Author: Neel Achary

Cloudera Joins AI-RAN Alliance to Drive Real-Time Data Innovation and AI-Native Telecommunications

India – June 11, 2025: Cloudera, the only true hybrid platform for data, analytics and AI, today announced it has joined the AI-RAN Alliance, a global consortium committed to integrating AI into telecommunications infrastructure. Cloudera joins a pioneering group of leading innovative telecommunication providers and data & AI companies all focused on driving the AI-RAN agenda and transforming telecommunication networks into intelligent, revenue-generating platforms with real-time data and AI.

As telecommunication providers race to optimize the cost of network operations through virtualization and next generation infrastructure and architectures, AI provides a unique opportunity. AI drives better business outcomes through network service efficiency while at the same time opening up significant opportunities for services innovation. The complexity of deploying AI across distributed edge environments is not trivial and telecommunication providers will have to drive strategic enterprise-wide efforts to operationalize AI at scale across the radio access network (RAN) to unlock its full commercial potential.

The AI-RAN Alliance—which counts NVIDIA as a founding member and Dell, SoftBank, T-Mobile, KT and LG U+ as members—was created to solve these issues while driving innovation at the intersection of AI and telecommunications. Together, the AI-RAN Alliance members are standardizing the integration of AI into existing and new networks, enabling shared infrastructure for AI optimization, accelerating the development of edge AI applications, and establishing real-world proof points to help telecommunications deploy AI reliably and profitably.

As a recognized leader in enterprise AI and modern data architecture, Cloudera brings a powerful combination of scalable data management, edge-to-AI orchestration, and an open-source-first approach that complements the AI-RAN Alliance’s mission. Cloudera is uniquely positioned to enable telecommunication providers to deploy, manage, and scale AI workloads across hybrid, edge, and on-premises environments.

As the newest member of the AI-RAN Alliance, Cloudera will:
● Participate in the new ‘Data for AI-RAN’ working group, aimed at standardizing data orchestration, LLM-driven network automation, and hybrid-enabled MLOps across telecommunications and AI workloads. Cloudera’s involvement will bring data and AI platform expertise to the AI-RAN Alliance, and help align data and AI pipelines with telecom operational needs—unlocking faster innovation and deployment of AI-native use cases.
● Support the AI-RAN Alliance’s three core objectives, including AI-for-RAN, AI-and-RAN, and AI-on-RAN.
● Accelerate real-world AI use cases with AI-RAN Alliance members to pilot and deploy AI applications, such as SLA-driven network availability and real-time anomaly detection. This includes building and validating reference architectures that telecommunications operators can deploy against in live environments, shortening the path from innovation to implementation, and maximizing model reusability and collaboration.
● Leverage the Cloudera platform to demonstrate real-time decision-making at the edge, enabling scalable training data preparation/MLOps, and operationalizing AI inference at scale while ensuring governance, observability, and edge-to-core orchestration.

“Cloudera is proud to bring its data & AI expertise to the AI-RAN Alliance. The network is the heart of the telcom business, both in driving margin growth and in service transformation, and AI can unlock substantial value across those dimensions,” said Abhas Ricky, Chief Strategy Officer at Cloudera. “Given our leadership in the domain — having powered data and AI automation strategies for hundreds of telecommunications providers around the world, we now look forward to accelerating innovation alongside fellow AI-RAN Alliance members, and bringing our customers along. Our goal is to help define the data standards, orchestration models, and reference architectures that will power intelligent, adaptive, and AI-native networks of the future.”

“Joining the AI-RAN Alliance marks an important milestone in our continued efforts to support the future of telecommunications through AI-driven innovation. As telecom operators in India advance toward intelligent, AI-native networks, Cloudera’s true hybrid platform offers the agility and scale needed to support converged AI and RAN workloads across distributed edge environments. Additionally, our participation in the ‘Data for AI-RAN’ working group will enable local telecom companies to align data pipelines with operational needs, and transform data into actionable intelligence. Together with our alliance partners, we aim to shape adaptive, secure, and future-ready telecom networks in India,” said Mayank Baid, Regional Vice President, India & South Asia, Cloudera.

“We are proud to collaborate with Cloudera and fellow AI-RAN Alliance members in the ‘Data for AI-RAN’ working group,” said Jemin Chung, VP Network Strategy, KT. “As AI becomes increasingly central to next-generation networks, the ability to harness data securely and at scale will be a key differentiator. Through this initiative, we look forward to defining best practices that enable AI-centric RAN evolution and improve operational intelligence.”

“Cloudera is an incredible addition to the AI-RAN Alliance, which has grown rapidly as demand for improved AI access and success increases across the industry,” said Dr. Alex Jinsung Choi, Principal Fellow, SoftBank Corp.’s Research Institute of Advanced Technology, Chair of the AI-RAN Alliance Chair. “The company’s leadership in data and AI, combined with their extensive telecommunications footprint, will play a vital role in advancing our shared vision of intelligent, AI-native networks.”

Quest Global and ING Honoured with The Asset Triple A Award for Sustainable Finance 2025

Bangalore, 11th June 2025 – Quest Global, a leading global engineering services firm, today announced that it has been recognized with The Asset Triple A Award for Sustainable Finance 2025 in South Asia, in partnership with ING, in the category of “Best Sustainability-Linked Loan – Engineering Services.” This achievement is particularly noteworthy as Quest Global is the first engineering services company to have achieved this milestone. This prestigious award celebrates the innovative integration of sustainability into Quest Global’s financial strategy.

The award acknowledges Quest Global’s and ING’s pioneering approach to embedding sustainability within the company’s financing framework, a practice that remains relatively uncommon in the outsourced engineering services sector. The developed sustainability-linked loan (SLL) features a balanced discount and penalty mechanism, strategically designed to incentivize Quest Global to achieve significant advancements in its sustainability objectives through enhanced EcoVadis assessment scores.

“We are deeply honoured to receive this distinguished award from The Asset,” stated Rajendra Shreemal, Chief Financial Officer, Quest Global. “This recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to sustainability in our business and financial strategy. Our collaboration with ING has been pivotal in crafting a sustainable financing solution. We would like to extend our gratitude to ING for their expertise in structuring this deal and identifying a sustainability-linked loan opportunity with our banking partners.”

“We’re proud to showcase ING’s structuring expertise through innovative solutions like this sustainability-linked loan. It underscores our commitment to supporting clients across sectors, including engineering services, in embedding sustainability into their core strategies. We’re honoured that this collaboration is being recognised as a benchmark for impactful financing in the region,” said Michelle Kong, Head of Sector Coverage for ING Asia Pacific.

The Asset Triple A Awards for Sustainable Finance recognize organizations across Asia that actively contribute to and exemplify the burgeoning landscape of sustainable finance. The “Best Deals for Sustainable Finance” category, nominated by participating banks, recognizes transactions that champion sustainable finance across diverse financial instruments, with a focus on their environmental and social contributions as defined by the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

With this prestigious award, Quest Global and ING reaffirm their commitment to leading the way in sustainable finance and driving positive change within the engineering services industry.

Habuild Launches Har Ghar Yoga Initiative Ahead of International Yoga Day

Chennai: Habuild, India’s first habit building platform has announced the launch of its latest initiative Har Ghar Yoga. Timed ahead of International Yoga Day 2025, which embraces the theme Yoga for One Earth, One Health, the initiative is aligned with the global call for holistic well-being.

 With a thriving community of over 1 Crore participants across 100+ countries, Habuild is now aiming to bring the power of yoga into every home. Led by Saurabh Bothra, an IIT alumnus, government certified yoga expert, and co-founder of Habuild, the initiative promotes consistency, accessibility, and the idea of wellness as a shared, global practice. The Har Ghar Yoga initiative has been conceptualized as a large-scale, digital-first outreach that blends purpose with performance.

The initiative positions yoga not just as a fitness activity, but as a sustainable daily habit that anyone can adopt, regardless of age, gender, or fitness level. The messaging is being delivered through a series of video stories designed to resonate emotionally while also nudging behavior through small, daily actions.

 Commenting on the initiative, Saurabh Bothra, CEO and Co-founder of Habuild, said, “Yoga shouldn’t feel like a task or a one-day celebration. With Har Ghar Yoga, we’re making wellness through Yoga accessible , free, and most importantly consistent. Our goal is to make yoga an everyday habit. We’re inviting every Indian to experience the power of 21 days and see the change for themselves.”

Q-CTRL Expands Presence in India with Local Reseller Network to Support National Quantum Education Mission

NEW DELHI, INDIA – June 11, 2025 – Q-CTRL, the global leader in quantum infrastructure software, is expanding access for students and professionals across India to Black Opal, the company’s award-winning quantum workforce development platform, through four new collaborations with ELTECH Consulting, Kquanta Research, Quantum Biosciences, and Uttkrist.

These partnerships reinforce the company’s standing as the leading quantum computing education provider for those new to the industry, while demonstrating its close alignment with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Over 30,000 students have also upskilled across the UK as part of the National Quantum Computer Centre (NQCC).

The expansion builds on a successful Black Opal rollout last year in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, in partnership with Quantum AI Global. The platform provides a comprehensive introductory quantum computing course in a single software platform, from basic quantum principles to specialized programming techniques. The quantum coursework was delivered as a core learning module for engineering students within the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation’s (TNSDC) Naan Mudhalvan Upskilling Platform. Among the almost 3,000 students who enrolled, 83% have successfully passed the program.

“After the success that we have seen implementing Black Opal in Tamil Nadu, we could not be more excited to continue the rollout of Black Opal with new partners in India,” said Aravind Ratnam, Chief Strategy Officer of Q-CTRL. “The Indian workforce has much to offer the quantum ecosystem, and Q-CTRL is humbled to be a part of empowering this next generation of workers.”

These new partnerships reflect Q-CTRL’s priority of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the quantum technology ecosystem, along with demonstrating Q-CTRL’s ongoing commitment to equipping the Indian market for careers in quantum and with the skills to be a global leader in quantum computing.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Q-CTRL to help close the quantum skills gap and future-proof the sector,” said Anita Nandi-Ray, Policy Director at Kquanta Research. “Our partnership with Q-CTRL is a strategic collaboration, focused on equipping professionals to harness quantum’s transformative potential and strengthening the financial ecosystem.”

As part of this expansion, Q-CTRL and Quantum Biosciences are also supporting a workshop in partnership with the Indian Institute of Science — the Q-Karyashala 2025 — to introduce teachers to Black Opal and make it easier for educators to use the platform in their classrooms. The goal is to kickstart this work with over 150 teachers.

“Our partnership with Q-CTRL, leveraging their Black Opal platform, is a pivotal step in our mission to cultivate a quantum-ready workforce in India,” said Subu Gupta, Chief Technology Officer at Quantum Biosciences. “By empowering students and professionals with world-class quantum education, we are addressing the critical need for skilled talent and fostering innovation at the intersection of these transformative fields.”

The partnership between Uttkrist and Q-CTRL is a significant step towards making quantum computing more accessible for Indian learners in both academia and the workforce. This partnership also supports the country’s overall deep-tech innovation goals.

“We will use this collaboration with Q-CTRL to provide students, researchers, and professionals with the best tools to learn and excel in quantum computing,” said Shivam Karn, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Uttkrist. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision to drive technological advancement in India through education and strategic partnerships.”

The Black Opal platform is designed with students and teachers in mind to allow both groups to create customized quantum education programs. For students, the platform features interactive learning modules, practice areas, skill badges, and completion certificates.

Educators can align the curriculum with specific learning outcomes by creating tailored assignments, building an unlimited number of assignments, and tracking student progress via exportable analytics.

Grill & Graze: A Father’s Day Backyard Brunch Bash at JW Marriott Kolkata

Inspired by classic backyard cookouts and elevated with JW Kitchen’s signature culinary finesse, the brunch blends fire-grilled favourites with bold brunch twists. Whether Dad is a grill master at heart or prefers to sit back and let the chefs take the reins, this is a celebration where he’s the centre of attention—fork in hand, appetite ready.

 Among the standout offerings is the Smoked Rewaji Mutton Benedict—a distinctly Bengali take on a brunch icon, where tender slices of smoky rewaji mutton and poached eggs rest on English muffins, all topped with a velvety chipotle hollandaise. It’s comfort food with a kick.

 For those craving something a little more daring, the Bourbon-Maple Glazed Bacon Flight features thick-cut bacon glazed three ways: sticky bourbon-maple, fiery honey-sriracha, and smoky black pepper caramel. There’s also the Grilled Avocado & Corn Salad, with flame-kissed avocado halves filled with charred corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, and a zesty lime crema.

 Adding to the indulgence is the BBQ Pulled Pork Hash, where sweet potatoes and roasted red peppers form the base for fork-tender pulled pork, topped with a runny egg and served sizzling in a cast-iron skillet. Rounding off the spread are Mini Pancake Sliders, playful stacks of fluffy buttermilk pancakes layered with sausage, egg, and cheddar—drizzled (optionally) with maple-dijon sauce for the perfect sweet-and-savoury bite.

 “Grill & Graze” isn’t just a meal—it’s a mood. With live cooking stations, grill-side theatrics and a laid-back atmosphere reminiscent of summer afternoons at home, this brunch strikes the perfect balance between luxury and nostalgia.

Table Space Launches New 180,000 sq. ft. Centre at Embassy Manyata Business Park in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, June 11, 2025 — Table Space, one of India’s leading managed workspace providers, announced the launch of its newest centre – Table Space MFAR 2B Embassy Manyata Business Park located on Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR). The ORR has swiftly emerged as Bengaluru’s most vibrant hub for Global Capability Centres (GCCs).

The centre, spread across six floors (B+G+5) and covering over 180,000 sq. ft., further strengthens Table Space’s position in India’s office market. Table Space MFAR 2B Embassy Manyata Business Park’s strategic location provides proximity to an entire ecosystem of schools, restaurants, hospitals, banks and housing options, helping modern teams maintain a healthy work-life balance. With this launch, Table Space now has multiple centres in ORR, one of India’s leading tech corridors and several centres in Bengaluru.

This facility brings together both of Table Space’s key offerings under one roof – custom-built workspaces for specific needs of MNCs and GCCs, and Suites, Table Space’s premium ready-to-move-in solution with seats designed to serve a wide range of enterprise needs. The launch highlights the growing demand for flexible, scalable and high-quality workspaces in Bengaluru’s key business corridors.

Commenting on the launch, Kunal Mehra, Co-CEO & President, Table Space said, “India continues to be a global hotspot for enterprise expansion, with rising demand for agile, scalable and premium workspaces across sectors such as IT/ITeS, BFSI, healthcare, and advanced tech. The launch of Table Space MFAR 2B Embassy Manyata Business Park further strengthens our commitment to this momentum. It marks another milestone in our growth journey in Bengaluru, India’s most competitive and dynamic office market.”

Sharing her perspective, Anamika Gupta, Executive Director – Sales, Table Space said, “ORR continues to be a prime hub of Bengaluru’s commercial real estate. The launch of Table Space MFAR 2B at Embassy Manyata Business Park is a significant addition to our growing footprint in this vital corridor.”

Table Space concluded FY25 with a remarkable growth in its total managed office portfolio, which now stands at over 9 million sq. ft. across India’s metro cities, as of 31st March, 2025. The company launched several new centres during the year, adding significantly to its portfolio of premium workspace across Bengaluru, Delhi, NCR, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai.

IREDA Successfully Raises Rs2,005.90 Crore via QIP to Boost Green Financing

Mumbai, June 11, 2025: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) has successfully raised ₹2,005.90 crore through a Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP). The capital was mobilized by issuing 12.15 crore equity shares at a price of ₹165.14 per share, which includes a premium of ₹155.14 per share over the face value of ₹10.

The issue price of ₹165.14 reflects a discount of 5.00% to the floor price of ₹173.83 per equity share. Launched on June 5, 2025, the QIP issue closed on June 10, 2025, receiving an encouraging response from a diverse set of both domestic and foreign qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) including insurance companies, scheduled commercial banks and foreign portfolio investors. The Board has approved allotment of equity shares to eligible qualified institutional buyers in its meeting held today i.e. June 11, 2025.

The QIP was oversubscribed with bids amounting to ₹2,005.90 crore against the base issue size of ₹1,500 crore, achieving a subscription of 1.34 times. The capital raised through this successful issue will further strengthen IREDA’s Tier-I capital and overall Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), enhancing the company’s capacity to support the expanding renewable energy sector in India.

Reflecting on this achievement, Shri Pradip Kumar Das, Chairman & Managing Director, IREDA, said: “The successful completion of this QIP in a short span after our IPO in November 2023 is a testament to the trust and confidence the investor community and the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy have reposed in IREDA. This capital infusion will empower us to scale up our financing activities, enabling greater investments in renewable energy projects and accelerating India’s transition towards a greener and sustainable energy future.”

CMD, IREDA expressed his gratitude to Shri Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Union Minister of New & Renewable Energy, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution; Shri Shripad Naik, Hon’ble Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy; Shri Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, MNRE; Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM); and the Board of Directors for their support and invaluable guidance.

IREDA extended its gratitude to all institutional investors and stakeholders for their continued support, reaffirming its commitment to leading the country’s clean energy financing initiatives.

Unix India to Showcase Cutting-Edge Consumer Electronics at 31st Edition of Gifts India Expo 2025

Mumbai, 11th June 2025: Unix India, a leading name in mobile accessories and consumer electronics, is set to participate in the 31st edition of the Gifts India Expo 2025, taking place from June 12–14 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. Recognised as India’s largest trade event for corporate gifting and stationery, this year’s edition will host over 2,590 exhibitors, 700+ brands, and welcome more than 15,000 visitors.

At the expo, Unix India will unveil its latest lineup of innovative products, including TWS earbuds, smartwatches, power banks, Bluetooth speakers, and multi-device charging solutions, all designed for today’s tech-savvy consumer. This year’s collection incorporates next-generation technologies such as Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), advanced sensor tech, Bluetooth 5.4, and wireless fast charging with MagSafe, Qi, and GaN compatibility.

With a renewed focus on India’s Gen Z and millennial audience, Unix’s showcase highlights its evolved brand identity—sleek, high-performance gadgets that double as ideal personal and corporate gifts. Visitors can experience exclusive gifting combos, festive-ready collections, and live product demos, emphasising Unix’s commitment to design excellence, innovation, and everyday utility.

“At Unix India, we believe great tech should be accessible, practical, and gift-worthy. Events like Gifts India Expo help us connect directly with businesses and understand their evolving needs. We’re not just showcasing products, we’re presenting smart, everyday solutions that resonate with people. It’s exciting to witness corporate gifting moving beyond the conventional, and we’re proud to be a part of that shift,” said Mr. Imran Kagalwala, Co-founder, Unix India.

Built on the pillars of design, functionality, and affordability, Unix India remains committed to delivering Made-in-India electronics backed by a customer-first innovation strategy. The brand operates through a robust network of 70+ super stockists and 4,000+ distributors, with a presence in 500+ cities and over 60,000 retail stores across India. Its products are also available on leading e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, contributing to the company’s sale of millions of units annually.

With a target of 300% revenue growth in FY 2025, the brand is aggressively expanding its product line to meet the growing demand for quality, affordable consumer electronics in India.