply, we are looking at a nearly insurmountable scale of loss to children’s schooling,” said UNICEF chief of education Robert Jenkins in a statement, almost two years into the pandemic.

And “just reopening schools is not enough”, he added, calling for “intensive support to recover lost education”.

UNICEF reported that “learning losses to school closures have left up to 70 per cent of 10-year-olds unable to read or understand a simple text, up from 53 per cent pre-pandemic” in countries with low and middle income.

In Ethiopia, for example, children learned only “between 30 to 40 per cent of the math they would have learned if it had been a normal school year” in primary school, the UN agency estimated.

Rich countries are far from being spared. In the United States, learning losses have been observed in several states, including Texas, California and Maryland, said UNICEF.

School dropouts are also a problem: In South Africa, between 400,000 and 500,000 students “reportedly dropped out of school altogether between March 2020 and July 2021”.

Finally, in addition to rising levels of anxiety and depression among children and young people linked to the pandemic, school closures also meant more than 370 million children around the world did not get school meals, “losing what is for some children the only reliable source of food and daily nutrition”

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

January 25, 2022

Report: Anti-corruption Fight Is Stalled, COVID Not Helping

Most countries have made little to no progress in bringing down corruption levels over the past decade, and authorities’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic in many places has weighed on accountability, a closely watched study by an anti-graft organization found Tuesday.

Transparency International’s 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, which measures the perception of public sector corruption according to experts and business people, found that “increasingly, rights and checks and balances are being undermined not only in countries with systemic corruption and weak institutions, but also among established democracies.”

Among other issues over the past year, it cited the use of Pegasus software, which has been linked to snooping on human rights activists, journalists and politicians across the globe.

The report said the pandemic has “been used in many countries as an excuse to curtail basic freedoms and sidestep important checks and balances.”

In Western Europe, the best-scoring region overall, the pandemic has given countries “an excuse for complacency in anti-corruption efforts as accountability and transparency measures are neglected or even rolled back,” Transparency said. In some Asian countries, it said, COVID-19 “also has been used as an excuse to suppress criticism.” It pointed to increased digital surveillance in some nations and authoritarian approaches in others.

The report ranks countries on a scale from a “highly corrupt” 0 to a “very clean” 100. Denmark, New Zealand and Finland tied for first place with 88 points each; the first two were unchanged, while Finland gained three points. Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany completed the top 10. The U.K. was 11th with 78.

The United States, which slipped over recent years to hit 67 points in 2020, held that score this time but slipped a couple of places to 27th. Transparency said it dropped out of the top 25 for the first time “as it faces continuous attacks on free and fair elections and an opaque campaign finance system.”

Canada, which slid three points to 74 and two places to 13th, “is seeing increased risks of bribery and corruption in business,” the group said. It added that the publication of the Pandora Papers showed Canada as “a hub for illicit financial flows, fueling transnational corruption across the region and the world.”

The index rates 180 countries and territories. South Sudan was bottom with 11 points; Somalia, with which it shared last place in 2020, tied this time with Syria for second-to-last with 13. Venezuela followed with 14 — then Yemen, North Korea and Afghanistan tied with 16 apiece.

Transparency said the control of corruption has stagnated or worsened in 86% of the countries it surveyed in the last 10 years. In that time, 23 countries — including the U.S., Canada, Hungary and Poland — have declined significantly in its index, while 25 have improved significantly. They include Estonia, the Seychelles and Armenia.

Compiled since 1995, the index is calculated using 13 different data sources that provide perceptions of public sector corruption from business people and country experts. Sources include the World Bank, the World Economic Forum and private risk and consulting companies.

Source: Voice of America