Ideamart, a platform for developers and content providers presented by Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, has partnered with the Shilpa Sayura Foundation for ‘NextGen IoT’, a programme that works to educate, train and mentor young Sri Lankans to gain industry skills in Internet of Things (IoT) and Information Security. NextGen IoT assist individuals to gain employment in the industry by creating a learning path for IoT and Information Security, identifying, training and incubating IoT developers and supporting the development and monetisation of innovative IoT applications.
NextGen IoT will consist of three phases over a period of 12 months; the first being three workshops covering Raspberry Pi, Linux, IoT development, Innovation and the Dialog IoT Portal, the second being the provision of equipment and support for product development and finally, an IoT hackathon. The first of these events, ‘Step into Linux’ was successfully conducted at the Dialog Axiata Auditorium, with 100 participants from across the country. The workshop began with a session conducted by Mr. Niranjan Meegammana, Program Director at Shilpa Sayura, followed by Mr. Sandaru Suranjaya, from Ideamart team, who briefed participants on Ideamart APIs and monetisation through the usage of Ideamart APIs. Then, Mr. Danidu De Silva, from Ideamart team focused on a demonstration of Dialog IoT portal and NB-IoT development board, with Mr. N P Vishwa Kumara from Shilpa Sayura concluding the workshop with a comprehensive session on Advanced Linux and IoT development tools. Participants were also given time to network with each other and the resource team.
Commenting, Poornima Meegammana - Director, Youth Development of the Shilpa Sayura Foundation said, “This foundation was launched to empower youth with the knowledge and skills required to face emerging socio economic and environmental challenges using social innovations, powered by emerging technology and NextGen IoT is the ideal programme to instil this mentality and skillset in Sri Lanka’s future developer generation.”
Viranga Seneviratne, Head - MIFE Business and IOT, Ideamart said, “To ensure that Sri Lankans across the country have access to the resources required to build their knowledge and talent in the industry has always been an integral part of Ideamart’s DNA. We are excited to partner with Shilpa Sayura for NextGen IoT, that works with budding developers and will in turn amplify Sri Lanka’s IoT economy.”
About Dialog Axiata Group
Dialog Axiata Group, a subsidiary of Axiata Group Berhad (Axiata), operates Sri Lanka’s Leading Quad-Play Connectivity Provider. Dialog Axiata PLC, listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, supplements its market leading position in the Mobile Telecommunications sector with a robust footprint and market presence in Sri Lanka’s Fixed Telecommunications and Digital Television markets through its fully owned subsidiaries Dialog Broadband Networks (Private) Ltd (DBN) and Dialog Television (Private) Ltd., (DTV). Dialog Axiata Group is Sri Lanka’s largest Foreign Direct Investor (FDI) with investments totaling USD 2.3 Billion.
The winner of six Global Mobile Awards, Dialog has the distinction of being voted by Sri Lankan Consumers as the Telecom Service Provider of the Year for seven years in succession at the SLIM-Nielsen People’s Choice Awards. Dialog was also voted by Sri Lankan consumers as the Internet Service Provider of the Year for six years consecutively, and has topped Sri Lanka’s Corporate Accountability rankings for the past eight years in succession, and is an ISO 9001 certified company. The Company has received numerous local and international awards including the National Quality Award, the Sri Lanka Business Excellence Award and endorses the worldwide Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim to build a sustainable future for all by 2030.
Dialog has been at the forefront of innovation in the mobile industry in Sri Lanka since the late 90’s, propelling the nation’s mobile telephony infrastructure to a level of advancement on par with the developed world. The company delivers advanced mobile telephony and high speed mobile broadband services to a subscriber base in excess of 13 Million Sri Lankans, via 2.5G and 3G/3.5G and 4G/4.5G networks.
Add new comment