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Innovations needed to meet ‘Digital India’ goals
NEW DELHI: While the telecom industry is on track, there is need for innovation to meet the goals of Digital India. This was the general outcome of discussions at South Asia’s largest ICT, broadcast and digital media event, which ended today.
The expo witnessed 434 companies from 29 countries around the world showcasing the latest technologies and innovations. Over 125 eminent speakers took the dais to deliberate on the theme ‘Digital India’ – roadmap, opportunities, challenges, infrastructure and investments.
The third day of the expo deliberated on affordable broadband for rural India at the third Telecom Summit, powered by Microsoft, thus facilitating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a digitally empowered economy.
Microsoft group director, government affairs & public policy S. Chandrasekhar said, “Exhibitions India and Convergence India provide a good platform for all telecom and ICT eco-systems to come together and exchange ideas, best practices and the best of technology.”
A presentation on ‘Internet of Things in Mobile Workforce Management’ was given by Cyient – India senior manager Venkata Satyadeep Mane. “Technology is an enabler to build smart solutions for rapid growth. Industries in India are therefore aiming to build cutting-edge technology solutions and services that will shape the digital revolution. Accordingly, the Indian ICT marketplace is going to experience substantial shifts in the coming days! In this content, I believe Convergence India is a fantastic platform to share and learn not just technology but various other elements of business solutions,” he said.
Key session on ‘Opportunities in telecom sector arising from Big Data & Cloud’ panelist HP India country leader – future cities & CTO – technology services Lux Rao said, “The promise of Digital India has been successful in capturing the aspirations of a young India and the unbridled optimism is palpable. Smart Cities & Digital India is lending traction to the country’s modernisation agenda.”
He added, “Convergence India holds a mirror to the current state of programmes and their progress and is a convergence of philosophy, ideas and action. The three-day program packs in an eclectic combination of knowledge and experience sharing, networking opportunities and a deep dive into fast emerging ethos of an empowered nation – Truly Digital, Truly India.”
Exhibitions India Group chairman Prem Behl, who conceived Convergence India, said, “The exhibitors have received quality visitors and have had a positive response on all three days of the expo. The concurrent conferences were productive with detailed discussions and presentations on Digital India.”
A landmark session on the third day included the SCTE India Awards for Technical Excellence and Innovation in Digital Cable and Broadband.
‘GSMA India open day 2016’ hosted a discussion on India’s mobile industry growth trends and forecasts, challenges in this fast changing market, mechanisms being used to ease efforts in monetising this market and the innovations India will need to deliver a Digital India from industry leaders.
Participating exhibiting names included Broadcom, C-Dot, Conax, Cyient, Ericsson, EMC, Harmonic, MediaTek, Microsoft, M-Star, Nagra, Sandisk, Telenor, and Thomson to name a few.
Convergence India 2016 expo was endorsed by the Department of Electronics & Information Technology, the Communications & Information Technology, and the Information and Broadcasting Ministries.
Exhibitions India Group (EIG) has been organising the annual International Convergence India series of expos since 1992, and will witness its silver jubilee edition at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 8 to 10 February next year.
eNews
Rapido launches zero-commission food delivery app Ownly in Bengaluru
New platform promises transparent pricing with no restaurant commissions.
MUMBAI: Rapido just served up a fresh order because when the food delivery menu gets too pricey, someone’s got to deliver honesty on a plate. Rapido has rolled out Ownly, its standalone zero-commission food delivery app, across Bengaluru, stepping into India’s fiercely competitive online food delivery space with a model built on price transparency and fairness.
Unlike conventional platforms that charge restaurants commissions and often lead to inflated menu prices or hidden mark-ups, Ownly levies only a straightforward delivery fee on consumers based on actual logistics costs. Restaurants can list everyday low prices without relying on deep discounts, giving them breathing room while keeping bills honest for users.
The launch is backed by a satirical courtroom-themed digital video commercial that takes aim at industry pain points hidden fees, misleading discounts and price manipulation before positioning Ownly as the transparent alternative. The film is live on Ownly’s Youtube channel.
Rapido and Ownly, founder Aravind Sanka said, “Food ordering has become an integral part of everyday life across India, not just in metros but in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as well. At Ownly, we see a strong opportunity to build a restaurant-first model that supports partners and caters to the evolving needs of customers. Transparency, honesty and fairness are key drivers of long-term growth for the sector.”
The Bengaluru rollout follows a pilot in Koramangala, HSR Layout and BTM Layout, where the team conducted consumer research and collaborated closely with restaurant partners to fine-tune the offering.
Ownly leverages Rapido’s existing hyperlocal logistics network to scale operations efficiently. By eliminating commissions and focusing on real-cost delivery fees, the platform aims to foster fairer economics for restaurants and more predictable pricing for consumers.
In a market where every rupee on the bill feels like a negotiation, Ownly isn’t just delivering food,it’s delivering a promise: no sneaky surcharges, no inflated prices, just straightforward bites at honest rates.
