Pakistan SAF technology developments are positioning the agricultural-rich nation as a potential dark horse in Asia’s race toward aviation decarbonisation. As Asian airlines face mounting pressure to reduce emissions amid global climate imperatives, Pakistan’s unique approach of converting agricultural waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could offer a regional model worth examining.

Converting an environmental problem into economic opportunity

The smog that blankets major Pakistani and neighbouring Indian cities each harvest season has become an annual crisis, driven largely by the burning of agricultural residue. The practice, particularly prevalent in Punjab province, releases particulate matter that compromises air quality across borders.

However, this challenge presents a technological opportunity that Pakistan’s emerging SAF sector aims to capitalise on. “Crop residues burned during both winter and summer in Pakistan represent an underutilised resource with immense potential for SAF production,” noted experts in an April 2025 report by The Express Tribune, highlighting a practical technological solution to an entrenched environmental issue.

The technology equation

Pakistan SAF technology implementation focuses on two principal conversion methods, each suited to different agricultural inputs:

1. Hydroprocessing Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA): For lipid-based feedstocks including used cooking oil and non-edible oils
2. Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ): Optimised for converting sugar-based inputs like wheat straw and rice husks

The technologies produce aviation fuels chemically identical to conventional jet fuel, requiring no aircraft modifications, and deliver substantially improved carbon profiles. A third technology using carbon dioxide capture remains in development but holds promise for further emissions reductions. Dr Adeel Ghayur, described by The Express Tribune as an “eminent energy scientist and expert in circular economy,” indicated that commercial SAF technologies can scale from 100,000 to one million tonnes of annual production capacity, with corresponding economic impacts.

Asia’s first private SAF project

The December 2024 announcement of a $121 million SAF facility in Sheikhupura represented a milestone not just for Pakistan but for all of Asia. According to Pakistan Today, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed $86.2 million to the project, with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) providing $35 million. What makes this development particularly noteworthy in the Asian context is its designation by the ADB as “the first private sector-led SAF project in Asia and the Pacific,” excluding China.

For a region where state involvement typically dominates energy infrastructure, this private-sector approach merits attention from investors and policymakers across Asia. The facility is operated by SAFCO Venture Holdings Limited and owned by Taimur Shaikh and Ali Shaikh, and presents compelling environmental and economic metrics: projected annual production of 200,000 tonnes of SAF, reduction of 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide yearly, creation of 300 direct jobs, and facilitation of approximately 20,000 indirect employment opportunities in the supply chain and tertiary industries.

The regional competitiveness question

While Pakistan’s SAF ambitions are technologically sound, important questions remain about its competitiveness in an Asian market where Singapore, Japan, and South Korea have already established advanced biofuel capabilities.

The price difference remains substantial, with SAF currently commanding approximately $2,500 per metric tonne versus $700 for conventional jet fuel. For price-sensitive Asian carriers navigating post-pandemic recovery, this cost gap presents significant challenges to adoption.

Dr. Ghayur said in The Express Tribune that “strengthening R&D is essential for Pakistan to remain competitive in the global SAF market, secure its position as a hub for innovation, and maintain leadership as SAF adoption rises across Asia.” The acknowledgement reflects awareness of the technological race underway in the region.

For Asian nations with similar agricultural profiles – Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia – Pakistan’s SAF initiative offers a potential template for converting agricultural waste into aviation biofuels and addresses seasonal air pollution events. The multiplicative benefits – enhanced energy security, emissions reductions, rural economic opportunities, and foreign direct investment – align with development priorities across South and Southeast Asia.

Four-dimensional solution

Pakistan SAF technology implementation addresses four interconnected challenges that resonate in developing Asian economies:

1. Energy security: Reducing petroleum import dependence via domestic production
2. Economic development: Creating value-added manufacturing with substantial job creation potential
3. Foreign direct investment: Attracting capital for industrial-scale bioprocessing operations
4. Environmental mitigation: Addressing agricultural burning emissions and aviation carbon footprints

Critical path forward

For Pakistan’s SAF sector to achieve its potential, several hurdles will need to be surmounted. First, continued investment beyond the initial Sheikhupura facility will be necessary to achieve meaningful scale. Second, as SAF technologies evolve, Pakistan will need to maintain technological competitiveness through sustained R&D investment. Finally, efficiency improvements in agricultural waste collection and transportation will be essential to maintain favourable economics.

The byproduct potential enhances the business case further, with SAFCO’s facility projected to produce 18,000 tonnes of bionaphtha annually for sustainable plastics production, according to Pakistan Today.

As Dr Ghayur concluded in The Express Tribune, “The comprehensive policy roadmap will serve as both a blueprint and a catalyst to propel Pakistan to the forefront of the global SAF revolution.”

While significant challenges remain in scaling production, optimising costs, and matching competitive alternatives, Pakistan’s SAF technology trajectory represents a distinctive approach to circular economy implementation with potential regional application across all of Asia’s agricultural economies.

The post Could Pakistan SAF technology transform its agricultural waste crisis? appeared first on TechWire Asia.

Doing business in Asia means being able to address the specific geographic, linguistic, and cultural complexities of the region. But more than that, it means getting technology investment aligned with local businesses’ goals, which are to achieve smart, experience-focused results for customers at home and abroad. According to some, it’s human-centred thinking, combined with strategy and the best in technology that can achieve Asia’s business goals.

Part of the impediment to getting the investment levels and targets right can be a lack of credible expertise available in-house. There’s growing demand for outside IT services (up by 6.5% in 2024, according to Forrester) in the region, yet a slower growth in available technology consultancies with whom to partner. Several large companies work in the region in an effort to correct the shortage of skilled hands in-house, with one multinational, Concentrix, part of the recent growth in the region’s IT consultancy offerings.

Anywhere in the world, companies like Concentrix focus on ensuring measurable ROI in digitisation. Its broad experience working in APAC dictates that aligning technology investments with customer and employee experience is the foundation of success.

In Asia, transformation needs to provide first-rate interactions with a brand in ways that are locally-relevant to Asian customers and the organisation’s Asian employees. Concentrix’ approach in particular is experience-driven, therefore, aiming for the improvements in processes that local consumers and businesses demand.

Building on infrastructure

Part of many digitisation projects is investment in infrastructure – ensuring the business has a technological foundation on which to build. Yet according to investment company SSC, “Infrastructure investments in the APAC region are becoming progressively intricate due to changing regulations.” That’s the first warning shot across the bows of digital transformation initiatives that aren’t steered by the needs of and required expertise in the region.

For example, Southeast Asian businesses are finding that IT investments they make can lead to them becoming the subject of fraud and financial crime – something they perhaps never envisioned as a result of digitisation. Preempting potential problems takes specific insight and existing experience of issues such as promo abuse, where consumers use bots and multiple email accounts to ‘game’ digitising retailers. While many domestic businesses know their markets intimately, sometimes partnerships can complement in-house abilities with a deep knowledge of the vagaries and pitfalls awaiting the unwary, out there in the complexities of the digital landscape.

While there’s risk in all sectors, one report on financial crime in the APAC states that much of it arises “from the state of hyperconnectivity and data ‘overwhelm’ in today’s Industry 4.0.” In a region that’s the definition of digital interconnectivity, where the use of advanced technology is an everyday part of business, having seasoned pros from organisations like Concentrix actually in the same room as decision-makers can make a significant difference in achieving business success.

Distinguishing the latest from the greatest technologies

The arrival of new technology platforms, as of itself, does not guarantee financial success. Misalignment of technology’s abilities with overall business goal of experiential improvements for staff and customers can mean a brand seriously misfiring publicly or losing its operational efficiency internally.

The region is very much prone to swift customer reaction in the event of a mis-step. Over half (56%) of APAC consumers say they would stop doing business with brands they do not trust (according to Twilio [PDF]). Twilio’s report also found that even choosing the wrong digital channel with which to communicate with customers can make 20% of customers look to another brand for their needs.

Refining the nature of need

One very interesting statistic, however, tells why some digitisation projects, despite often huge investment, don’t necessarily yield the results desired. McCann Worldgroup’s global study, published at the time of the COVID epidemic, found that “brands should address [APAC customers’] concerns, rather than selling them dreams.”

Are the region’s companies and organisations being sold digitisation dreams by faceless vendors and resellers, rather than solutions that address their desire to provide more to customers and employees? And isn’t there a better way than relying solely on marketing narratives from ‘big tech’ companies? As a consultancy and partner, Concentrix thinks there is.

Tech for its own sake

Sometimes, the problem is technology deployment for its own sake. It’s simply not practical to throw money at new technology and hope for success in business. As we’ve discussed above, it’s easy to go very wrong and still be significantly out of pocket, with little hope of seeing an ROI from digitisation efforts. With that comes a worse service for hard-won customers at home and abroad, and staff who should have been happier and more productive.

In experience earned from its work with many APAC businesses, Concentrix has found that concentrating on two initial outcomes is one of the possible ways to choose a digitisation journey’s next steps: For customers, every interaction needs to be intentional and personalised; with employees, the goals are to improve wellness and engagement, and keep staff retention figures healthily high.

“Our approach to digital transformation starts with people: those within the organization and those it serves. By combining deep human insights with advanced technology and domain expertise, we reimagine experiences end to end. As we drive AI-led transformation, this human-centric approach consistently amplifies the value we deliver, especially through elevated customer interactions at scale.”

Ashish Pandey, GVP, Concentrix Southeast Asia

Which technology achieves those objectives is less important, perhaps, as long as it provides the means to succeed.

Clearly, the needs of every organisation are different, and so there are no quick answers to be presented in the space of one, short article. In the coming weeks, we’ll discuss in greater detail just how Asian businesses can ensure their digitisation investments align with customers’ and workers’ needs. We’ll look at approaches to and advice on choosing a technology partner. And we’ll explore how organisations can mitigate emerging risks. Most importantly, we’ll look at how companies can achieve real return on investment – all without falling into the common traps, like procuring technology for its own sake, cybercrime, and forgetting about the people working at the heart of any business.

Check back on these pages over the course of the next few weeks to get answers, pointers, advice, and a lot of incisive discussion. If nothing else, decision makers will get significant food for thought as they consider their next steps in digital business evolution.

The post Digitisation for better experiences: Satisfying demand, not selling dreams appeared first on TechWire Asia.

Private 5G networks can bring significant advantages to their owners, including a safer area-wide network, plus the capability – depending on the territory – to sell the network’s coverage to one or more of a nation’s mobile network providers.

That’s on top of the ability to connect industrial internet-of-things (IIoT) devices in ways that are highly robust with real-time data at the operator’s fingertips.

The speed of 5G is often the headline act for the technology’s deployment, but its low-latency in certain applications (think, autonomous transport) have also found it advocates in more general use-cases. However, there’s a raft of underpinning technologies including specialist hardware that needs to be implemented in any installation, making its use a complex technological challenge for organisations outside the telecoms space.

Specialist comms and computing company HFR mobile [site in Korean] has completed its work to give a cutting-edge bio-processing production centre in Daejeon, Korea, the secure and fast, campus-wide communications network the owners, Merck, require.

Biotechnology campus under construction

The facility is still under construction, and is costing more than 300 million Euros (422 million SGD) to complete. It’s slated to be a centre for clinical research, process development, and commercial manufacture of biologics – products like vaccines, gene therapies, and monoclonal antibodies (one of the fastest growing areas of new drug production).

As you might imagine at such a facility, systems that ensure security and safety during construction are of paramount importance. The private 5G network designed and built by HFR mobile will run CCTV video surveillance connectivity to provide physical site security, as well as connecting smart safety equipment and monitors to a central management platform.

Workers’ safety, for example, will be monitored in real-time with feeds from their biometric data, and the safety management system can trigger alerts or automated safety equipment in response to abnormal indicators from staff or machinery at the site.

Fast and reliable communication systems are therefore the backbone of preventative and ameliorative measures. Hae-Kwan Jung of HFR mobile said, “A private 5G solution enables real-time response to prevent safety incidents. [We] deliver innovative solutions that bring smart construction sites to life.”

Centralised insights powered by communications

At present the 5G network comprises a control plane via HFR’s central operations hub, and equipment on-site that includes hardware for the user plane function, distribution and radio units. The performance of smart 5G systems outstrips the performance of many traditional networking technologies, and the management system from HFR allows its customers access to data that can be used in several way, depending on use-case:

• Digital twins: virtual representation of proposed topologies or changes to the network to pre-empt problems before they reach production.
• Safety and security managemnt: helping ensure physical site security and the wellbeing of on-site workers, as in the biocentre construction project, above.
• OT and IT: connected operational technology devices (OT and IIoT) and the integration of OT fleet data with ‘traditional’ IT tools.
• Business intelligence: including usage patterns, campus-wide attendance metrics, network optimisation, and more.

Outside of south-east asia, consumer-level 5G networks are relatively under-developed and tend to be confined to populous, urban areas. But it’s practical, outcome-focused communication installations in the form of private 5G that are helping companies worldwide adopt the technology more readily. In this respect, the APAC region is leading the rest of the world by example.

The post Private 5G constructing safer, smarter work environments appeared first on TechWire Asia.

There’s a buzz in the AI world, and it’s all about QwQ-32B-Preview, a fresh contender in the realm of ‘reasoning’ AI models. Unlike many of its predecessors, this one’s not just impressive—it’s also accessible. QwQ-32B-Preview is among the few reasoning AI models to rival OpenAI’s o1 series and the first you can actually download under a permissive license. That’s a big win for developers and researchers eager to tinker with cutting-edge AI.

Developed by Alibaba’s Qwen team, QwQ-32B-Preview is no ordinary model. Packed with 32.5 billion parameters, it’s designed to handle prompts as long as 32,000 words—essentially an entire novella. If you’re wondering what parameters mean, think of them as the gears in the AI’s brain: the more it has, the better it performs at tackling complex problems. While OpenAI has been tight-lipped about the parameter counts for its o1 models, QwQ-32B-Preview’s stats are out in the open—and they’re impressive.

QwQ-32B-Preview has some serious bragging rights. On benchmarks like AIME and MATH, it beats OpenAI’s o1-preview and o1-mini models. AIME evaluates models by running them through scenarios using other AI systems, while MATH challenges them with tricky word problems. QwQ’s performance on these benchmarks implies that it is a force to be reckoned with in the reasoning model arena.

So, what makes QwQ-32B-Preview stand out? It’s all about reasoning. Unlike traditional AI models, which generate responses without much foresight, QwQ plans its strategy. It “thinks” before it talks, addressing tasks one by one to elicit responses. This process allows it to solve logic puzzles, answer difficult maths questions, and even fact-check itself—a skill that helps avoid the classic pitfalls that sometimes trip up AI.

That said, it’s not perfect. Alibaba acknowledges that the model sometimes gets stuck in loops, switches languages unexpectedly, or struggles with common sense reasoning.

Another big win for QwQ-32B-Preview is its availability. You can run it or download it directly from the AI platform Hugging Face, making it a valuable tool for developers worldwide. QwQ, like many Chinese-developed AI systems, operates within certain constraints. It, DeepSeek and other Chinese AI models, adhere to the country’s regulatory requirements to ensure that its outputs align with “core socialist values.” That means it might clear politically sensitive topicss to steer clear of regulatory wrath.

If you want to see how QwQ stacks up against other open-source AI, Meta’s Llama 3.1 is a good point of comparison. Both are openly-licensed, but they serve different purposes. While Llama emphasises generative capabilities, QwQ zeroes in on reasoning, offering a more human-like approach to problem-solving.

The result? A model that can handle more complex challenges than classic AI systems like ChatGPT-4 or Claude 3.5.

Interestingly, QwQ-32B-Preview isn’t arriving in a vacuum. Chinese tech companies are rushing to deploy reasoning models, and the competition is fierce. DeepSeek’s r1 and Shanghai AI Lab’s InternThinker are just two of the many new releases in recent weeks. Each model brings its own unique spin to reasoning.

InternThinker, for example, takes an organised approach to problem-solving, breaking down tasks into steps such as interpreting queries, recalling relevant knowledge, planning, implementing, and self-reflecting. DeepSeek’s r1, on the other hand, claims to outperform OpenAI’s o1 models on half of the benchmarks it tested, particularly in math, programming, and scientific exploration.

Why the sudden rush? It’s all about catching up to US tech giants. While OpenAI leads the pack, Chinese companies are making rapid strides. According to South China Morning Post, Xu Liang, an AI entrepreneur based in Hangzhou, sees this as a natural progression. “OpenAI gave the direction,” he says. “With research, Chinese tech firms are making progress.” The release of QwQ-32B-Preview and its competitors underscores just how quickly the gap is closing.

But it isn’t simply about rivalling OpenAI. The rise of reasoning models represents a shift in how AI is used. Unlike older models, which depended on brute-force computation, reasoning models seek to replicate human problem-solving processes.

This not only increases their effectiveness for complex tasks but also expands their potential use cases. For example, some models can now evaluate investment scenarios, such as comparing stock and gold prices, and offer financial advice. That is a level of depth that older LLMs simply couldn’t match.

The race is on, and QwQ-32B-Preview is just one of many new contenders. Whether it’s solving puzzles, reasoning through complex problems, or showing how open-source AI can push boundaries, the AI landscape is evolving fast. Buckle up—it’s going to be an exciting ride.

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

The post QwQ-32B-Preview vs. OpenAI: The race for smarter AI appeared first on TechWire Asia.

Just three months ago, Apple’s launch of the iPhone 16 met with little enthusiasm in the Chinese market, as consumers hoping for AI features found themselves disappointed. The muted reception was particularly stark when contrasted with Huawei’s strategic counter-punch—launching its own AI-powered device mere hours after Apple’s announcement, complete with sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities up and running, somthing that Apple couldn’t yet offer in the region.

As Apple seeks to launch its AI features in China, the tech giant is discovering that even having a trillion dollars doesn’t mean it can easily penetrate Beijing’s regulatory firewall. The company’s struggles in China expose a broader challenge facing Western tech companies: navigate the complex maze of Chinese AI regulations or risk being left out of one of the world’s most lucrative markets.

The stakes are high for Apple. With China accounting for 17% of its total revenue last year and an 8% decline already recorded amid rising competition from Huawei and Chinese manufacturers, the pressure to maintain market relevance is intense. Yet, the path forward is anything but straightforward.

The Cyberspace Administration of China’s stance is unambiguou: foreign companies must partner with local entities for AI service provision, systems that have had their LLMs approved by the authorities. Otherwise, the companies like Apple will have to wait for approval of their different back-end models. This message echoed clearly through the corridors of the recent World Internet Conference in Wuzhen.

Tim Cook’s third visit to China this year, meeting with Premier Li Qiang, underscores how seriously Apple is taking the issue. Apple has begun discussions with potential local partners like Baidu, ByteDance, and Moonshot. Negotiations, therefore, represent more than mere business dealings – they’re a testament to China’s growing technological autonomy and its determination to maintain control over AI development within its borders.

Industry observers are quick to see the irony. Apple, a company that prides itself on vertical integration and maintaining strict control over its ecosystem, must now consider ceding some of that control to Chinese partners. The company has successfully rolled-out of Apple Intelligence (AI) features in the US and other regions since October, using its own infrastructure and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, in stark contrast with the compromises it will need to make in China.

JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee’s projection of a potential delay until the second half of 2025 without local partnerships isn’t just a timeline – it’s a warning. The longer Apple takes to navigate the regulatory waters, the more ground it cedes to domestic competitors like Huawei, which has already integrated AI capabilities into its latest smartphones.

Beyond the business implications lies a more fundamental question: What happens when Western innovation meets Chinese regulation? Apple’s predicament exemplifies the growing tension between global tech ambitions and national digital sovereignty. The requirement to use pre-approved large language models from Chinese firms isn’t just about regulatory compliance – it’s about data control, technological independence, and, ultimately, political power.

For Apple, the choice ahead is clear yet complicated: partner with local firms and potentially compromise on its AI features’ independence or risk losing ground in a market crucial to its global success. This isn’t just Apple’s dilemma; it’s a preview of the challenges that await any Western tech company hoping to deploy AI solutions in China.

As the situation unfolds, one thing becomes certain: the era of seamless global tech deployment is giving way to a more fragmented digital world, where national boundaries increasingly define the limits of technological innovation. Apple’s journey through China’s regulatory landscape may be the start of the chapter in future history books describing how global tech companies became local technology businesses.

The post Apple’s AI ambitions hit the great Chinese firewall: partner or perish? appeared first on TechWire Asia.

Published by Portulans Institute and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, the NRI confirms that the US is a world leader in its access to, and use of information and communications technology (ICT).

There has been some movement in the top ten, however, with the United Kingdom moving up to eighth place from tenth, whilst Sweden moved up one spot to fourth, and South Korea up two places to fifth. Topping the leader board are the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark.

Network Readiness Index is an international ranking system, measuring how effectively ICT is used, as well as its influence on global economies. 

Bruno Lanvin, co-editor of NRI, stresses the importance of having reliable frameworks like the NRI in the current unpredictable digital environment. “Data is not the new oil. It is the new air. In all parts of the world, both the private and public sector strive to be ready for a global digital economy that is neither fully charted nor consistently governed yet.”

“In such a fluid context, tools like the Network Readiness Index, which provide definitive metrics, will be a necessary condition to make the right decisions.”

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a Knowledge Partner for the NRI, providing research into how cloud technology can have a key impact on economies and innovation worldwide. Jeffrey B. Kratz, Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector Industry Sales at AWS, emphasised how collaboration between sectors is crucial for shaping the future of digital economies.

“At AWS, we’ve witnessed first-hand the transformative power of partnerships between the public and private sector, and building a digital tomorrow requires not just technological advancements, but also a shared vision and commitment to global collaboration.”

In the latest NRI report, a version called ‘Building a Digital Tomorrow: Public-Private Investments and Global Collaboration for Digital Readiness,’ covers 133 economies which are evaluated and ranked based on their preparedness and performance in using ICT. 

The latest assessment is categorised by four pillars:

1. Technology
2. People
3. Governance
4. Impact

Each of these is further divided into three smaller categories (sub-pillars), which are evaluated using 54 variables or factors. 

The primary goal of the NRI is to reveal possible disparities between different regions in terms of development levels and economies. The NRI 2024 shows the United States’ dominance across innovation metrics and technology adoption. It leads the way in digital business transformation and areas such as scientific AI publications. 

Co-founder and President of Portulans Institute, Co-editor of the NRI, and Dean of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Professor Soumitra Dutta, emphasised the importance of the NRI, saying, “As digital transformation accelerates, the NRI 2024 highlights the essential role of public-private partnerships in building the foundations for digital readiness. By working together, governments, businesses, and civil society can create robust frameworks of governance, stability, and trust that enable technology to reach its full potential in enhancing social and economic well-being.”

Professor Dutta said the findings of the report highlight how closely connected policymaking, innovation, and their effects on society are, and how they are “helping to chart a path towards a resilient digital ecosystem.”

The US is the only country from the Americas in the top ten, whereas Singapore and Korea are the sole Asian representatives. Europe, meanwhile, dominates in global network readiness, occupying the remaining top ten spots. 

Seventeen countries, mostly Western and Scandinavian, represent Europe in the report, underscoring how advanced economies are excelling in network readiness. Asia’s representatives are Singapore, China, South Korea, and Japan, while North America includes Canada and the US. Oceania is represented by Australia and New Zealand.

Countries such as China (17th), Vietnam (45th), Ukraine (43rd), and Kenya (73rd), regarded as middle to low-income economies, have outperformed predictions in digital readiness. Specifically, their achievements in digital preparedness are substantially higher than earlier expectations based on their GDP per capita. Each country has exceeded the standard trend by at least 10%, indicating remarkable progress in the use of technology despite economic limitations.

The report reveals that the lower middle-income group has the highest number of countries that have performed exceptionally well in digital readiness, exhibiting leading roles in the progressing digital landscape. 

The NRI 2024 report classifies economies into four income groups: 52 high-income countries, 36 upper-middle-income countries, 32 lower-middle-income countries, and 13 low-income economies.

Unsurprisingly, the top performers are primarily high-income nations, exhibiting powerful network readiness in all areas. Aside from exceptions, such as the US, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea, the top performers are generally nations within Western Europe or Scandinavia.

There are new entries on the NRI 2024 rankings, including the Seychelles. Sierra Leone, Trinidad and Tobago, and Yemen. Those that have dropped off the list are Gambia, Eswatini, Lebanon, Guinea, and Tajikistan.

Since 2002, the NRI has had a forward-thinking focus on both emerging technologies and their potential to contribute to global goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The post 2024 Network Readiness Index: USA, Singapore, and Finland lead the way for third consecutive year appeared first on TechWire Asia.

Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang believes that global tech collaboration will remain strong, even as the US considers stricter policies on advanced computing products. During a recent visit to Hong Kong, Huang addressed concerns about the evolving political landscape, emphasising that science thrives on openness.

“Open science and global collaboration—cooperation across math and science—have been around for a very long time. They are the foundation of social and scientific advancement,” he said. “That’s not going to change.”

His outlook comes at a critical time. President-elect Donald Trump has reignited debates over tariffs and reshoring chip manufacturing, proposing measures that could significantly impact the global semiconductor sector.

Trump has long-supported tariffs as a tool for reshaping trade and manufacturing. During a recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, he criticised the CHIPS Act—a bipartisan effort signed in 2022 to boost US semiconductor production—calling it “so bad.” Instead of subsidies, Trump suggested imposing tariffs on semiconductors from Taiwan, arguing that this would push companies such as TSMC to build more facilities in the US.

However, experts are sceptical. William Reinsch, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, pointed out that TSMC is already building a fab in Arizona. “Tariffs aren’t going to make that move any faster. If anything, they might complicate the effort,” he said.

Potential impacts on Nvidia and the tech industry

If Trump moves forward with tariffs, companies like Nvidia and AMD, which rely heavily on Taiwanese chips, could face rising costs. While their expenses might be passed down to customers, the ripple effects would likely be felt across the tech industry.

Huang was measured in his response to present uncertainties. “Whatever happens, we’ll balance compliance with laws and policies, continue to advance our technology, and support customers worldwide,” he said.

During his visit Huang also discussed broader issues, such as the energy demands of AI technologies. “If the world uses more energy to power the AI factories of the world, we’re a better world when that happens,” he said. He suggested sustainable solutions, such as placing AI supercomputers in remote areas powered by renewable energy.

“My hope and dream is that, in the end, we’ll all see that using energy for intelligence is the best use of energy,” Huang said, underscoring AI’s potential to address global challenges—from carbon capture to designing better wind turbines.

The stakes of reshoring chip manufacturing

Reshoring chip production has become a national security priority for the US, especially after the pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains. As of 2021, 44% of US logic chip imports came from Taiwan. A major disruption in Taiwanese manufacturing could cause logic chip prices to surge by as much as 59%, according to a 2023 US International Trade Commission report.

The CHIPS Act aims to mitigate such risks, and companies have already started building new US facilities. Still, Trump’s proposed tariffs could introduce new challenges, potentially cutting profit margins for US-based companies like Nvidia.

Reactions to Trump’s tariff proposals are divided. Dan Newman, CEO of Futurum Group, suggests the idea may be more political posturing than a concrete plan. “Trump is unlikely to move forward with anything that hurts the economy,” he said.

However, Columbia Business School’s Lori Yue argued there’s a high chance Trump could impose tariffs. She added that deregulation related to AI under a second Trump administration might offset some of the financial strain on chip companies.

A new era for AI and computing

Huang closed his trip to Hong Kong on a hopeful note. Speaking at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology after receiving an honorary doctorate in engineering, he told graduates they are entering a transformative era.

“The age of AI has started,” Huang said. “The whole world is reset. You’re at the starting line with everybody else. An industry is being reinvented. You now have the instruments necessary to advance science in so many different fields.”

While uncertainties about US technology policies remain, Huang’s message was clear: innovation will continue, driven by a new generation ready to redefine what is possible.

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

The post Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s optimism amid US tech policies appeared first on TechWire Asia.

With Android 15, Google has introduced something exciting: wi-fi ranging—a technology designed to help us find our way indoors with far better accuracy than before. Think of all the times GPS couldn’t quite get it right inside a mall, airport, or conference centre because of those pesky walls and structures. Wi-fi ranging tackles this issue head-on, using the IEEE 802.11az protocol to give you location accuracy within less than a metre—essentially changing how Android users navigate indoor spaces.

Why is wi-fi ranging a big deal?

Most of us rely on GPS for navigation, but GPS has always had a major blind spot: it doesn’t work well indoors. GPS signals come from satellites orbiting Earth, which struggle to penetrate solid structures like walls, floors, and ceilings. So, once you’re indoors, GPS accuracy often becomes unreliable, making it hard to pinpoint locations inside large buildings. That’s where wi-fi ranging comes in. Instead of relying on satellites, it uses nearby Wi-Fi access points to calculate your indoor position with impressive accuracy. This might be a game-changer for navigating spaces like large malls, crowded airports, museums, and stadiums.

Wi-fi ranging builds on previous wi-fi positioning technologies, like Wi-Fi RTT (Round Trip Time) with FTM (Fine Timing Measurement). Wi-Fi RTT, introduced in Android 9, was already a solid improvement, bringing location accuracy down to about 1-2 meters. But the technology in Android 15 takes it further, promising sub-metre precision.

The way it works is actually pretty cool: it measures the time it takes for signals to travel between your device and multiple nearby Wi-Fi access points, doubling the bandwidth (160 MHz) and utilising the devices’ support for the 6GHz band. Those enhancements improve accuracy, but they also boost scalability and security, making wi-fi ranging an important upgrade for indoor positioning.

How does wi-fi ranging compare to GPS for indoor tracking?

Indoor environments have always been GPS’s Achilles’ heel. Using access points that are already installed in buildings overcomes GPS’s limitations and provides a reliable way to navigate large indoor spaces. So, whether you’re trying to find your gate at the airport or locate a specific store in a big shopping mall, wi-fi ranging makes accurate indoor directions much easier.

Wi-fi positioning technology has evolved quite a bit. The first methods used Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), which was only accurate within 10-15 meters. Then came Wi-Fi RTT in Android 9, which measured the time-of-flight of RF packets between your device and nearby access points. Now, with wi-fi ranging using the 802.11az protocol, Android 15 achieves precision, refinied timing measurements and can into more bandwidth for accurate location discovery.

This leap means this innovative tech can pinpoint locations more precisely, making it a great fit for places where close accuracy matters, like retail spaces, airports, and offices.

Which devices support this technology?

Currently, Wi-Fi Ranging is available only on devices running Android 15 and equipped with Wi-Fi chips that support the 802.11az protocol. Many phones on the market lack the requisite, but Qualcomm’s FastConnect 7900 chip is paving the way for future compatibility. Over the next few years, as more manufacturers integrate this technology, we can expect to see wider adoption of Wi-Fi Ranging in Android devices.

For Wi-Fi Ranging to work, the Wi-Fi access points in a space must support the 802.11az standard. While some Wi-Fi 6 access points may be compatible with a firmware update, others might need to be upgraded or replaced. Until this support becomes more widespread, this tech will only be available in places with compatible access points. However, as the technology grows more mainstream, we’ll likely see more locations improving their infrastructure to enable this feature.

How does it stack up against UWB and Bluetooth?

While it has amazing range and scalability, other technologies such as UWB (Ultra-Wideband) and Bluetooth Channel Sounding offer slightly better accuracy in some cases. However, this tech has a few big advantages: it’s built on existing Wi-Fi infrastructure, supports a larger number of clients, and can adapt to traffic loads without compromising performance. According to Google engineer Dr. Roy Want, Wi-Fi Ranging is secure, scalable, and ideal for diverse environments where a balance of accuracy and convenience is key.

With this tech, the possibilities are exciting. Imagine being able to find the exact product you’re looking for when you go into a store. In smart homes, this feature could enable even more intelligent automation, like adjusting lights based on the room you’re in. And these examples are just the beginning. Developers and companies will probably find even more ways to use Wi-Fi Ranging to create convenient and immersive user experiences.

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

The post How Android 15’s wi-fi ranging will change indoor maps appeared first on TechWire Asia.

Becoming a global leader in AI is a top priority for Japan, and it’s all starting with AI-driven language models. Japanese tech experts are working on advanced AI models that understand the country’s unique cultural and linguistic nuances. This is opening up new possibilities for developers in industries that demand high precision, like healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.

And it’s not just a solo mission—major consulting firms like Accenture, Deloitte, EY Japan, FPT, Kyndryl, and TCS Japan—are teaming up with NVIDIA to establish innovation hubs throughout Japan. The centres aim to help companies fully embrace AI, both in enterprise use and physical applications. They’re using NVIDIA’s AI software, language models tailored to the Japanese language, and NVIDIA’s NIM microservices to build customised AI tools that suit specific industry needs. Essentially, it’s about creating a digital workforce that boosts productivity across the board.

One of the most exciting tools here is NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform, which lets Japanese companies make digital twins (virtual copies of real-world assets) and test complex AI systems before rolling them out in the real world. For industries like manufacturing and robotics, this tech is a huge advantage, helping them refine processes and make smart tweaks without taking on real-world risks. With AI integrated into these strongholds of Japanese industry, the country’s well on its way to addressing some of its toughest challenges.

Japan is facing a shrinking workforce due to an ageing population; a serious issue in the country. But Japane’s strength in robotics and automation puts it in a good position to tackle the problem with AI-powered solutions. Japan’s government recently released a report underscoring its ambition to be “the world’s most AI-friendly country,” clearly signalling AI’s role in its future.

And the numbers are backing up this commitment. IDC reports that Japan’s AI market hit $5.9 billion value this year, marking a solid 31.2% year-on-year growth. In Tokyo and Kansai, newly opened consulting hubs are primed to give companies hands-on experience with NVIDIA’s cutting-edge AI tech and guidance to help accelerate AI adoption. For Japan, this isn’t just about tech—it’s about solving real-world social challenges and driving long-term economic growth.

Building Japan’s AI backbone with cloud leaders

The country’s top cloud providers—SoftBank Corp., GMO Internet Group, KDDI, Highreso, Rutilea, and SAKURA Internet—are all-in on building AI infrastructure with NVIDIA’s support, focusing on industries like robotics, automotive, healthcare, and telecom. With backing from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), the cloud providers are setting up AI data centers across the country to support both local and national development, equipped with NVIDIA’s high-performance accelerated computing.

According to NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Japan has huge potential to gain from the AI era. “Japan’s companies stand to benefit tremendously from the new industrial revolution powered by AI,” Huang said. “Employees will see their productivity soar with AI agents taking over repetitive tasks. The factories of tomorrow will operate in dual mode—AI factories generating software intelligence alongside traditional factories.”

One standout partnership is between NVIDIA and SoftBank Corp., one that will have a big impact on fast-tracking Japan’s AI goals. During his keynote at the NVIDIA AI Summit Japan, the NVIDIA CEO announced that SoftBank is building Japan’s most powerful AI supercomputer using the NVIDIA Blackwell platform, and has plans to use the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell platform for its next big project. SoftBank isn’t just aiming for tech leadership in Japan—it’s also setting its sights on new revenue opportunities in telecommunications globally.

SoftBank’s already tested out the world’s first combined AI and 5G telecom network using NVIDIA’s AI Aerial platform, a breakthrough that could open up new revenue streams for telecom providers worldwide. In addition, SoftBank is working on an AI marketplace to meet the growing demand for secure, local AI computing in Japan. The marketplace could turn SoftBank into a central hub for AI services, supporting businesses, consumers, and enterprises across the country.

“Japan has a long history of pioneering technological innovations with global impact,” Huang said. “With SoftBank’s significant investment in NVIDIA’s AI, Omniverse, and 5G AI-RAN platforms, Japan is taking a leap into the AI industrial revolution. This shift is expected to benefit sectors like telecommunications, transportation, robotics, and healthcare in ways that will ultimately advance society.”

SoftBank’s CEO Junichi Miyakawa echoed the optimism, saying, “Through our close partnership with NVIDIA, SoftBank is leading the AI-driven transformation of society. With our powerful AI infrastructure and our new AI-RAN solution ‘AITRAS,’ which reinvents 5G networks for AI, we’re accelerating innovation across Japan and beyond.”

Japan’s vision for an AI-driven future

SoftBank is about to receive the world’s first NVIDIA DGX B200 systems for its new DGX SuperPOD supercomputer, which will not only support SoftBank’s own AI projects but also those of universities, research centres, and businesses, right across Japan. Expected to be Japan’s most powerful AI machine yet, it’s perfect for developing large language models and managing high-performance compute tasks.

SoftBank has even bigger plans: it’s working on a second NVIDIA-accelerated supercomputer that’s optimised for extremely intensive workloads. This system, based on the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell platform, combines NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs with energy-efficient Arm-based NVIDIA Grace CPUs to take AI in Japan to the next level, solidifying the country’s position as a leader in AI.

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Intelligent Automation Conference, BlockX, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

The post How Japan and NVIDIA are building an AI powerhouse appeared first on TechWire Asia.

ByteDance, the tech giant behind TikTok, is making strategic moves to strengthen its AI capabilities by preparing to establish a new research and development centre in Europe. According to an exclusive report from Chinese media outlet AI Tech Review‘s ‘informed sources,’ the expansion comes at a crucial time: as European nations compete to position themselves as leaders in AI innovation, and global tech companies race to advance their AI capabilities.

The choice of Europe for ByteDance’s new AI centre is strategic, given the continent’s rich pool of technical talent and research institutions. Switzerland, the United Kingdom (UK), and France have emerged as potential locations offering unique advantages. 

Switzerland, home to prestigious institutions like ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne, has already proven its worth as a global robotics innovation hub. The UK and France are engaged in fierce competition to become Europe’s AI leader, with both nations making significant investments in AI research and development.

ByteDance’s European ambitions were first signalled when French businessman Xavier Niel, founder of Iliad, joined the company’s board of directors in September. The appointment suggested a particular interest in the French market and its AI ecosystem, which has received substantial government support in the form of AI training and research initiatives.

Global AI ambitions and recent developments

The planned European R&D centre is part of ByteDance’s broader global AI strategy. The company has already committed to a massive $2.13 billion investment in Malaysia for an AI centre, demonstrating its serious intentions to build a global AI infrastructure. 

This expansion comes after a series of significant AI developments in ByteDance throughout 2023:

• The launch of the “Lark” underlying model in August,
• The establishment of the Flow department focused on AI application research,
• The release of Coze, a platform for rapid AI application development,
• The introduction of two video generation models, PixelDance and Seaweed,
• A strategic partnership with Tsinghua AIR for large-model research.

The company has also been actively recruiting top talent, recently bringing on board Zhou Chang, the former technical head of Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen model, who has extensive experience developing large-scale multimodal pre-training models.

The developments indicate that ByteDance is expanding geographically and building a comprehensive AI ecosystem that spans multiple technologies and applications. The European R&D centre would complement these initiatives and accelerate the company’s AI capabilities in natural language processing, computer vision, and machine learning.

It is clear that establishing an AI R&D centre in Europe represents more than just geographical expansion; it’s a strategic move that could help ByteDance tap into Europe’s advanced AI research community while navigating the continent’s evolving AI regulations. 

As the global AI race intensifies, the investment could prove crucial in maintaining ByteDance’s competitive edge and supporting the AI features across its platform ecosystem, including TikTok.

The post ByteDance sets sights on European AI expansion with a new R&D centre appeared first on TechWire Asia.