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Tag: Mehul Kapadia

  • Locus onboards Mehul Kapadia as chief growth officer

    Locus onboards Mehul Kapadia as chief growth officer

    Mumbai: Technology company Locus on Wednesday announced the appointment of Mehul Kapadia as its new chief growth officer. His leadership will be instrumental in further scaling the business, including through continued enterprise customer acquisition, strategic expansion into key verticals and markets, and the cultivation of long-lasting partnerships that bring incomparable value to Locus and existing clients.

    Mehul’s appointment comes at a milestone marker for Locus, as the company celebrates its seven-year anniversary as a leader in Last-Mile excellence.  

    Kapadia brings onboard an experience of over 20 years within enterprise technology, sales, marketing, product management, and operations. Prior to joining Locus, he served as global head of marketing for Vodafone’s Large Enterprise & Public Sector, as chief operating officer and board advisor for Motorsport Network, and as SVP of global marketing for Tata Communications.

    Speaking on the appointment, Kapadia said, “Considering that e-commerce sales are expected to reach $7.4 trillion by 2025, and the pressures to meet ever-evolving and high-stakes consumer demands have reached critical levels – there is a global need for solutions that streamline and optimise strategies and effectively contribute to the bottom line for enterprises.”

    “Locus is making this a reality by using the power of AI to transform Last-Mile operations into growth centres and it’s paving the way towards a more sustainable future as a result. I look forward to working alongside an incredible team that is just as passionate about driving positive change in this world as I am, and with innovation at the centre of its DNA,” he added.

    Locus founder and CEO Nishith Rastogi commented, “We’re thrilled to have Mehul on board with us and inject the bold, audacious goals and razor-sharp focus that have guided his successes to date. The company is at an exciting and pivotal stage, and Mehul’s invaluable expertise will help cement Locus’ market position, reinforce our brand awareness, and further bolster our marketing and sales enablement functions to scale our brand alongside our growing customers.”

  • Tata Communication, European Tour show how VR can transform golf

    Tata Communication, European Tour show how VR can transform golf

    MUMBAI: The European Tour and Tata Communications have completed the world’s first test of live 360° video in 8K Ultra High Definition – the highest resolution in digital television on 16 October 2018.

    The ground-breaking technology test at Sky Sports British Masters shows how the most immersive 360° video and virtual reality (VR) applications could enable fans at home and at the course to engage with the action in new ways.

    Through a live 360° video in 8K feed, fans could use a VR headset to get a virtual tour of iconic European Tour venues like Walton Heath or Valderrama. The experience could be made even more immersive, enabling fans to step into Rory or Tommy’s shoes for a winning putt or perfect drive.

    European Tour chief technology officer Michael Cole said, “This proof-of-concept is part of our strategy to attract new fans to the sport by harnessing the latest digital technologies and introducing new, shorter and faster formats. With Shotclock Masters, for example, players have just 40 or 50 seconds to play a shot. We’re also using more and more shot data to bring fans more engaging insights. We look forward to leveraging live 360° video in 8K to make each tournament more immersive for golf newbies and our core fan base.”

    European Tour director of tour operations David Garland said, “Live 360° video could support the evolution of refereeing in golf. For example, by equipping key sections of the course with live 360°cameras, officials and referees could assess each shot and situation in real-time, without causing delays for players and fans. From a refereeing perspective, live 360° video in 8k could have potential in the future to allow European Tour referees to assess shots in specific locations, remotely and in real-time.”

    The world-first live 360° video feed in 8K was captured on the 18th hole of the Walton Heath Golf Club course, where fans were able to enjoy the action on a large screen, with VR headsets for a personalised viewing experience. The feed was live transcoded by Visbit, using the company’s View-Optimized Streaming (VVOS) technology. This solution saves up to 80 per cent of bandwidth, enabling the streaming of data-intensive UHD 8K video over a regular Internet connection. The 8K capturing and real-time stitching solution for the proof-of-concept was supplied by Kandao, whose Obsidian 8K VR camera uses six 4K lenses to capture the course from every angle.

    Tata Communication global head of marketing Mehul Kapadia said, “Today’s sports fans are savvier than ever – they have an insatiable appetite for data and content that gives them deeper and higher quality viewing experiences. The adoption of the Video Assistant Referee at the recent FIFA World Cup is just one example of the transformational potential of digital technologies in global sports – which benefits the players, the fans and the entire sports ecosystem. In the same way, apps with live 360° video in 8K would redefine fan engagement in golf, and even have the potential to change how the sport is refereed.”

    Tata Communications is the official global connectivity supplier of the European Tour, bringing video feeds from 47 European Tour tournaments in 30 countries worldwide to 40 broadcasters, reaching close to half a billion golf fans.

  • Formula 1 launches OTT platform with two subscription models

    Formula 1 launches OTT platform with two subscription models

    MUMBAI: Formula 1 (F1), one of the world’s most prized sporting properties, launched its over the top (OTT) service F1 TV last month. The platform comes with two service models – F1 TV Pro (Live) and F1 TV Access (non-live) – at different price points.

    F1 TV Pro, the premium tier, will feature live races and all 20 driver-cameras, as well as side-by-side live race viewing and additional exclusive feeds.  Subscribers will be able to personalise the way they watch a Grand Prix race, the content they view and how and when they access it.

    For now it has been launched on desktops and is available to users on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV shortly. Pricing will be offered on an annual basis of $70-$150, with monthly rates ranging from $8-12.

    F1 TV Pro is present in more than 55 territories including Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia and France to name a few.

    All of practice, qualifying and races will be offered live, along with press conferences and pre and post-race interviews. Later in the season, the main support series FIA Formula 2 Championship, GP3 Series and Porsche Supercup will be added to the service.

    A less expensive, non-live subscription tier, F1 TV Access, is priced at $2.99 per month and will provide live race timing data and radio broadcasts, as well as extended highlights of each session from the race weekend. 

    It will also be underscored by unprecedented access to archive video content from the amazing historic archive owned by Formula 1. F1 TV Access will be available on a near-global basis at launch, to complement F1 TV Pro and will also be added to throughout the season. F1 TV Access will be present in most of the countries, including India.

    According to an official media statement, Tata Communications, F1 business MD Mehul Kapadia, said “F1 is the first global sport to adopt such an ambitious mobile strategy – and we’re excited to be part of it. A single global OTT video platform, with multiple live feeds and hundreds of hours of past highlights, gives fans the power to create their own unique, immersive motorsports experiences. It’s a way to keep existing audiences hooked and attract new fans to the world of F1 too.”

    Formula 1 director of digital and new business Frank Arthofer predicts that there is tremendous opportunity in the OTT space to provide F1’s avid fans with a unique F1 viewing experience across all devices.  

    “With this launch, fans will find an easy-to-use streaming experience, rich with live and on-demand content available only on F1 TV, all at a great price,” he said
    Formula 1 senior research manager David Bailey informed that linear coverage of the sport will continue alongside the category’s recently-launched F1 TV OTT service, with the service’s roll-out dependent on broadcast arrangements in respective territories.

    Suggesting that there was “more to come” in terms of data that could be made available to F1 TV subscribers, Bailey said that broadcast partners were “hugely important” to the sport and that such relationships would play a role in determining where and when F1 TV would be launched in the future.

    Also Read:

    Sports organisations dive into creating own digital ventures

    SPN’s digital play for the FIFA World Cup

  • FIA Formula One: Tata readies Sky for UHD telecast

    FIA Formula One: Tata readies Sky for UHD telecast

    LONDON: Tata Communications, the official connectivity provider of Formula 1®, Formula One Management, and Sky, have tested in action live ultra high-definition (UHD) broadcasting at the 2016 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Grand Prix. Following this, the first ever end-to-end broadcast of an F1® race in UHD, Sky will show all races of the 2017 season in UHD.

    The successful proof of concept involved the installation of multiple state-of-the-art UHD cameras at the Singapore circuit. The footage from these was mixed in the FOM Broadcast Centre onsite, and the UHD output distributed live to Sky’s HQ in Osterley in the UK using Tata Communications’ Video Connect service. Video Connect enables broadcasters to deliver live video feeds over the world’s largest wholly-owned subsea fibre network, ensuring the highest quality experience for viewers.

    “This proof of concept with Sky and Tata Communications demonstrates our ongoing commitment to make F1® the ultimate sports experience by harnessing the power of cutting-edge broadcasting technologies,” says John Morrison, chief technical officer of Formula One Management.

    “Delivering the race action seamlessly in UHD from any Grand Prix location to homes requires superfast, reliable connectivity on a global scale,” says Mehul Kapadia, managing director of F1® business at Tata Communications. “And, other game-changing technologies like virtual reality will rely on ubiquitous, superfast connectivity too. As the break-neck speed of technology innovation continues, we’ll work with the Formula One management to enable fans to experience the exhilarating world of F1® in new ways.”

    “We pride ourselves on being an extremely forward-thinking F1® broadcaster with a special focus on innovation,” says Keith Lane, director of operations at Sky. “UHD offers four times higher resolution than HD, making F1® a more powerful, immersive experience for fans than ever before. The success of this proof of concept in Singapore shows that we’re on track to show every race live in UHD next season using our next-generation Sky Q home entertainment service, and to continue to give our customers the action-packed F1® experiences that they crave.”

    The UHD test in Singapore follows a series of other ambitious proof of concepts by Tata Communications and Formula One management around live over the top content delivery and 4K broadcasting.

  • FIA Formula One: Tata readies Sky for UHD telecast

    FIA Formula One: Tata readies Sky for UHD telecast

    LONDON: Tata Communications, the official connectivity provider of Formula 1®, Formula One Management, and Sky, have tested in action live ultra high-definition (UHD) broadcasting at the 2016 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Grand Prix. Following this, the first ever end-to-end broadcast of an F1® race in UHD, Sky will show all races of the 2017 season in UHD.

    The successful proof of concept involved the installation of multiple state-of-the-art UHD cameras at the Singapore circuit. The footage from these was mixed in the FOM Broadcast Centre onsite, and the UHD output distributed live to Sky’s HQ in Osterley in the UK using Tata Communications’ Video Connect service. Video Connect enables broadcasters to deliver live video feeds over the world’s largest wholly-owned subsea fibre network, ensuring the highest quality experience for viewers.

    “This proof of concept with Sky and Tata Communications demonstrates our ongoing commitment to make F1® the ultimate sports experience by harnessing the power of cutting-edge broadcasting technologies,” says John Morrison, chief technical officer of Formula One Management.

    “Delivering the race action seamlessly in UHD from any Grand Prix location to homes requires superfast, reliable connectivity on a global scale,” says Mehul Kapadia, managing director of F1® business at Tata Communications. “And, other game-changing technologies like virtual reality will rely on ubiquitous, superfast connectivity too. As the break-neck speed of technology innovation continues, we’ll work with the Formula One management to enable fans to experience the exhilarating world of F1® in new ways.”

    “We pride ourselves on being an extremely forward-thinking F1® broadcaster with a special focus on innovation,” says Keith Lane, director of operations at Sky. “UHD offers four times higher resolution than HD, making F1® a more powerful, immersive experience for fans than ever before. The success of this proof of concept in Singapore shows that we’re on track to show every race live in UHD next season using our next-generation Sky Q home entertainment service, and to continue to give our customers the action-packed F1® experiences that they crave.”

    The UHD test in Singapore follows a series of other ambitious proof of concepts by Tata Communications and Formula One management around live over the top content delivery and 4K broadcasting.

  • Tata Communications delivers live 4K feed of Formula 1

    Tata Communications delivers live 4K feed of Formula 1

    MUMBAI: Tata Communications has become the  first company to  deliver a live  4K feed from  a  Formula 1  event. The  landmark  was achieved  during the  practice  session  at  the  2014  Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix where live footage was delivered end-to-end over Tata Communications’ global video connect network, to Formula One Management’s (FOM) Technical HQ in Biggin Hill, UK.

     

    Demonstrated to  an  exclusive  group  of  broadcasters, the  live  delivery  highlighted  the  next  generation  4K broadcast capabilities afforded by fibre-optic cable, as well as illustrating how the future of 4K sports broadcasting could look.

     

    Tata Communications F1 business managing director Mehul Kapadia said, “Last year we were able to showcase our broadcast capabilities by transmitting a live JPEG 2000 feed from the same Grand  Prix in Singapore. This year we have taken a huge step in next generation broadcast with the  first-ever transmission of a live 4K feed from  a Formula 1 event.  It is another milestone in our journey with Formula One Management and shows the real potential of sports broadcasting  over  our  video  connect network,  as well  as the  quality  and  speed by  which  it  can  be delivered.”

     

    4K broadcasting promises ground-breaking definition and also presents the challenge of significantly increased bandwidth demand. Typically, Tata Communications provides 120 megabits per second (mbps) for JPEG 2000. During the  Biggin Hill showcase, the telco provided 500mbps for a single feed. This was made possible  with the  company’s  global  video  connect network,  delivering  video  and  converged IP services seamlessly for high quality sports events.

     

    Formula  One  management  chief  technical  officer John Morrison commented, “Formula  1  racing  is  the  pinnacle  of cutting edge technology, and provides the ultimate showcase for innovation. 4K is an exciting new technology which could have great potential when it comes to sports broadcasting. We are focussed on given F1 fans the best possible experience, which is why we are pleased to be supporting Tata Communications in bringing 4K closer to reality.”

     

    The live demonstration also highlighted the global capability of Tata Communications’ dedicated Video Connect Network which affords 4x redundant connectivity between source and  destination, while ensuring zero  packet drop for a smooth viewing experience.  

     

    The network also offers ready connectivity to key media hotspots globally including stadiums, teleports, broadcasters and direct-to-home, cable and over-the-top service providers. In a world  where customers have  more  choice  than  ever  before  when  it  comes to  content   consumption,  Tata  Communications specialised media network helps deliver a high-quality service regardless of the location, format and bandwidth required.

     

    Kapadia added, “Consumer demand for high quality and live content across different platforms is now the norm and with the emergence of bandwidth hungry production workflows, especially that of 4K broadcasting, quick turnarounds and availability of content  across multiple platforms are hygiene factors for content  owners. Having the world’s  only  wholly-owned  global  fibre-optic  ring  of super-fast  cables  means that  we  are  able  to fully exploit  the potential of new technologies such as 4K, from locations across the globe; and give broadcasters and content  owners the ability to reach an ever more demanding audience with ever higher quality content.”

     

    In February 2012, Tata Communications signed a deal with Formula One Management to deliver world-class connectivity to all Formula 1 race locations over its global network.