Category Archives: News

Huawei Proposes Next Generation OTN for AIDC-Centric All-Optical Network

VIENNA, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — During NetworkX 2026, Huawei shared its vision for building the “LIGHTS” All-Optical Network at the Optical Transport Innovation Summit. Huawei outlined three waves of AI-driven opportunities for operators and explained how an AIDC-centric all-optical network, powered by Huawei’s Next Generation OTN solution, enables them to drive business growth.

AI Drives Three Waves of Opportunities for Operators

The rapid evolution of AI unlocks three waves of opportunities for operators: DC interconnection for hyperscalers, private lines for enterprise computing power, and integrated computing and network services. This is reshaping optical transport: from a basic network serving consumer and home (ToC and ToH) users, to a business network serving enterprises (ToB) and AI; from administrative-division-based planning, to AIDC-centric planning.

NEXT GENERATION OTN Solution Enhances AIDC-Centric All-Optical Network

To seize these opportunities, operators need an AIDC-centric all-optical network. Huawei proposes the LIGHTS target network as a key priority for operators in the AI era, with six key capabilities: Low Latency, Intelligent Operation, Green Foundation, High Reliability, Tbps-level Capacity, and Security Assurance.

Gavin Gu, president of Huawei’s Optical Transmission Network Domain presented Huawei’s Next Generation OTN solution, which responds to the need to build the LIGHTS target network by covering both DCI and DCA scenarios.

For DCI, Next Generation OTN delivers 800G to 2T ultra-high-speed capacity and an OTN capacity pool, which uses minimal resources to pre-deploy capacity in multiple directions. It helps operators achieve fast time-to-market (TTM), maximize fiber capacity, and meet the Tbps-level bandwidth and rapid delivery requirements of DCI traffic.

For DCA, Huawei offers end-to-end (E2E) OXC for a meshed, one-hop direct architecture, millisecond-level WSON for guaranteed high availability, fgOTN for flexible bandwidth from 10Mbps to 1Gbps, and an integrated QKD solution for quantum encryption. In addition, Next Generation OTN has been upgraded in both hardware and software to deliver an end-to-end “zero-outage network.”

LIGHTS All-Optical Network Drives Business Growth

Powered by the LIGHTS all-optical network, operators are evolving from a bandwidth-only sales model to delivering core capabilities and value-added services. Computing-power private lines are advancing from a single bandwidth dimension to multiple dimensions covering bandwidth, latency, reliability, and security. This enables operators to offer differentiated services for different industries and improves pricing power. Meanwhile, the convergence of computing and network services is also accelerating. In Hubei, China, for example, operators are combining network and computing advantages to launch integrated services across industries such as education, healthcare and finance.

The LIGHTS all-optical network for the AI era is helping operators seize AI-driven opportunities, realize network monetization and achieve business growth. Huawei will collaborate with industry partners to advance technological innovation and business growth, accelerating the optical transport industry’s evolution into the AI era.

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TAT spotlights 2026 Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession on the Mekong

Signature event moves towards “Must-Experience in Thailand” status through celebration of faith, illuminated craftsmanship and Mekong culture

BANGKOK, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is bringing the 2026 Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession to wider international audiences as one of Thailand’s distinctive Mekong traditions. Taking place from 16–27 October around Nakhon Phanom Provincial Hall and the Mekong riverfront along Sunthorn Vijit Road, the celebration culminates on 26 October, marking the end of Buddhist Lent with illuminated boats, faith, craftsmanship and community spirit.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “The Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession is a powerful expression of faith, craftsmanship and Mekong community identity. TAT is elevating this living tradition by linking heritage, creativity and participation to create meaningful experiences and greater value for local communities. The evening programme also supports TAT’s Night Economy direction by encouraging longer stays and deeper exploration of Nakhon Phanom. In this way, distinctive signature events can develop into experiences visitors recognise as truly ‘Must-Experience in Thailand’.”

The festival combines Buddhist traditions, local craftsmanship, cultural performances, regional cuisine, community products and participatory experiences rooted in the province’s riverside way of life across 12 days and nights. Daily activities include illuminated-boat displays, boat-making skill insights, cultural performances and community showcase, while boats from TAT Nakhon Phanom Office, the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Administration and Nakhon Phanom University appear on selected evenings.

The main Illuminated Boat Festival on 26 October begins at 18.00, led by a TAT Nakhon Phanom Office showcase boat followed by 12 illuminated boats representing the province’s 12 districts. Competing in beauty and creativity categories for a royal trophy, each will take to the Mekong at 20-minute intervals. A non-competitive Nakhon Phanom University showcase boat then joins at 20.00, with the final district entry scheduled at 22.20.

Visitors can also see 13 ancient-style illuminated boats, 12 representing the zodiac signs and one collective boat for those who do not know their birth year. Visitors are invited to float banana-stalk boats and lamps on the Mekong from 16–26 October as part of traditional rituals associated with warding off misfortune and paying respect to the river, culminating with a ceremony at 15.00 on 26 October. The festival’s spiritual foundations are also expressed through merit-making, alms-giving, ritual offerings, and dances paying homage to Phra That Phanom.

The wider programme includes longboat races from 22–25 October, markets featuring locally made products, regional cuisine and community specialities, plus a traditional communal meal, pha khao laeng, showcasing local dishes and hospitality each evening. Nightly Molam performances and appearances by leading Isan artists add to the programme, connecting the illuminated boat tradition with Nakhon Phanom’s wider Mekong identity through riverside life, craftsmanship, food, music and community participation.

The Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession forms part of TAT’s direction to elevate distinctive signature events towards “Must-Experience in Thailand” status. Alongside the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Procession and Sakon Nakhon Christmas Star Parade, the initiative presents Thailand’s living culture and community creativity as compelling reasons to discover destinations beyond established tourism centres.

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Maaza Brings the Spirit of Aamontron to Bengal’s Pujo Celebrations

Inspired by the traditional Bengali mango leaf toran, Maaza brings the spirit of aamontron to life, celebrating the joy of welcoming everyone home for Pujo

KOLKATA, India, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This Pujo, Maaza^®, India’s homegrown iconic mango drink, is bringing Bengal’s tradition of aamontron, or invitation, to life through Maaza Aamontron. Drawing inspiration from the traditional mango leaf toran that adorns Bengali doorways during auspicious occasions, the initiative celebrates the spirit of homecoming and hospitality through a festive installation at the heart of Pujo celebrations.

In Bengali households, the aamra pallav, a toran made with mango leaves, symbolises auspicious beginnings and a warm welcome to those who arrive. Taking inspiration from this familiar household ritual, Maaza is reimagining the traditional toran as a festive gateway, connecting the brand’s mango identity with a cultural practice deeply rooted in Bengal.

As part of Maaza Aamontron, visitors can experience the installation at Dum Dum Tarun Dal from 14 to 20 October 2026. The experience brings the traditional mango leaf toran into the public celebration, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with a familiar Bengali custom in a new setting.

The initiative also brings a thoughtful approach to festive décor, with Maaza using a compostable material for its torans. This allows the festive installation to celebrate Bengal’s traditions while considering sustainability beyond celebrations.

Sunainika Singh, Senior Director, Marketing – Nutrition, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said, “Pujo brings in the essence of homecomings, community and the warmth with which Bengal welcomes everyone. The mango leaf toran is a beautiful expression of this spirit, marking auspicious beginnings and extending an invitation to all who arrive. With Maaza Aamontron, we wanted to bring this familiar tradition into the larger canvas of Pujo. We have also explored how sustainable material innovation can be part of the festive experience, considering the life of an installation beyond the celebrations.”

Extending this spirit of welcome beyond the installation, Maaza will also bring the invitation to readers across West Bengal through a full-page invite in a prominent regional newspaper, inviting them to be part of the Pujo celebrations.

About Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola in India is one of the country’s leading beverage companies, offering a range of high-quality and refreshing beverage options to consumers. The company, in line with its vision of ‘Beverages For Life’ offers a wide portfolio of products which includes hydration, sports, sparkling, coffee, tea, nutrition, juice and dairy based products. In India its beverage range includes Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Thums Up XForce, Charged, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Sprite Zero, Kinley Soda, Rimzim, Maaza, Minute Maid range of juices and Honest Tea. The Company also offers hydration beverages including Limca GlucoCharge, Smartwater, Kinley, Kinley Copper, Dasani and Bonaqua packaged drinking water. Premium products constitute Schweppes’ range and Smartwater. In addition, it offers a Costa Coffee range of tea and coffee. The Company is constantly transforming its portfolio, from reducing sugar in its drinks to bringing innovative new products to market.

The Company along with its owned bottling operations and franchise bottling partners has a strong network of over six million retail outlets through which it refreshes millions of consumers across the country. It seeks to positively impact people’s lives, communities, and the planet through water and packaging initiatives, sustainable agriculture and emission reductions across its value chain.

Globally together with its bottling partners, The Coca-Cola Company employs more than 700,000 people, helping to bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide.

Learn more at www.cocacolacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Proppy.ai Takes a Bengaluru-Bound Couple from Home Search to Booking in Just 72 Hours with AI-Led Discovery

How Proppy.ai helped two US-based buyers move from a six-month search to a Bengaluru home booking.

BENGALURU, India, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — After more than six months of searching, two software developers living in the US found a 3BHK apartment in Bengaluru within 72 hours using Proppy’s AI-powered smart search, and were then guided by human experts to make a confident home-buying decision.

For Prasad and Sandhya, buying a home in Bengaluru was about planning for their future in India while making a practical decision in the present. Both software developers living in the US had spent more than six months looking for a 3BHK apartment for under ₹1.5 crore. 

The plan was to have a home to return to when they moved back to India and rent it out in the meantime. But finding the right property from overseas was not straightforward. The couple had researched real estate agents and real estate portals in Bangalore, but said they wanted more transparent information before committing to a purchase.

They turned to Proppy.ai, an AI-powered property search platform in Bangalore that combines AI-assisted property evaluation with human guidance.

Proppy’s AI helped evaluate properties against the couple’s requirements, while a Dedicated Relationship Manager helped them understand the AI-curated options, compare projects, and assess potential risks. 

This combination of AI property search in Bangalore and personalized guidance is intended to make property decisions more informed and the buying process easier to navigate, and more importantly – buy confidently.

For Prasad and Sandhya, this support helped them understand the risks associated with certain projects and move away from options that did not meet their expectations. With clearer information, guidance from their Dedicated Relationship Manager, and a more structured way to evaluate properties against their budget and long-term plans, they could make a more informed decision using 72 Hour Home Buying Challenge. The process culminated in a property booking within 72 hours, following a search that had lasted more than six months.

“Technology in real estate has mostly worked for the seller, helping builders find buyers. We built our AI to work for the buyer. It reads the information, asks the difficult questions, and helps buyers make decisions with greater clarity. Our experts check its work, and the buyer makes the final call,” said Niranjan, Founder, Proppy.ai.

Through its combination of AI-assisted search, human guidance, and post-booking support, Proppy.ai aims to help buyers move from property discovery towards informed ownership decisions.

About Proppy.ai

Proppy.ai is a property search and transaction platform in India, operated by Lit Proptech Pvt Ltd and based in Bengaluru. It uses AI, supported by human experts, to help buyers find, evaluate, shortlist, and negotiate residential properties, and provides access to relevant services throughout the ownership journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How does Proppy.ai help buyers search for properties in Bangalore?

Proppy.ai uses AI-assisted property search and evaluation to help buyers assess residential properties against their requirements, understand project-related risks, and compare available options. A Dedicated Relationship Manager provides human guidance throughout the buying journey, right up to housewarming.

2. Can NRI’s overseas buyers search for property in Bangalore through Proppy.ai?

Proppy.ai’s AI-assisted property search and Dedicated Relationship Manager can help buyers navigate property options and understand the buying process. For overseas buyers, this support can be particularly useful when evaluating properties in Bengaluru while living abroad. Buyers should independently confirm any location-specific eligibility and transaction requirements that apply to them.

Social Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proppy.ai/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/proppyai/61577802043802/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@proppy-ai

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107919472/ 

Website: https://www.proppy.ai 

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Bihar Boat Tragedy: 13 Children Dead, Seven Rescued in Vaishali; PM Modi Announces Ex-Gratia

Vaishali, Oct 15: In a heartbreaking incident, at least 13 children aged 15 years or below died after a boat carrying them capsized in Bihar’s Vaishali district on Tuesday evening. Seven people were rescued and taken to a hospital, where their condition was reported to be stable.

 Representational Image 

The incident occurred at around 8:30 pm when a boat carrying approximately 15 to 20 children capsized as they were travelling to attend a feast in a neighbouring village. The tragedy triggered an emergency rescue operation involving disaster response personnel and local divers.

Speaking to reporters, Vaishali District Magistrate Varsha Singh confirmed that 13 children had been found dead. She said the rescued individuals were taken to NMCH for treatment and that their condition was stable.

An SDRF team was deployed at the site, while local divers assisted in the search and rescue operation. Authorities were also working to establish whether anyone else remained missing.

PM Modi Announces Financial Assistance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

In a statement shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on X, Modi said the tragedy was deeply painful and expressed hope for the speedy recovery of those injured. He also said the local administration was providing assistance to those affected.

The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased person. Those injured in the incident will receive ₹50,000 in financial assistance.

Bihar CM Announces ₹4 Lakh Compensation

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also announced financial assistance of ₹4 lakh for the family of each deceased victim.

The tragedy has cast a pall of gloom over the affected area, with families facing the devastating loss of young children. The circumstances surrounding the capsizing are being examined as authorities continue to assess the incident.

Further details regarding the rescue operation and the circumstances that led to the tragedy are awaited.

Railway Employees to Receive 78-Day Bonus Worth ₹2,009 Crore Ahead of Festive Season

New Delhi, Oct 15: In a major festive-season announcement, the Union Cabinet has approved a productivity-linked bonus equivalent to 78 days’ wages for around 11.41 lakh eligible railway employees for the financial year 2025-26.

 Representational Image 

The total financial outlay for the bonus is estimated at ₹2,009.61 crore, with each eligible employee entitled to receive a maximum payment of ₹17,951, according to the announcement.

The bonus recognises the contribution of railway personnel to the operational performance of Indian Railways, particularly in managing passenger services and freight transportation across the country.

Who Will Receive the Bonus?

The productivity-linked bonus will cover eligible non-gazetted railway employees across various categories. These include track maintainers, locomotive pilots, train managers, station masters, supervisors, technicians and other Group C staff.

The annual payment is traditionally announced ahead of the festive season, providing financial support to railway employees and recognising their contribution to the functioning of one of the world’s largest railway networks.

Railways Records Strong Freight and Passenger Traffic

The government cited Indian Railways’ operational performance during 2025-26 as part of the context for the bonus announcement.

According to the figures provided, the national transporter recorded freight loading of 1,670 million tonnes during the financial year. It also carried nearly 7.41 billion passengers over the same period.

Railway employees play a key role in maintaining train operations, ensuring passenger services run smoothly and facilitating the movement of goods across the country.

Bonus to Recognise Employees’ Contribution

The productivity-linked bonus scheme is intended to reward eligible railway personnel for their contribution to operational efficiency and overall performance. The payment also comes ahead of major festivals, including Durga Puja and Dussehra, when household expenditure typically rises.

With a payout exceeding ₹2,000 crore, the approval covers a substantial workforce across the railway network. The maximum bonus of ₹17,951 will apply to eligible employees in accordance with the applicable scheme provisions.

The decision underscores the importance of railway employees in sustaining passenger and freight operations while supporting the continued functioning of India’s extensive rail transport system.

ALPS appoints Brian Turnbow to lead the development of next-generation AI data centers

The Italian scale-up has appointed Turnbow to lead its technical expansion into artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, with an energy-to-compute approach that aims to harness renewable energy sources and reuse existing assets to develop more sustainable compute infrastructure.

TRENTO, Italy, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ALPS announces the appointment of Brian Turnbow as Technical Director for AI. Founded in Trentino in 2018 and operating across four continents, the company is applying its expertise in designing, building and operating data centers integrated with energy systems to AI and HPC.

Access to power is one of the main constraints on AI infrastructure development. According to Terna data as of 31 August 2026, data center grid connection requests in Italy totalled more than 100 GW, up from around 30 GW at the end of 2024 — a rise that makes site selection and grid connection lead times critical.

ALPS’s energy-to-compute approach is based on a deliberate choice: locating data centers where energy is already available, including outside major hubs, to reduce reliance on congested areas of the grid. The company aims to integrate renewable energy sources and redevelop disused industrial sites, reusing existing grid connections, buildings and other assets wherever technically feasible. The aim is to develop more sustainable compute infrastructure, making use of local resources and, through asset reuse, limiting land take and reducing the need for new construction. This expansion complements ALPS’s ongoing mining operations, which continue in line with its business plan.

Turnbow will lead ALPS’s AI/HPC technical strategy, from assessing architectures and sites to engaging with technology and industrial partners. Italy will be a priority market. ALPS intends to bring its international expertise back to Italy and work with Italian engineering and industrial companies, drawing on their expertise in projects abroad as well.

“Italy and Europe have energy resources, industrial assets and technical expertise we can harness,” says Francesco Buffa, CEO and co-founder of ALPS. “Through our energy-to-compute approach, we want to turn the energy and industrial potential of the regions in which we operate into a competitive advantage and help narrow Europe’s AI gap.”

Turnbow brings over 25 years’ experience in telecommunications and digital infrastructure, having held technical roles at TWT, Unidata and CDLAN. He serves on the board of ITNOG.

“AI infrastructure starts well before GPU deployment,” says Brian Turnbow. “Every project must start with the workloads it needs to support and clients’ requirements, not just the available power. My goal is to translate these requirements into coherent design decisions, building flexible, scalable and sustainable computing capacity while making use of renewable energy sources and existing assets.”

About ALPS

ALPS designs, builds and operates data centers for energy- and compute-intensive applications, combining energy expertise with data center engineering and operations. Its international growth has been supported by Azimut through a €40 million transaction in 2023 and a €105 million club deal in 2024.

For more information: www.alps.it

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Nedap’s total revenue up 7% with growth in key markets of 9% in the third quarter of 2026

GROENLO, Netherlands, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —

Key points

• Revenue increased by 7% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the third quarter of 2025.
• Revenue in the key markets grew by 9% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the third quarter of 2025, bringing year-to-date growth to 12%.
• In the first nine months of 2026, recurring revenue increased by 17% compared with the same period in 2025, outpacing total revenue growth and representing 42% of total revenue for the period.

Rob Schuurman, CEO:

“We remain on track with our Step Up! strategy. The third quarter reflects continued customer demand for our solutions, with recurring revenue again growing faster than total revenue. As this base grows, it provides an increasingly strong foundation for sustainable long-term growth and value creation.

Within Livestock, revenue declined compared with the third quarter of 2025, reflecting the timing of deliveries, alongside the continued transition toward subscription-based offerings. Revenue growth was driven by Healthcare and Retail while revenue in Security remained broadly stable.”

Key figures (unaudited)

Outlook

We expect revenue growth in the second half of 2026 compared with the second half of 2025. Geopolitical instability in the Middle East continues to delay customer rollouts for our security solutions in the region. We remain focused on sustainable long-term growth and will continue to invest accordingly, with particular emphasis on Nedap’s technology platform, AI, and cybersecurity.

Key market developments

In the third quarter of 2026, recurring revenue continued to grow across all four key markets.

Revenue in Healthcare increased in the third quarter of 2026. We have further strengthened our position in disability care and elderly care. More care organizations adopted our treatment records, reflecting a broader shift toward integrated ways of working, with care professionals and practitioners collaborating within the same record.

Within Livestock, revenue declined in the third quarter of 2026 compared with a strong third quarter in 2025. This mainly reflected timing effects and a further shift toward subscription-based offerings. Recurring revenue increased as adoption of our as-a-service offerings grew. Our installed base continued to expand across multiple regions. Labor scarcity, increasing farm scale, and the need for greater efficiency remain long-term drivers of demand for cow monitoring and automation.

In Retail, revenue increased in the third quarter of 2026. We added customers, including retailers adopting RFID for the first time and those replacing existing providers. Adoption of our solutions continued to expand beyond inventory counting into automated replenishment, on-shelf availability, and overhead inventory visibility. Our RFID-enabled self-checkout portfolio also saw its first large-scale deployments. The previously announced partnership with VF Corporation illustrates our Inventory Engine vision of connecting inventory visibility across stores and the wider supply chain. The planned rollout covers more than 1,500 stores across its brand portfolio, with the initiative also extending to distribution centers and vendor partners to support end-to-end inventory visibility.

Within Security, revenue remained broadly stable in the third quarter of 2026. Nedap Pace went live at the first building on the Bayer CropScience Campus in Monheim as part of Bayer’s AllAccess program to establish a common standard for physical access management across sites, countries, and access control systems. We also introduced Nedap Way, our new reader line for secure building access. The portfolio supports both card-based and mobile access and works with a range of new and existing access control systems, allowing organizations to modernize access step by step.

About Nedap N.V.

Nedap is a leader in Digital Twin Technology, bridging the physical and digital worlds in Healthcare, Livestock, Retail, and Security. Through our Technology for Life philosophy, we create sustainable, forward-thinking solutions that help people and organizations succeed in an ever-changing world.

Nedap has a workforce of over 1,100 employees and operates on a global scale. The company was founded in 1929 and has been listed on Euronext Amsterdam since 1947. Its headquarters is located in Groenlo, the Netherlands.

For more information, please contact:

Rianne Jans 

CFO

+31 (0)544 47 11 11

ir@nedap.com

nedap.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains the Board of Directors’ forward-looking statements and expectations based on current insights and assumptions, which are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The actual results or events could differ from these expectations due to changes in the economic climate, developments in specific markets, orders from individual customers and/or other developments.

Nedap cannot be required to update the forward-looking statements contained in this document or held responsible for doing so, regardless of whether they are related to new information, future events or suchlike, unless Nedap is required to do so by law.

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NTL HEALTHCARE Launches On-Premises AI Solution ‘CerviCARE® AI AT’ Globally

Supports Local AI Analysis and Data Management, Retains Core CerviCARE^® AI Features, and Adds DICOM File Generation

SEONGNAM, South Korea, Oct. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NTL HEALTHCARE, a women’s health AI company, announced the global launch of CerviCARE^® AI AT, an on-premises version of its AI-powered cervical screening system, CerviCARE^® AI.

CerviCARE^® AI uses artificial intelligence to analyze cervical images and support healthcare professionals in making clinical decisions for cervical screening. CerviCARE^® AI AT introduces an on-premises deployment option, enabling AI analysis and related data management within healthcare institutions’ IT environments.

As medical AI adoption expands, healthcare institutions are considering not only AI performance but also how medical data is processed, stored, and managed. CerviCARE^® AI AT is installed on local PCs within healthcare institutions and can operate without a dedicated server or cloud infrastructure.

This on-premises architecture reduces the need to transmit or store cervical images and related data outside the healthcare institution. It also enables institutions to manage medical data within their own IT environments, giving them greater control over data management.

CerviCARE^® AI AT retains the core AI analysis capabilities and key features of the existing SaaS version, CerviCARE^® AI. Healthcare institutions can continue to use CerviCARE^® AI’s core functionality while choosing between SaaS and on-premises deployment according to their IT infrastructure, internal security policies, and data management requirements.

The new version introduces DICOM file generation. This feature allows cervical images and related information to be converted into DICOM files, enabling them to be stored and managed in a standardized medical imaging format.

“As global adoption of medical AI continues to grow, healthcare institutions are placing increasing importance not only on AI performance but also on how medical data is processed and managed within their own IT environments,” said Tae-hee Kim, CEO of NTL HEALTHCARE. “CerviCARE^® AI AT maintains the core capabilities of CerviCARE^® AI while offering healthcare institutions a new deployment option.”

Kim added, “The global launch of CerviCARE^® AI AT represents an expansion of the CerviCARE^® AI platform. We will continue to expand our flexible deployment options to address the IT environments, security policies, and data management requirements of diverse healthcare institutions.”

With the launch of CerviCARE^® AI AT, NTL HEALTHCARE now offers two deployment options for CerviCARE^® AI—SaaS and on-premises—expanding the choices available to healthcare institutions so they can deploy and operate the AI screening platform according to their individual needs and environments.

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Shubhalakshmi Mahananda Makes History as Odisha’s First Woman Electric Bus Driver

Bhubaneswar, Oct 15 (UDN): Breaking gender barriers and steering Odisha towards a more inclusive transport sector, Shubhalakshmi Mahananda from Kendujhar has emerged as the State’s first woman electric bus driver, challenging long-standing stereotypes in a profession traditionally dominated by men.

 Representational Image

Every day, as an electric bus rolls out of the Ama Bus depot in Kendujhar, Shubhalakshmi takes her place behind the wheel, carrying passengers to their destinations while demonstrating that professional driving is not restricted by gender. Her journey represents a significant step towards expanding women’s participation in public transport and creating opportunities in non-traditional occupations.

Employed as an electric bus driver with Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), Shubhalakshmi works in a demanding role that requires technical knowledge, alertness, discipline and a strong commitment to passenger safety. Operating an electric bus also calls for familiarity with its specific systems and operating requirements, making training and practical experience essential to the job.

Her achievement goes beyond an individual milestone. By entering a field where women remain underrepresented, she is helping challenge conventional perceptions about women’s capabilities and the nature of work they can undertake. Her presence on the road may also encourage other women to consider careers that have historically remained difficult to access.

Electric Mobility Expands Beyond Major Cities

Kendujhar, known for its mineral wealth, is also witnessing the expansion of electric public transport. The district currently has 25 electric buses and a dedicated Ama Bus depot, reflecting efforts to extend cleaner mobility services beyond Odisha’s major urban centres.

Electric buses offer the potential to reduce tailpipe emissions and improve local air quality compared with conventional diesel-powered buses. Their growing adoption is also creating new operational requirements and employment opportunities across the public transport ecosystem.

Shubhalakshmi’s experience brings an important social dimension to this transition. It demonstrates how the shift towards cleaner transport can go hand in hand with broader participation in the workforce, provided women have access to appropriate training, employment opportunities and supportive working environments.

A New Perspective on Inclusive Urban Mobility

Her story comes at a time when sustainable transport, accessibility and inclusive urban development are receiving increasing attention across India.

Bhubaneswar is scheduled to host the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2026 on October 23 and 24. The city will be the first in eastern India to host the event, whose theme this year is “Urban Accessibility & Liveability in the Digital Age.”

The conference is expected to bring attention to the evolving challenges and opportunities in urban transport, including how mobility systems can become more accessible, efficient and responsive to people’s needs.

While electric vehicles, digital technologies and transport infrastructure remain central to discussions on the future of mobility, the people who operate and sustain these systems are equally important. Women’s participation in transport-related jobs is a key aspect of building a more inclusive sector.

Driving Change Beyond the Road

For women aspiring to enter traditionally male-dominated professions, seeing someone like Shubhalakshmi take charge of a passenger bus can help make previously distant career possibilities seem attainable.

Her journey from Kendujhar highlights how individual achievements can challenge social expectations and broaden the understanding of women’s roles in public life. It also underlines the importance of ensuring that the benefits of technological and environmental progress extend to employment and social inclusion.

As Odisha continues to advance its electric mobility initiatives, Shubhalakshmi Mahananda’s story offers a reminder that progress is not measured by cleaner vehicles alone. It is also reflected in the opportunities created, the barriers overcome and the people empowered to participate in the State’s changing transport landscape.

By taking the driver’s seat, she is not merely transporting passengers; she is helping redefine who can drive Odisha’s mobility transformation.