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In an interview with the TechGraph, Ripunjay Bararia, Co-Founder & CTO, SugarBox Networks said, “Our goal is to reduce the amount of data accessed over the internet, freeing up bandwidth on current last-mile networks (telecom and ISP) so that cloud computing becomes more reliable and efficient for everyone.”
Read the interview here:
TechGraph: What is the idea behind inception and journey?
Ripunjay Bararia: SugarBox is a Hyperlocal Edge Cloud technology platform that brings the Cloud right down to the user to make digital connectivity faster, reliable and affordable. SugarBox Networks is the world’s first Hyperlocal Edge Cloud platform that enables Users, Networks (ISPs, Internet Infra providers, etc.), and Digital Services (Apps, Websites, etc.) alike, to harness the power of Local Area Networks.
TechGraph: How does “SugarBox Networks” look these days?
Ripunjay Bararia: We simply took the cloud, from huge data centers and miniaturized it into a tiny box, which can be installed anywhere (anytime) to access relevant applications, for audiences across the economic strata. The analogy is that of understanding how does a power bank work. The technology in essence is what the power bank did to the power grid, functionally capturing power in a small grid, which can be carried anywhere and used to charge devices (anytime).
This explains the core objective of SugarBox Networks – to provide reliable access to digital experience anytime, anywhere. The perspective here is that of the user switching on the television and knowing that content will be available, irrespective of the geography or economic viability.
We began installing Edge servers in 2016 at locations where consumers are likely to access digital services (POIs). Today, we are present across several touchpoints including metro stations in Hyderabad and Chennai, Central Railway (Suburban Mumbai), and have also partnered with CSC e-governance to provide digital services to the unserved, remote villages in the country.
TechGraph: How data-less payments are simplifying financial processes?
Ripunjay Bararia: Consumer buying behavior, technological advancements, changes in government policies and regulations, sharp e-commerce growth, and the global proliferation of connected devices – have all driven significant changes in digital payments. It’s widely understood that financial inclusion enhances and empowers livelihoods, and this is one arena in that innovative technology is making it a reality, through e-payments.
Enabling fintech innovations at the lowest price to as many users as possible, whilst being location agnostic, is what will fuel growth for the payments sector. At SugarBox Networks, we are building a backbone for the internet of the future, and we intend to use our technology to bridge the digital divide, across the country.
TechGraph: What according to you is the scope of hyperlocal CDN platforms like this in the Indian market?
Ripunjay Bararia: We are the world’s first, made-in-India, hyperlocal CDN, with the goal of making the internet accessible to everyone. SugarBox was created to fix a common problem in today’s B2B- industry: unstable internet (digital) connections.
While most internet users are unconcerned with the source of their data, they do encounter internet-related issues in India’s urban (often) and rural locations. At its core, our goal is to reduce the amount of data accessed over the internet, freeing up bandwidth on current last-mile networks (telecom and ISP) so that cloud computing becomes more reliable and efficient for everyone.
TechGraph: While it’s difficult to make predictions, what according to you is the future of automation in the Fintech industry?
Ripunjay Bararia: Financial institutions are aggressively embracing automation to provide clients with a flawless and hassle-free experience. FinTech automation may be defined as the adoption of automation tools to streamline end-to-end financial operations. To automate their processes, FinTech companies need an enterprise automation platform that runs and controls their business events and delivers real-time outcomes.
The automation requirements of FinTech companies vary from that of traditional banks and financial institutes. FinTech is known for faster and low-cost service compared to the service offered by traditional financial institutes, and automation can help them deliver just that. The IT requirements for integration and automation are different for FinTechs. The growing tech landscape, automation, and integration together enable FinTech companies to accelerate and streamline their services.
TechGraaph: SugarBox Networks has been collaborating with payment gateways providers to boost its digital footprint. Going forward, do you see more such engagements?
Ripunjay Bararia: SugarBox aims to empower 425 million individuals with access to financial technology by 2026. We have deployed our technology in areas of high consumer interest areas, such as villages, trains, and metros, and are getting closer to being present in flights, hospitals, and other public-gathering environments, aligning with the Digital India mission of connecting the next billion users. The objective is to address the existing digital divide, by empowering everyone with access to connectivity. We are expecting 2022 to witness growing partnerships within the FinTech industry.
TechGraph: What is the roadmap for SugarBox Networks going forward?
Ripunjay Bararia: Our vision is clear, “to build the world’s widest and deepest Edge Cloud platform to support the Internet of the future – of connected devices, people and things”.
As part of the growth strategy, we aim to reach 500 million users in India and other emerging nations by 2027. Constructing a framework that will eventually have the largest digital footprint – domestic and international – is possible because our model can easily be replicated for any market. Our solutions bring alive the experience to stay ‘digitally’ connected, even in an unconnected environment, thus breaking the norm that one needs data connectivity to access information from the digital universe.