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Cisco Survey Reveals: As Consumers Shift Towards A ‘Smarter’ Digital Life, Reliability, Security and Sustainability Emerge as Key Needs

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News Summary:
Consumer expectations will reshape the needs and economics of the internet. Today, more than 60% of consumers in EMEA1 expect to connect cars, appliances, energy and water to the internet, and broadband networks must scale to support this.Increased dependence on broadband for everyday tasks, however, means that while speed is still the main priority for upgrades (40% of respondents), security is now a close second (38% of respondents).Sustainability is now a key driver of consumer choice with 77% of respondents willing to pay more for broadband with a lower carbon footprint.LONDON, July 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Cisco Broadband Survey1, released today, finds that evolving consumer expectations will reshape the needs and economics of the internet. People in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and South Africa) are rethinking what they rely on the internet for, balancing classic demands for speed and reliability, with the intensifying needs of rising eco-consciousness, secure cloud infrastructure, and the consumerisation of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) connecting our devices, from smart cars to home appliances. This has led to 79% of survey participants ranking broadband as critical national infrastructure, escalating the need for the technology industry to respond to these asks and accelerate the journey towards a more sustainable, secure internet for the future.
Consumers Want to Invest in Sustainable BroadbandThe carbon-cost of broadband connectivity is a top priority for consumers. Cisco’s Broadband Survey revealed that 65% of consumers in EMEA are now concerned about the carbon footprint of their broadband, with young people aged 18-24 the most concerned (73%). In addition, 77% said they would be willing to pay more for sustainable broadband, with around a quarter prepared to pay a price premium of more than 20%. This supports a wider market trend, shown in a 2019 survey by Nielsen and a 2022 survey by Globescan, revealing widespread consumer awareness around the environmental impact of the products they use and a demand for companies to step up and mitigate negative impacts on the planet.
Security Is a Priority as More Move OnlineIn parallel to growing environmental concerns, the emergence of hybrid work and the ever-increasing blur between the professional and personal lives of employees brings new risks into the home. Despite most consumers using their broadband for tasks like banking and work, passwords are still the most popular way (53%) that survey respondents protect home networks and devices; only a quarter have switched on their router’s firewall. This is despite previous Cisco research revealing that 57% of consumers worry about cybercriminals hacking their devices. While speed is still the main priority among those planning to upgrade their broadband in the next year (selected by 40%), security is now a close second, ranked by 38% of consumers as a top priority when choosing their broadband package.
Connection to Increase as Consumers Expand their Digital LivesAs the number of IoT devices online grows from billions to trillions, so does the demand for bandwidth and processing power to analyse all the data produced. According to the Cisco Broadband Survey, there’s no sign of this slowing down. Consumers are instead embracing the shift toward a ‘smarter’ digital life. A majority already have, or expect to have, their cars (67%), lights (74%), appliances (71%), energy (76%) and water (64%) connected. Indeed, more than half of consumers surveyed (54%) indicated feeling positive about new ways to connect their homes and lives to the internet. This is despite a majority (63%) saying that the cost-of-living crisis has changed the way they spend money on digital services: 21% have reported moving to a lower cost broadband package and 16% have cancelled streaming services.
“The carbon footprint of the information and communications technology sector is estimated to account for around 2.1 – 3.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and more than half of that comes from networks and data centers. Cisco is on a mission to transform the economics and sustainability of the Internet for the Future. That means designing products with energy efficiency and security in mind, adopting circular economy principles in product development and business operations, and taking a smart and sustainable approach to lifecycle management. In addition to the cybersecurity threat landscape constantly evolving and expanding, we have to deal with the increasing threat of climate change. Prioritizing sustainability and security in broadband infrastructure is therefore crucial to enable lasting and resilient digital transformation,” said Gordon Thomson, Vice President Service Provider – EMEA, Cisco. 
“The old technology adage of ‘faster, cheaper, better’ has not been relevant for a long time. It’s now about simplifying solutions and building networks that can fuel global connectivity and economic growth, facilitating and protecting the digitalization and automation of everyday activities, all without losing sight of our impact on the future,” he continued.
1 About the Cisco Broadband SurveyThe Cisco Broadband Survey is based on a survey of 21,629 workers across 12 countries: UK, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Poland, Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, UAE and the Netherlands. It was completed during January and February 2023. The sample included respondents based in every region of each country, who either work full-time remotely; full-time in an office; hybrid, between home and the office; or on the frontline. The poll was conducted by independent research consultancy Censuswide, who abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society – which is based on the ESOMAR principles.
About CiscoCisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals.
Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.
Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.
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Dongfa Group’s Gas Scenario + Digital Twin Technology, Leads the Industry with New AI Trend

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–Highlights of the 2024 Exhibition
SHANGHAI, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — From May 17 to 19, 2024, China(Shanghai) International Metrology Measurement Technology and Equipment Exhibition was held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. Dongfa Group participated in the exhibition, showcasing its latest research achievements. At the expo, Chairman Liu Ming of Dongfa Group conducted the lighting ceremony and announced the official launch of the “Smart Gas Comprehensive Supervision Platform,” demonstrating the convenience and efficiency achieved through the smart management of municipal gas meters.

Dandong Dongfa (Group) Co., Ltd., established in 1962 and headquartered in Singapore, was formerly known as Dandong Thermal Instrument Co., Ltd. As an integrated group company engaged in research, production, and operations, Dongfa Group is dedicated to the development and application of instruments and meters. Its product range includes IC card gas meters, wired direct-reading remote diaphragm gas meters, wireless direct-reading remote diaphragm gas meters, NB-IoT IoT meters, and ultrasonic gas meters. These products incorporate the technical features of similar domestic and international products, offering high accuracy, reliability, and stability, making the company a leading smart gas meter manufacturer in China.
At the expo, Dongfa Group showcased its Smart Gas Comprehensive Supervision Platform, which integrates AI, IoT, cloud computing, and big data. This platform connects the topological structure of all aspects of gas operations and consolidates all relevant data involved in production management and operation maintenance. This integration enhances the comprehensive research and development and operational maintenance capabilities of the big data governance system.
At the same time, Dongfa Group is empowering comprehensive management and control with digital twins, AI, and big data. By leveraging digital twins, AI models, and 5G technology as data elements, the company is constructing a unified citywide network and a digital twin map of the gas pipeline network. This enables deep integration of AI monitoring, pressure and leakage detection, smart terminals, and other sensing devices with gas operations, ensuring the comprehensive safety and supply of urban gas.
Digital twin gas technology not only provides auxiliary support for pipeline design, but also plays a crucial role in intelligent emergency response and precise distribution. Especially in the operation of gas stations, it enables comprehensive real-time monitoring, intelligent integrated operation scheduling, proactive warning, emergency event command plans, and other effects, thereby improving the efficiency and safety of gas management.
However, there have been numerous incidents of data leakage involving smart AI devices in recent years. Sensitive data is being collected or even sold by malicious actors, leading to the disclosure of confidential information, resulting in significant economic losses and even legal risks.
To ensure the security of both enterprise and user data, Dongfa Group utilizes Digital Envelope technology to encrypt and decrypt data packets during data collection and distribution. This approach combines the advantages of both symmetric and asymmetric encryption technologies for secure information transmission, enabling fast, efficient, and secure encryption and decryption processing for the smart gas digital business sector. This ensures the security and integrity of data during transmission.
Visitors at the expo showed strong interest in the new products and technologies exhibited by Dongfa Group. Dongfa Group has always been committed to driving the development of the smart instrumentation industry through technological innovation. Through this exhibition, the company not only showcased its technical prowess but also strengthened communication and collaboration with industry peers. Looking ahead, they aim to join hands in opening a new chapter in the smart instrumentation industry.
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QNAP S3-compatible Storage Solution “QuObjects” Certified as Veeam® Ready – Object with Immutability

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TAIPEI, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — QNAP® Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solution innovator, today announced that its S3-compatible object storage solution “QuObjects” has qualified as Veeam® Ready – Object with Immutability, applicable for QNAP NAS with QTS and QuTS hero operating systems. This certification underscores the reliability of QuObjects as a secure object backup solution for enterprises, enhancing data management efficiency and upmost security.

QuObjects is the S3 object storage solution for QNAP NAS, boasting read/write speeds 20 times faster than conventional cloud services, along with a highly flexible and scalable architecture to ensure efficient transmission and flexibility in object storage. From object service development to demanding workloads like machine learning and data lakes, QuObjects assists enterprises in achieving diverse application needs with higher cost effectiveness.
QuObjects supports Object Lock to ensure data immutability, further safeguarding against ransomware threats, cyberattacks, or human error. Coupled with access controls and authentication features, it provides comprehensive protection for object data security.
Jimmy Tam, Product Manager of QNAP, stated “Data security is critical for enterprises. With QuObjects certified by Veeam Ready – Object with Immutability, we empower organizations leveraging Veeam solutions to confidently opt for QNAP NAS for on-prem S3 object storage and backup, enjoying rapid transmission, extensive scalability, and steadfast security.”
QNAP is the preferred partner for Veeam object backup solutions. Learn more at Veeam Ready Object Partner and QNAP QuObjects- S3 Object Storage.
For more information and to view the full QNAP NAS lineup, please visit www.qnap.com.
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Tencent Announces Winners of Flagship CarbonX Program to Combat Climate Change

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SHENZHEN, China, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent (00700.HK) is awarding 13 exceptional teams that won the first phase of its groundbreaking CarbonX Program, which is aimed at boosting promising new climate technologies. The winners, which emerged from a pool of 30 finalists and more than 300 initial applications, will receive a total of around RMB 100 million (US$14 million) in financial support from Tencent. It showcases the company’s commitment to driving sustainable social innovations in the fight against climate change.

CarbonX was launched in March 2023 to advance the next generation of low-carbon technologies. Tencent has committed RMB 200 million (US$28 million) in catalytic funding over the next three years to innovative ideas that might otherwise languish or fail to gain traction.
CarbonX’s first phase focused on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), as well as technology-based carbon removal. These solutions were chosen for their unique ability to curb emissions from hard-to-abate industries such as steel and cement, mitigate the continued reliance on fossil fuels, and reduce legacy emissions created from decades of industrialization.
Backed by Tencent’s mission of Tech for Good and an alliance of like-minded industry partners, CarbonX aims to help these cutting-edge technologies make the leap from the research or early startup stage to commercial scale. The ultimate goal is supporting them in making a significant impact toward the targets outlined in the Paris Agreement, which includes a 45 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Dr. Hao Xu, Tencent’s Vice President of Sustainable Social Value and Head of Tencent’s Carbon Neutrality Lab, said: “Technology innovation serves as the driving force to accelerate our progress toward achieving carbon neutrality. CarbonX program is aimed at fostering the growth of these technologies, driving positive impact across society, and laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future.”
Professor Jerry Yan, Chair Professor of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Co-chairman of the CarbonX expert committee, said: “To pave the path for a greener economy, we must champion the development of cutting-edge low-carbon technologies. Just as solar and wind power were nurtured in their infancy, emerging solutions like CCUS and tech-based carbon removal demand our early support.”
The program assembled a panel of experts from academia, industries, and the investor community as the jury, and welcomed submissions from diverse participants across three distinct tracks:
CarbonX Lab: Designed to incubate research institutions, universities, or labs that bring in game-changing climate solutionsCarbonX Accelerator: Designed to accelerate the growth of climate-tech startups that exhibit commercialization potentialCarbonX Infrastructure: Designed to support capacity building to facilitate industry developmentThe finalists comprise four projects from the Lab track, six from the Accelerator track, and three from the Infrastructure track. These projects explore innovative solutions, such as using steel slag to capture and store carbon directly from furnace exhaust, converting CO2 into sustainable aviation fuel and valuable chemicals through electrochemical reactions or microorganisms, and employing new approaches to directly capture CO2 from the atmosphere with the hope of slashing the cost to less than US$150 per ton.
Meanwhile, Tencent is also collaborating with Tsinghua University to develop a comprehensive system of Measure, Reporting and Verification (MRV) tools to accurately gauge progress toward decarbonization.
Aside from receiving financial and advisory support, several projects will also have the opportunity to collaborate with industry partners and test their research beyond the laboratory setting.
Building upon the success of the first phase, Tencent is poised to launch the second iteration of CarbonX globally as early as later this year in pursuit of early-stage climate tech innovation.

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