· FST Lecturer Tay Yen Pei’s WiFi platform nets third place among at NTT Startup Challenge 2020—among a field of over 900 competitors.
· The innovation, called Simplify, allows devices to connect to secured WiFi without a password.
· Simplify also allows Internet subscribers to resell their excess bandwidth.
If you’re an IT student, wouldn’t it be a bit cool to be taught by someone who has invented game-changing technology that could revolutionise WiFi? Someone whose invention was the cream of the crop at a regional competition with over 900 participants?
Well that someone is Faculty of Science and Technology senior lecturer Mr Tay Yen Pei, and his Simplify platform just won an award from one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies.
Tay’s innovation was chosen as one of the Top 3 Winners at the NTT Startup Challenge 2020—an event organised by Japan’s largest telecommunication firm NTT Limited.
The competition aims to support the startup ecosystem in Asia and enhance or leverage the startup business through an alliance with NTT Ltd.
Tay’s Simplify platform made the top 3 amidst stiff competition from more than 900 competitors across Southeast Asia. Participants came from a variety of industries, including healthcare, fintech, education technology, gaming, delivery, fitness, and much more.
So what is Simplify? In his own words, here’s the inventor himself to tell you what it’s all about:
“Simplify owns a breakthrough US-patented technology that enables smartphones or the Internet of Things (IoT) devices to connect to secured Wi-Fi without needing a password.”
“In other words, we’re opening a new chapter in wireless tech in making Wi-Fi passwords obsolete. We also let Internet subscribers resell their excess (unlimited) Internet bandwidth, making everyone a small Internet Service Provider (ISP).”
“This helps to democratise internet access, reusing Internet bandwidth to connect more people. It’s worth remembering that half of the world’s population are still without access to the Internet.”
Tay noted that the platform was also in line with QIU’s commitment to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically SDG 9 of Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
The need for access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is a major facet of this goal, and the Simplify platform makes connectivity accessible and affordable to more people around the world.
Simplify has been ranked by Fast Company as one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, and is being used in 100 cities across 24 countries. For more information, check out their website here.
Congratulations to our own Mr Tay, and continue making us proud!
