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Category: Telecom

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Telecom & Telco news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Indosat Surges Ahead with Rising ARPU and Bold AI Ambitions

    Indosat Surges Ahead with Rising ARPU and Bold AI Ambitions

    Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat) reported positive results in the first quarter of 2025, despite facing tough competition in the industry. The company’s success is due to its disciplined approach and dedication to supporting Indonesia’s digital development. During this quarter, Indosat saw growth in its average revenue per user (ARPU) and an increase in its customer base, showing resilience in a challenging market.

    ARPU reached nearly IDR 39.2 thousand, growing by 4.6% year-over-year (YoY), with 700,000 new mobile customers added, bringing the total to 95.4 million. The company reported stable total revenue of IDR 13,577.9 billion, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) reaching IDR 6,415.1 billion, growing by 0.6% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). Net profit also increased by 27% quarter-on-quarter to IDR 1,311.1 billion, marking 17 consecutive quarters of profitability.

    Vikram Sinha, President Director and CEO of Indosat, emphasized, “This quarter’s results reflect not only strong financial performance, but also the unwavering dedication of our entire team to serve the people of Indonesia. In an increasingly competitive landscape, we have remained focused on our larger purpose: empowering Indonesia.”

    The company is also preparing for 5G technology to provide faster and more reliable digital services, especially in underserved areas. Indosat allocated IDR 2,620.4 billion in capital expenditure (CapEx) during the quarter, with a significant portion directed towards its cellular business. The company also announced a collaboration with Nokia and NVIDIA to deploy artificial intelligence radio access network (AI-RAN) technology, enhancing its 5G Cloud RAN with AI.

    The launch of the Digital Hub in February 2025 marked a significant step in Indosat’s commitment to empowering Indonesia. The Digital Hub offers entertainment, e-commerce, health, and lifestyle services to millions of users, with strong engagement across Indosat’s platforms. Indosat is not only focused on digital lifestyle enablement but also on talent development programs like Generasi Terkoneksi (GenSi) and IDCamp to equip young Indonesians with essential skills in AI and digital leadership.

    The company aims to become an AI-driven telco and techco by investing in advanced technologies and promoting AI innovation and automation. Through industry collaborations and a focus on technology, Indosat is leading Indonesia’s digital transformation towards a more inclusive and prosperous future.

    “Our journey to become an AI-techco has just begun. From investing in networks and talent to driving collaboration across industries, our goal remains the same: to make technology a force for inclusion, innovation, and digital sovereignty,” concluded Sinha.

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  • Smartcom Expands Push-to-Talk Services Across Indonesia

    Smartcom Expands Push-to-Talk Services Across Indonesia

    Smartcom, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) based in Singapore, is now expanding its services to Indonesia. The goal of this expansion is to introduce Smartcom’s mission-critical push-to-talk (PTT) solutions to a larger market, catering to the communication needs of various industries. Since 2015, Smartcom has been collaborating with TASSTA and Singtel to provide reliable PTT communication coverage across Singapore.

    However, entering the Indonesian market poses new challenges due to its larger and more diverse nature. Indonesia, boasting the largest economy in Southeast Asia, offers a growing market for mission-critical communication solutions. With initiatives like ‘100 Smart Cities’ and a workforce of around 160 million, there are vast opportunities for expanded PTT services. The adoption of TASSTA’s solutions by key Indonesian industries like the police force and national railway operator underscores the demand for reliable communication systems.

    Indonesia’s industrial landscape, especially the mining and oil and gas (O&G) sectors, requires specialized push-to-talk solutions. Large events and gatherings also necessitate mission-critical PTT communication that can withstand high network congestion. To address these needs, Smartcom is partnering with Telkomsel, Indonesia’s largest telecommunications provider, to offer priority bandwidth during peak events. Additionally, solutions like ATEX-certified mobile devices will cater to O&G companies operating in hazardous environments.

    The expansion into Indonesia is part of Smartcom’s strategy to grow its customer base and enhance its services. By entering this new market, Smartcom aims to improve its product range, customization capabilities, and local technical support. Smartcom is also exploring partnerships with software providers to enhance its PTT platform and collaborating with Samsung Knox Mobile Device Management to ensure the security of its cellular-based communication solutions. Despite the challenges of entering a new market, Smartcom is working with Enterprise Singapore to navigate Indonesia’s business landscape.

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  • Viettel Begins Construction of Vietnam’s Largest Data Center

    Viettel Begins Construction of Vietnam’s Largest Data Center

    Viettel has started building a new data center campus in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This will be Viettel’s largest data center yet, boasting a capacity of 140 MW and around 10,000 racks. The facility will cover approximately 40,000 sqm (430,555 sq. ft.) on a 4-hectare site. The data center is expected to be operational by 2026 and fully completed by 2030.

    It will be situated in Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park, Cu Chi district, which is 25 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 15 km from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Huyen Nguyen, Deputy Director of Viettel’s International Business Center, mentioned that the data center aims to achieve a power usage effectiveness (PUE) of less than 1.4 and comply with Uptime Tier III standards. Viettel currently runs 15 data centers in Vietnam with a total capacity of 87 MW.

    The company plans to build 24 data centers by 2030, with a combined capacity of 560 MW. Viettel’s IDC data center unit offers colocation and cloud services from five data centers across Hanoi (x2), Da Nang (x1), and Ho Chi Minh City (x2), totaling 25,000 sqm (269,100 sq. ft).

    Notably, Vietnam recently lifted restrictions on the foreign ownership of data centers, removing the 49% cap.

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  • Phone scammers will soon lose a major advantage

    Phone scammers will soon lose a major advantage

    The Federal Communications Commission is taking aim at a key loophole that helps robocallers dodge detection systems meant to protect consumers. If you’re still getting bombarded with scam calls on your phone, this gap involving older network technology is a likely contributor. The FCC wants to ensure calls maintain their digital fingerprints even when passing through these older networks.  

    Modern phone calls over internet (IP) networks benefit from STIR/SHAKEN, a system the FCC champions for tracking, blocking, and warning about bad calls. It acts like a digital fingerprint to verify caller ID isn’t faked or “spoofed”. It’s crucial for spotting malicious calls before they potentially trick someone.  

    The problem is that when calls travel — even partially, through older, non-IP phone lines (think traditional landlines) — this STIR/SHAKEN verification often gets lost due to technical limitations of those networks. Scammers know this and actively exploit it by routing calls through these pathways, effectively erasing the digital proof of origin. This makes their illegal calls much harder for carriers to identify and block.  

    Patching the network hole

    The FCC’s new proposal directly targets this non-IP loophole. For the last four years, providers using these older networks faced delayed deadlines for implementing call authentication required by the TRACED Act. The FCC now wants to end these delays and get authentication solutions deployed.  

    This initiative stems from the TRACED Act, which is legislation designed specifically to bolster the fight against the flood of illegal robocalls. While STIR/SHAKEN on IP networks has certainly made a dent, billions are still lost annually to frequent phone scams related to everything from fake auto warranties to government impersonations, seriously damaging consumer trust. Addressing specific vulnerabilities like the non-IP gap is essential.

    Shutting down this specific loophole won’t magically stop all robocalls overnight, but it’s a necessary technical fix in the ongoing battle. Ensuring calls retain authentication across different network types makes it tougher for scammers to operate anonymously and hide their tracks. Ultimately, closing this gap should lead to fewer fraudulent calls getting through to consumers and hopefully increase the reliability of caller ID.

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  • SK Telecom Hit by Cyber Attack

    SK Telecom Hit by Cyber Attack

    The mobile carrier reported that the breach occurred due to malicious code infiltrating its systems. While the exact scope and nature of the data leak are still under investigation, the company stated it took immediate steps to report the incident to the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA), aligning with regulatory requirements.

    In a message to employees, CEO, Ryu Young-sang, conveyed his regret and accepted responsibility for the breach. He urged staff to take stronger measures to improve the company’s cybersecurity framework and enhance efforts to protect customer data.

    SK Telecom confirmed it has notified the Personal Information Protection Commission of the incident and is working closely with investigators. The company added that it promptly deleted the malicious code and isolated the affected equipment upon detecting a possible breach. There have been no confirmed reports of the leaked data being misused.

    The company said it will adopt stronger security measures, including comprehensive system inspections, upgraded detection and blocking systems for illegal SIM-related activities, and improved alert protocols in cases of potential threats. A free SIM protection service is also being offered through its website and T World platform.

    In response to the incident, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) has set up an emergency task force in collaboration with the Cyber Security and Network Policy Bureau. The ministry requested that SK Telecom preserve and submit relevant data for analysis. Officials from KISA were dispatched to the telecom provider’s Seoul headquarters for an on-site investigation.

    Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the government may form a joint task force encompassing both the public and private sectors to co

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  • System errors spare T-Mobile customers their price surge

    System errors spare T-Mobile customers their price surge

    T-Mobile recently announced what it called “pricing updates” that were applied almost universally and made customers’ bills go up. However there is a subset of T-Mobile users that have been spared these price hikes — probably not for long — due to system errors that have failed to push billing updates.

    These price hikes were, understandably, unanimously disliked. This is especially true for legacy customers who saw pricing changes on their old plans that T-Mobile had once marketed as price locked.

    After people walked out of T-Mobile stores in protest of the T-Life app these pricing updates served as another irritant for customers. In response users dug up old T-Mobile ads about price locked plans and some people left T-Mobile for alternatives. All in all the entire situation has been a difficult time to be a T-Mobile customer or employee.

    But there are apparently T-Mobile customers who are receiving the same bill despite having been informed of a price increase. These people are relatively very few but system errors on T-Mobile’s end seem to have worked brilliantly in their favor. If they’re very lucky then T-Mobile will never spot their outdated billing information though that seems very unlikely to me.

    Since the whole pricing updates fiasco T-Mobile has introduced a new price lock guarantee. Unlike previous guarantees that promised lifelong price locks this new one is only valid for 10 years. However after everything that has happened I’m not falling for T-Mobile’s new price lock plan and neither should anyone else.

    The “un-carrier” is hardly the only telecom company currently facing controversy. AT&T soured relations with employees recently and is having a service outage in Los Angeles that will last a whopping two months. On the other hand Verizon is having a pricing crisis as the company struggles to define a strategy for itself after a year of very few new signups compared to competitors.

    If you’re one of those lucky few T-Mobile customers whose bill has remained unchanged despite a notification to the contrary, consider yourself blessed. And keep your fingers crossed that your plan doesn’t get updated too soon.

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  • StarHub Earns Cisco Certifications, Boosts Tech Leadership

    StarHub Earns Cisco Certifications, Boosts Tech Leadership

    These accomplishments showcase StarHub’s ability to provide secure, scalable IT and customer engagement solutions with extensive expertise and a strong service delivery record. With Cisco‘s enhanced technologies, StarHub is better prepared to assist businesses in modernizing their operations and improving customer connections.

    Tan Kit Yong, Head of Enterprise Business Group at StarHub, stated, “This recognition goes beyond technical excellence; it confirms our dedication to enabling significant transformation for our customers. As technology becomes increasingly crucial for business success, we are committed to delivering intelligent, future-ready solutions that help our customers operate more efficiently, work smarter, and lead confidently.”

    The Cisco Premier Provider Certification is given to partners who consistently offer high-quality managed services with proven technical skills. Additionally, the Cisco Powered Webex Contact Center Specialization acknowledges StarHub’s ability to provide advanced, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered contact center solutions on a large scale.

    Jamie Romanin, Director of Webex Customer Experience at Cisco Systems, Asia Pacific, Japan, and China, expressed, “At Cisco, partnership is central to our operations. We are thrilled to collaborate with StarHub as a valued Premier Provider Partner and congratulate them on achieving the Cisco Powered Services Webex Contact Center Specialization. This accomplishment demonstrates their deep understanding of our contact center solutions and their proven ability to effectively deliver managed solutions. Together, we will empower more businesses to utilize Webex Contact Center and Webex AI Agent to transform customer engagement and achieve meaningful business results.”

    For businesses, this means quicker solution implementation, streamlined support processes, and consistent service quality, all supported by StarHub’s team of certified experts and Cisco lifecycle services. As customer and IT requirements evolve, StarHub remains committed to keeping technology simple, reliable, and designed to deliver tangible results.

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  • Dialog Completes Sri Lanka’s First Live 5G VoNR Trial

    Dialog Completes Sri Lanka’s First Live 5G VoNR Trial

    This trial showcased a fully native 5G voice experience with uninterrupted connectivity. Expanding on its innovative work in 5G technology, Dialog had previously conducted a lab-based VoNR proof of concept (PoC) in 2023 using a PoC Core setup.

    This recent achievement on Dialog’s live 5G standalone (5G SA) core network demonstrates the practicality of VoNR services in real-world scenarios. VoNR offers clearer voice quality, faster call connections, and enhanced security compared to older 2G/3G or VoLTE services. It also paves the way for future features, such as 5G New Calling (5G NC), and boosts network efficiency by utilizing 5G spectrum more effectively.

    Ranga Kariyawasam, Group Chief Technology Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC, stated, “This milestone highlights Dialog’s dedication to advancing Sri Lanka’s 5G technology. Successfully testing VoNR on our live 5G network brings us closer to fully utilizing next-generation connectivity, providing seamless, high-quality voice services over 5G.”

    This achievement adds to Dialog’s list of 5G accomplishments, including the first 5G trial network in the region, the initial 5G SA network trial, Sri Lanka’s first standards-based 5G fixed-wireless pilot transmission, and its achievement of over 6 Gbps on its 5G-Advanced trial network. These milestones showcase the potential of next-generation 5.5G technology. Dialog remains committed to leading technological advancements, speeding up the adoption of next-generation connectivity, and bringing ‘The Future. Today.’ to Sri Lanka.

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  • Huawei Unveils Comprehensive Suite of AI-Powered Solutions at MWC Barcelona 2025

    Huawei Unveils Comprehensive Suite of AI-Powered Solutions at MWC Barcelona 2025

    At the Huawei Product & Solution Launch during Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2025, Huawei revealed its innovative roadmap, showcasing a comprehensive suite of AI-powered solutions designed to transform network infrastructure, accelerate digital information, and propel the industry into a more intelligent, connected, and sustainable digital future.

    AI-Centric Network Solution, Seizing New Opportunities in the AI Era

    Yang Chaobin, Huawei’s Director of the Board and CEO of the ICT Business Group, introduced the AI-Centric Network solution to address the growing demand for enhanced network bandwidth, lower latency, wider coverage, and improved operations and management.

    In his keynote, Yang Chaobin highlighted the solution’s four-layered approach, which includes all-domain connectivity, application-oriented O&M, enhanced AI-to-X services, and innovative business models. Through this strategy, Huawei aims to accelerate the transition towards an intelligent world while unlocking new revenue streams.

    AI-Centric 5.5G, Igniting the Mobile AI Era

    Building on an AI-powered network foundation, Cao Ming, Vice President of Huawei and President of Huawei Wireless Solution, noted that mobile AI aims to revolutionize the world by delivering intelligent, human-like experiences anytime, anywhere, and for everything. This shift towards ‘AI for All’ will drive three major transformations in the mobile industry. Firstly, it will transform the user experience from being downlink-focused to offering diverse capabilities. Secondly, it will evolve O&M from AN L3 to AN L4 intelligence. Thirdly, it will shift business models from traffic-based to multi-factor monetization.

    In the mobile AI era, connections will expand from human-to-human to human-to-AI and AI-to-AI, requiring diverse experiences and services. For multi-modal AI interactions, high uplink capability is essential. Cao Ming mentioned that, for real-time AI agent calling, ultra-low latency is critical. To enable ubiquitous intelligent connections, Cao Ming emphasized that seamless coverage is necessary, particularly for AI-powered devices in both dense cities and remote areas.

    To address these challenges, Cao Ming introduced three AI-Centric 5.5G solutions: GigaGear, GreenPulse, and GainLeap.

    Intelligent Core, Paving the Way to the Mobile AI Era

    Further expanding on the mobile AI concept, George Gao, President of Huawei Cloud Core Network Product Line, charted the evolution of core networks into AI-native systems.

    In his keynote, George Gao noted that AI core network transformation occurs in two phases: 5G-A Intelligent Core and Agentic Core. He added that 5G-A Intelligent Core can equip three intelligence entries with calling agents, personalized experience agents, and digital expert agents.

    Moreover, George Gao also launched Huawei’s Telco Intelligent Converged Cloud (TICC) infrastructure, which manages heterogeneous hardware and integrates FusionMind to provide high-quality training and inference services for agents.

    Towards AI ON for New Growth in the AI Era

    Huawei’s product and solution launch also showcased optical network advancements, with Bob Chen, President of Huawei Optical Business Product Line, unveiling the AI Optical Network (AI ON) concept.

    AI applications, from self-owned call assistants to third-party chatbots, thrive on a strong network foundation. According to Bob Chen, the equation is clear: (Data + Model + Computing) x Network = AI prosperity. However, AI development demands deterministic connections and on-tap computing power akin to utilities like electricity and water.

    The transition to AI ON networks requires awareness, always-on demand, assurance, autonomous O&M, and AI-native capabilities. Chen explained that traditional networks struggle with undifferentiated services and reactive repairs, but AI-driven networks offer:

    • Customized Connections: Instead of fixed speeds, users can get tailored services. For example, a gaming package can offer 500 Mbps speed, 10 ms latency, and 99.9999% reliability.
    • Deterministic Performance: AI ensures low latency, “0” packet loss, and hitless protection switching, eliminating uncertainties caused by congestion and failures.
    • Autonomous Operations: The application of AI enables real-time risk detection, automatic troubleshooting, and proactive network health checks.

    AI WAN: Leading IP Networks into the Intelligent Era

    Meanwhile, Leon Wang, President of Huawei Data Communication Product Line, presented the company’s new AI WAN solution, which is designed to empower IP networks in the Net5.5G era using AI. During his keynote, Leon Wang highlighted the solution’s three-layer architecture, comprising AI routers, AI new connections, and AI new brain, which enhances network performance and intelligence through millisecond-level flow sampling, high-accuracy flow awareness, and efficient security protection engines.

    Leon Wang explained that AI WAN’s predictive traffic management helped MTN South Africa reduce congestion at 10% of its 7,000 base stations, resulting in a 25% increase in data usage (DOU) in KwaZulu-Natal and traffic grew by 15.4%. In home services, Carrier CTM partnered with Huawei to optimize network services using an AI computing engine. This resulted in a dramatic reduction in game latency and hence a significant improvement on customer experience. For enterprise security, AI WAN’s intelligent flash defense detected attack flows, enabling carriers to offer high-value security services with a projected 35% revenue increase.

    AI-Ready Data Infrastructure Accelerates Telco-to-Techco Transformation

    In his keynote, Peter Zhou, President of Huawei Data Storage Product Line, highlighted the growing importance of data in the AI era, as AI agents are set to leverage massive amounts of data to transform consumer, home, and business experiences.

    By 2030, Peter Zhou predicts that each individual will generate TB-scale data, powering 10 billion AI agents, while each family will produce PB-scale data for 1.8 billion AI housekeepers, and enterprises will manage EB-scale data, driving 2.8 billion AI applications. To support this, Huawei introduced AI-Ready data storage, featuring a data lake, diverse data services, and a FlashEver business model. Their AI-driven storage innovations include OceanStor Dorado, which enables seamless AI and cloud-native applications; the OceanStor A Series storage, which reduces GPU wait time by 30% and cuts inference costs by 40%; and the OceanStor Pacific, which doubles storage capacity while cutting power consumption by 40%.

    Peter Zhou added that Huawei’s security and business continuity solutions can reduce TCO by 30%, recover 1 TB of data in 20 seconds, and offer flexible AI storage models like FlashEver, a pay-as-you-go model with 10-year investment protection.

    Huawei ICT Services and Software Enable Digital Intelligence Acceleration

    In his keynote, Bruce Xun, President of Huawei Global Technical Service, showcased a series of innovative digital intelligence solutions to address the key challenges in the industry’s digital transformation journey.

    Huawei established the equipment Center Office (CO) modernization solution, Intelligent Operations solution for MBB cross-domain service keepalive, Mobile Network NPS Improvement solution, Differentiated Service Experience Monetization and Assurance solution, and enhanced Mobile Money solution.

    He emphasized focusing on high-value business scenarios, such as streamlining network, data, and AI capabilities along the value stream, and quickly integrating Copilot, AI Agent, and DTN into the operation process for efficient human-machine collaboration and value realization, ultimately creating tangible business value and accelerating digital intelligence.

    Accelerate Intelligence with Cloud, Leap from Telco to Techco

    Bruno Zhang, Huawei Cloud CTO, discussed the comprehensive strategies required for telecom carriers to shift to technology companies, highlighting, “Carriers have clear expectations for the cloud.” In his keynote, Bruno Zhang outlined Huawei’s cloud offerings, including Huawei Cloud Stack and CloudDC to support this transformation.

    The Huawei Cloud Stack has reduced TCO by 50% over 3 years, offering 120+ cloud services for seamless migration, while CloudDC provides 30+ Tier 3+ data centers with a 10x efficiency boost and AI-powered fault recovery within 15 minutes. In terms of AI-powered databases, GaussDB outperformed competitors, doubling performance, ensuring zero data loss, and auto-fixing 90% of faults.

    Huawei’s ‘AI for Industries’ initiative leverages its Pangu Models and ModelArts to help enterprises create industry-specific AI models, with over 400 AI applications successfully deployed across 30+ industries. To help carriers leverage their device-cloud synergy with multi-architecture compute and multi-OS devices, Huawei created Cloud Device, a family of products including KooPhone, KooDrive, and Cloud STB. These products deliver 60 ms latency and zero buffering.

    Bruno Zhang highlighted that live streaming and AI have experienced remarkable growth, with streamers increasing by 10x and AI usage growing 20x over the past five years. While traditional networks face challenges, Huawei’s Cloud Media Edge enhances real-time streaming and drives ARPU growth. Finally, Bruno Zhang explained that carriers require ecosystem capability and operational expertise to expand their enterprise business, and Huawei Cloud offers two solutions to support this. KooGallery provides carriers with easy access to tens of thousands of enterprise applications via standard APIs, while Cloud on Cloud offers comprehensive cloud operation capabilities.

    AI Empowering Operators Accelerated Transition Towards Energy Prosumers

    Recognizing the significant role of technological innovation in the intelligent era, He Bo, President of Huawei Data Center Facility & Critical Power Product Line, highlighted the challenges of rising energy consumption, emissions, and infrastructure reliability. In his keynote, Bo noted that AI-driven energy solutions are transforming operators into Energy Prosumers 2.0.

    He Bo introduced the Single SitePower infrastructure and AI-driven DC infrastructure to address these concerns. These solutions integrate energy and information flows and enhance resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. He also highlighted Huawei’s Virtual Power Plants (VPP), AI-driven PV+ battery systems (which increase energy yield by 20% and reduce cabling by 80%), and the Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI), which can extinguish arcs in 2.5 seconds, improving safety.

    Meanwhile, Huawei’s modular designs and advanced cooling systems for data centers are addressing reliability, uncertainty, delivery, and high power demands. Huawei’s series of innovations aims to establish a greener energy foundation for the ICT industry, driving operators to thrive while accelerating carbon neutrality goals.

    Through these comprehensive product and solution offerings, Huawei is demonstrating its commitment to driving innovation and establishing an intelligent and sustainable digital ecosystem, ultimately advancing the telecommunications industry.

  • Huawei Reports Revenue Increase in 2024 Amid Declining Margins

    Huawei Reports Revenue Increase in 2024 Amid Declining Margins

    However, the Chinese conglomerate’s net profit dropped by 28% to CNY 62.6 billion (USD 8.63 billion), with operating margins declining from 14.8% to 9.2%.

    Huawei’s remarkable revenue growth was driven by its consumer business, particularly by strong smartphone sales in China, which surged to CNY 339 billion by 38%.

    Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s Rotating Chairwoman, highlighted, “Our devices are now back in the fast lane, and we are making historic breakthroughs in HarmonyOS ecosystem development.”

    We continued to optimize our business mix for cloud computing and our digital power kept forging ahead, placing quality before all else.

    The company also maintained a steady performance in its information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure segment, which grew by 4.9%, totaling USD 369.9 billion.

    Moreover, Huawei’s spending on research and development (R&D) reached CNY 179.7 billion in 2024, representing 20.8% of its total revenue.

    Liang Hua, Huawei’s Chairman of the Board, emphasized, “Over the past year, we strengthened investment in innovation and R&D. We continued to hone our overall competitive edge while improving customer satisfaction and user experience.”

    The report reflected Huawei’s increasing dependence on its domestic market, with China contributing over 71% of its total revenue in 2024. By leveraging the company’s computing, storage, networks, digital power, devices, and intelligent automotive solutions to meet growing demands, the Chinese market contributed CNY 615.3 billion to the overall revenue.

    Huawei’s limited access to the international market has led to the development of the HarmonyOS ecosystem, an alternative to Android following United States sanctions.

    In Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Huawei maintained a steady performance in ICT infrastructure while achieving rapid growth in cloud computing and digital power solutions. The region’s revenue generated CNY 148.4 billion, accounting for 17% of the company’s revenue.

    In a similar trend, the Asia Pacific contributed CNY 43.3 billion, accounting for 5% of the company’s overall revenue, which was primarily driven by accelerated 5G deployment and the rapid expansion of cloud computing and digital power.

    Despite the increase in network traffic and quicker construction of 5G and data communication networks, the Americas contributed the least (CNY 36.3 billion), accounting for only 4% of Huawei’s total revenue.

    Wanzhou further noted that despite the economic downturn, Huawei will increase its strategic investments over the next three years, particularly focusing on building foundational technologies and capitalizing on growth opportunities through differentiation.

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  • MobiFone Rolls Out 5G, Boosting Vietnam’s Digital Growth

    MobiFone Rolls Out 5G, Boosting Vietnam’s Digital Growth

    Initially, the 5G service will be available in major city centers, with plans to expand nationwide soon. The network operates on the 3.800-3.900 MHz frequency band, using both 5G NSA (non-standalone) and 5G SA (standalone) architectures. The network speed can reach up to 1.5 Gbps, which is 10 to 15 times faster than 4G.

    Existing 4G subscribers with 5G-compatible smartphones can access the 5G network across coverage areas without changing their SIM cards. For enterprise customers, MobiFone offers over 100 products and solutions for eight priority sectors, addressing national digital transformation. MobiFone has already implemented various 5G-based solutions for government agencies and businesses nationwide.

    Examples include an artificial intelligence (AI) camera solution for smart tourism and traffic management, as well as a 5G private network solution at Vicem Hoang Mai Cement Joint Stock Company.

    Vietnam launched 5G services at the end of 2024. As of January 2025, Viettel has 5.5 million 5G subscribers, while Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has extended 5G coverage to 63 provinces and major airports, serving around 3 million users. MobiFone aims to accelerate 5G commercialization to support national economic growth.

    Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the importance of expanding 5G commercialization to achieve at least 8% economic growth by 2025. Mastering 5G technology is crucial to meet this goal. According to the GSMA, 5G is expected to contribute over USD 930 billion to the global economy by 2030, benefiting key sectors such as industrial manufacturing, public administration, services, IT and communications, and finance.

    To support 5G infrastructure development, the National Assembly has allocated state budget funds to assist telecom companies with the rapid network expansion. Enterprises deploying at least 20,000 5G base stations by the end of 2025 will have 15% of their equipment costs covered. MobiFone’s 5G service not only enhances digital transformation but also boosts technological innovation and economic competitiveness. By leveraging 5G, Vietnam aims to become a regional technology leader and an attractive destination for foreign investment.

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  • PLDT Strengthens Digital Growth with Data Center Expansion

    PLDT Strengthens Digital Growth with Data Center Expansion

    PLDT Chief Operating Officer, Menardo Butch G. Jimenez, emphasized the increasing potential of tech-focused telcos in the region’s changing digital landscape. He mentioned, “We have already built 10 data centers and are finishing our 11th and biggest facility, which shows how strongly we believe that data centers are an important part of PLDT’s revenue growth.” He also said that PLDT has experienced strong growth rates in its data center business over the past five years.

    Through its subsidiary, ePLDT, PLDT has become a leader in the Philippines data center industry. The company operates a network of VITRO data centers, providing solutions for customers’ increasing IT outsourcing needs. The VITRO Sta. Rosa Data Center, the largest and most advanced in the country, is positioned to be the Philippines’ artificial intelligence (AI) hub, forming the first AI ecosystem in the nation.

    Jimenez also highlighted that data sovereignty laws represent a significant upcoming development, noting that localized data storage regulations enforced by the government will drive the demand for domestic data centers. Looking forward, PLDT is preparing for an AI-powered future by offering GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) to meet the growing need for high-performance computing (HPC) due to AI and machine learning (ML) adoption.

    Through investments in data centers, AI infrastructure, and green energy, PLDT is solidifying its position as a leader in digital transformation and shaping the future of the telecommunications industry.

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  • BharatNet Expands Connectivity to Rural India

    BharatNet Expands Connectivity to Rural India

    In a written response to the Rajya Sabha, Baghel stated that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is implementing the project in phases to ensure broadband connectivity reaches all Gram Panchayats nationwide.

    The BharatNet infrastructure is classified as a national asset and is accessible to service providers without discrimination. It supports various broadband services, including Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections, leased lines, dark fiber, and backhaul connections for mobile towers. As of February 2025, a total of 2,14,323 Gram Panchayats are service-ready, Baghel confirmed.

    Additionally, the Union Cabinet has approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP), adopting a design, build, operate, and maintain (DBOM) model. The revised program aims to upgrade the existing network under BharatNet Phases I and II, expand connectivity to approximately 42,000 Gram Panchayats that are yet to become service-ready, and ensure network operation and maintenance for the next decade.

    Baghel also noted that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been assigned the task of providing 1.50 crore FTTH connections to households over the next five years. The completion timeline for the ABP is set for March 2027.

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  • Mobilewalla Launches Market Flow in Asia

    Mobilewalla Launches Market Flow in Asia

    Following its success in the United States (US), this solution is set to transform how Asian communication services and network infrastructure providers develop strategies in an increasingly competitive landscape.

    Market Flow delivers granular consumer insights by analyzing vast datasets of device usage, movement patterns, and digital behavior. Unlike traditional market intelligence tools, it provides detailed market share and subscriber flow insights across various geographical levels (from country to neighborhood), helping drive operational planning and competitive strategy.

    It also offers analytics for all connection types, including fixed wireless access (FWA), mobile broadband (MBB), fixed broadband (FBB), fiber, digital subscriber line (DSL), and cable, providing insights at the product level. Additionally, Market Flow supports both residential and small to medium businesses (SMBs), equipping providers with a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics.

    Anindya Datta, CEO, Mobilewalla, said, “Broadband providers across the US have leveraged Market Flow to refine their strategies, reduce churn, and maximize network investments. By bringing this proven solution to Asia, we are enabling telcos to make smarter, faster, and more efficient business decisions in a dynamic market.”

    As broadband usage increases in Asia, network providers need to improve their infrastructure and customer engagement strategies to meet the growing demand. Market Flow offers a data-driven solution that helps operators enhance network expansion planning, attract new customers through targeted campaigns, and retain valuable subscribers by predicting churn patterns.

    “The competitive broadband market in Asia requires a deeper understanding of consumer behavior. Market Flow provides broadband providers with the intelligence they need to develop sharper competitive strategies and drive growth,” Datta concluded.

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  • Australia’s Mobile Revenue to Grow, Driven by 5G Expansion

    Australia’s Mobile Revenue to Grow, Driven by 5G Expansion

    This growth will be driven by an increase in revenue from mobile data services, according to GlobalData. GlobalData’s research shows that the growth in revenue from mobile data services will offset the decline in revenue from mobile voice services during the forecast period.

    While revenue from mobile voice services is expected to decrease by 2.7% annually from 2024 to 2029 due to consumers shifting towards over-the-top (OTT) communication platforms, revenue from mobile data services is projected to increase by 4.5% annually.

    This growth will be fueled by the rising number of mobile internet subscriptions, the increasing adoption of 5G services, and a rise in the average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile data. Neha Mishra, a Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, noted that the average monthly mobile data usage in Australia is predicted to rise from 14.1 GB in 2024 to 25.8 GB in 2029. This increase is being driven by the growing consumption of online video and social media content on smartphones as a result of data-focused 4G/5G plans from telcos.

    GlobalData anticipates a growth in 5G service adoption over the forecast period, as consumers seek high-speed connectivity and major telecom operators expand their 5G networks across the country. For example, Telstra aims to extend 5G coverage to 95% of the population by the end of 2025.

    By 2029, 5G subscriptions are expected to make up 86% of all mobile subscriptions. Mishra concluded that Telstra was the leader in the mobile services market in Australia in terms of subscriptions in 2024, followed by Optus. Telstra is expected to maintain its top position through 2029, supported by its focus on expanding and modernizing its 5G network.

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