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Tag: asia

  • Instagram to adjust its algorithm to give preference to original content

    Instagram to adjust its algorithm to give preference to original content

    Sick of seeing only TikToks on Reels? So is Instagram. On a more serious note, Instagram is tweaking its algorithm not only to crack down on reposts but also to incentivize creators to produce original content.

    Adam Mosseri, the current head of Instagram, announced yesterday some interesting changes coming to the social media platform. In addition to expanding the functionality of tags, Instagram is introducing a ranking for originality and implementing it in its algorithm.

    This is the next step in Instagram’s concrete efforts to encourage creators to produce original content for the app. The idea is pretty straightforward – more creativity, fewer reposts.

    If you create something from scratch, you should get more credit than if you are resharing something that you found from someone else. We’re going to do more to try and value original content more.
    This is how Mosseri explains the rationale behind the recent changes in a video posted on Twitter.

    In a subsequent tweet, Mosseri expressed concerns over the long-term future of Instagram, if the platform does not stop to “overvalue aggregators”. The changes to the algorithm are a step in the right direction as they will aim to single out aggregator accounts and handle them accordingly.

    The exact way in which Instagram will filter “original” content currently remains unclear, however. Mosseri himself is not entirely confident in the platform’s ability to do so consistently. Some trial and error will likely be required before the mechanism is refined

    Ultimately, this is just another milestone in Meta’s vision. Instagram and Facebook have steadily been transitioning away from their previous purpose of keeping people connected. They now aim to be, above all, platforms for creators with the recent changes reflecting that perfectly.

  • TSMC founder Chang says that the U.S. has the world’s best chip designers

    TSMC founder Chang says that the U.S. has the world’s best chip designers

    The two most advanced chip foundries in the world at the moment are Taiwan’s TSMC and South Korea’s Samsung. With both providing phone manufacturers with chips produced using their 3nm process node next year, TSMC recently said that it will start shipping 2nm chips to customers in 2026.
    In theory, the lower this process node number goes, the smaller the transistors used in these chips become. That allows chip designers and manufacturers to put more transistors in these integrated circuits allowing them to be faster and/or more power-efficient.
    The U.S., concerned about geopolitical events putting a crimp in the supply chain for chips (especially the possibility of China making a move on Taiwan) would love to become self-sufficient in the design and production of chips. Design is actually not an issue as U.S. firms like Apple, Qualcomm, Intel, and others have no problem designing chips (more on this later). But building a foundry takes oodles of money and time. It also requires proximity to a reliable supply chain.
    TSMC is working with the U.S. to build a fab (a plant that manufacturers chips) in Arizona. The facility should start producing chips by 2024 although production will reportedly be limited at first to 5nm chips which will have been replaced by the 3nm process node by the time the fab starts running in the states.
    But TSMC founder Morris Chang considers the U.S. attempt to be relevant in chip manufacturing to be “a wasteful, expensive exercise in futility.” According to The Register, Morris spoke as a guest of the Brookings Institution think tank and stated that the U.S. does not have the talent pool necessary to create a thriving business in the states manufacturing chips.
    Chang cited Taiwan’s large population that helped TSMC become the world’s top independent foundry. While the U.S. moved away from producing manufacturing professionals, Taiwan was loaded with talent. As we mentioned earlier in this story, where the U.S. does have the talent is in chip design, something that Morris isn’t shy about saying.
    The 90-year-old Chang has high praise for the chip design talent in the U.S. calling it “the best in the world.” He adds that “Taiwan has very little design talent, and TSMC has absolutely none.” As an independent foundry, TSMC wouldn’t be expected to produce its own designs since its job is to produce chips designed by other companies like Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek, and more.

    Talking about the costs of running a fab in the U.S., Chang says that the small plant in Oregon that TSMC has run for 25 years is making money but not enough to justify expanding the facility. “We were extremely naive,” said Chang, “in expecting comparable costs, but manufacturing chips in the US is 50 percent more expensive than in Taiwan.”

    U.S. experts happen to agree with Chang’s take on the situation with one think tank expecting several thousand unfilled positions in any new U.S. based fabs. With Chang’s comments in mind, why would TSMC lay out $12 billion to build the Arizona factory? “We did it at the urging of the US government, and TSMC felt we should do it,” Chang said.

    Morris also pointed out that while chip production state-side will certainly see an increase, “there will be a high per-unit cost increase, and it will be hard for the US to compete internationally.” Chang also worries about a possible war between China and Taiwan. If there is a war, U.S. chip production might prove to be profitable with TSMC possibly not able to continue normal production.

    He adds that if there is a war between China and Taiwan, “the U.S. will have a lot more than chip manufacturing to worry about.” Back in December, we passed along a stat that said 90% of the world’s most advanced chips are shipped from Taiwan. Worried about how vulnerable that makes the country, and in turn big chip consuming nations like the U.S., foundries need to work in advance on contingency plans in case Taiwan-based fabs are damaged or destroyed in a war.
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  • Lush launches a 24-hour vending machine

    Lush launches a 24-hour vending machine

    Cosmetic brand Lush has opened its first 24-hour vending machine, located in Coal Drop’s Yard at King’s Cross in London.

    Lush said it aims to provide customers with a distinctive retail experience by allowing them to purchase its products at any time of the day.

    The machine is shaped like a circular kiosk. Customers walk around to and view the products, which include wrapped gift boxes. Moreover, it is sustainably designed, running on low energy.

    The Ilocker vending machine is designed by Anmac, whose owners are Andrew Alpine and his wife Gemma Jackson, a couple well known for designing numerous film and television series sets, including for The Piano, The Beach, Bridget Jones’ Diary and Game of Thrones.

    “Lush has always strived to dazzle our customers, from our product innovations through to bringing our core values into every aspect of our retailing,” said Charlotte Howe, a member of the Lush Group retail team.

    “Using the highest quality of automated retail machines with our partner, Anmac, we are able to surprise and delight with a micro store that is open 24 hours a day. It is a retail theatre that never sleeps – live glow on the go.”

    The London pop-up will run for six months during which time the company will change the product range and merchandising design to ensure ongoing customer interest.

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  • Singapore’s Raffles City to boast 50 new stores after revamp

    Singapore’s Raffles City to boast 50 new stores after revamp

    More than 50 new brands, including specialty stores and experiential concepts, will enter the revamped Raffles City shopping centre later this year.

    The renovation of a 111,000sqft area across Levels 1 to 3 is scheduled to complete in the fourth quarter of this year. An initial series of store openings kicked off with the launch of Acqua di Parma’s first flagship store in Southeast Asia last month. Spanning approximately 1000sqft, the store features the first of its grooming service ‘Barbiera’ in Asia Pacific.

    The downtown Singapore centre’s revamp was in part made necessary by the collapse of the Robinsons department-store business in 2020, which left a large space untenanted but opened the possibility for multiple additional smaller tenancies, as well as an expansion of the Marks & Spencer space.

    “Raffles City’s rejuvenation plans are part of our continuous efforts to keep us on the pulse of the rapidly evolving shopping and lifestyle needs of our shoppers,” said Steve Ng, GM of Raffles City Singapore.

    “Our new tenant mix has been carefully curated to cater to the diverse demographics who frequent our mall, especially those who seek more than just retail gratification and the discerning ones who appreciate the finer things in life”.

    Sephora, Marks & Spencer and L’Occtane, will introduce new concept stores in the coming months. While L’Occitane will land its first Green Store in Singapore at Raffles City, Marks & Spencer will expand its offering with a new 15,00osqft concept store, consisting of a grocer and bakery.

    Other new tenants joining the revamped premise include Lululemon, Paris Baguette x Teatra, Venchi and Läderach. Raffles City said it will disclose more new tenants in coming months.

  • Upgrade to Apple Pay tightens fraud prevention features

    Upgrade to Apple Pay tightens fraud prevention features

    Apple Pay is the company’s mobile payment platform. It’s a brilliant money-making scheme because Apple receives a cut of .15% of the value of each transaction that uses the feature (15 cents for each $100 purchase). With more than a million retail stores, gas stations, supermarkets, and restaurants accepting Apple Pay in the U.S. alone at the start of this month, the volume of transactions that run through the platform is large enough to generate big bucks for Apple.
    Some Twitter users noted that a notification badge showed up on their payment credit card inside the Wallet app today. That is because Apple has upgraded Apple Pay to improve the fraud prevention for some credit cards. According to Apple, “For cards with certain enhanced fraud prevention, when you attempt an online or in-app transaction, your device will evaluate information about your Apple ID, device, and location (if you have enabled Location Services), to develop fraud prevention assessments which are used by Apple to identify and prevent fraud.”
    Apple adds that it will share “fraud prevention assessments as well as information about your transaction (such as purchase amount, currency, and date) with your payment card network for fraud prevention.” You can avoid having to share this data with your payment card’s network by changing the payment card that you use for purchases made with Apple Pay to one that doesn’t sport the notification.

    To remove your payment card on the Wallet app, open the app and tap on the image of that card. Press on the three dots in the upper right of the display and when the new page loads, scroll to the bottom and tap on Remove This Card to well, remove this card. To add a new card, open the Wallet app and tap the “+” icon on the upper right of the display. You then scan the card and follow the directions to add it to the Wallet app.

    While this writer doesn’t see the notification badge on a Visa card placed in the Wallet app, some Visa users worldwide have started to see the badge. With so much cash tumbling into Apple’s coffers from Apple Pay, anything that Apple can do to get more users to pay using the platform brings more money to Apple’s bottom line. If that means making the card used for Apple Pay transactions safer to use thanks to enhanced fraud notification, so be it.

     

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  • HBO Max joins Verizon’s +play platform

    HBO Max joins Verizon’s +play platform

    Announced last month during Verizon’s Investor Day, the carrier’s +play platform offers over 20 streaming services ahead of its commercial launch and allows Verizon customers to manage their subscriptions in one place, as well as learn about exclusive deals and offering for content services.

    Starting today, HBO Max will be joining Verizon’s +play platform as partner. The streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery offers content from HBO, Warner Bros., and DC, as well as Max Originals, blockbuster films, as well as kids and family content.

    With HBO Max, we aspire to deliver high-quality entertainment to audiences however and wherever they want to watch it, and this partnership with Verizon to feature HBO Max as a partner for its +play offering is a great, simplified way to do just that.

    Initially designed to provide Verizon customers with access to content the carrier already offers through providers like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, discovery+ and AMC+, the new +play platform introduces new partners, including Netflix, Peloton, WW, The Athletic, Calm, Duolingo, and TelevisaUnivision’s Vix+, among many others with more to come.

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  • Netflix may abandon its “no ads” policy in a push for cheaper subscription plans

    Netflix may abandon its “no ads” policy in a push for cheaper subscription plans

    Netflix, the world’s largest streaming platform, seems to be having a major change of heart with regards to ads. For a long time the company was adamant in refusing to introduce ads, but the need for cheaper subscription options may force it to relent.

    The decision to explore this path has not been taken lightly. The gradual shift in Netflix’s stance on ads has been taking place for quite a while. What started off as a decisive “no”, then became a “never say never” before moving through the “maybe” phase and could now be a reality in the next couple of years.

    Direct competitors to Netflix have long profited from ad revenue, which has allowed them to sustain more competitive prices. Hulu for one offers an ad-supported option for just 6.99$ per month, in comparison to the 9.99$ per month asked from Netflix for its entry-level subscription plan.

    It should be noted that the inclusion of ads allows Hulu to slash a full 6$ from the price of what is an almost identical service as the ad-free one (which comes at 12.99$ instead). If Netflix were to replicate the model and slash 30-40% of the price they could have a very tempting offer in their hands.

    And Netflix is in desperate need of such an offer. Dwindling subscription numbers and plummeting share prices have pushed the business model of the company to its limits. The suspension of the service in Russia and the war in Ukraine have also done their fair share of damage.

    Not so long ago, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix was in its prime (Amazon did well too). Now, for the first time in a decade, the company is losing subscribers. Perhaps a cheaper alternative will be able to change that.

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  • Switzerland as a Sustainability, Blockchain and Fintech Hub

    Switzerland as a Sustainability, Blockchain and Fintech Hub

    It seems rather paradoxical that Switzerland is both a hub for sustainability and an energy-gobbling blockchain hub.

    The latest data from Switzerland’s Department of Finance underscores the growing importance of blockchain and fintech for the country’s financial sector. At the same time, sustainable investments are high on the agenda in Switzerland, the two seemingly at odds with each other.

    The financial industry continues to be one of the most important sectors in Switzerland, even as other areas of the economy have grown more strongly, a report compiled by the State Secretariat for International Financial (SIF) showed.

    The contribution to the Swiss economy from financial and insurance services increased slightly to CHF 66.9 billion in 2021 compared with CHF 64.4 billion a decade ago. At the same time, Switzerland’s GDP expanded more rapidly.

    Employment figures show this as well. Most recently, around 212,000 people worked in the sector, compared with around 216,000 ten years ago. Only outside the core financial sector did employment grow in the last decade, from around 50,000 to 63,000.

    According to the data, sustainable investments showed steep growth, their volume growing by 31 percent last year to over 1.5 trillion Swiss francs, according to a market survey conducted by Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF).

    Switzerland has developed into a hub for startups in blockchain technology and fintech. The number of companies has grown to 1,128 in 2021 from 960 in the previous year, employing 6,002 people compared to 5,184 in 2020.

    According to a study, the number of fintech companies stagnated in 2021, but the volume of business nevertheless increased.

  • AirAsia resumes routes from India to Malaysia, Thailand; AirAsia X starts ops to Korea and India

    AirAsia resumes routes from India to Malaysia, Thailand; AirAsia X starts ops to Korea and India

    AirAsia announced that it is resuming flights from India to Malaysia and Thailand with flights now available from April and May 2022 onward. Six new routes from India to Malaysia include Bengaluru to Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Chennai to Kuala Lumpur,  Tiruchirappalli to KL from 5 April, Kochi – KL commencing 18 April, Kolkata – KL commencing 23 April and Hyderabad – KL commencing from 1 May, 2022.

    Five new routes launching India to Thailand will include Bengaluru-Bangkok (Don Mueang) commencing on 4 May, Chennai-Bangkok (Don Mueang) on 4 May, Kolkata-Bangkok (Don Mueang) commencing on 2 May , Kochi-Bangkok (Don Mueang) commencing on 1 May , and Jaipur-Bangkok (Don Mueang) on 1 May.

    Manoj Dharmani, AirAsia’s Regional Commercial Head for India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh, acknowledged that “AirAsia’s resumption of international flights has been highly anticipated by both the airline and its guests. With Malaysia and Thailand reopening and travel restrictions being lifted, AirAsia will be continually re-introducing international services, starting from April 2022. In this regard, India, Malaysia, and Thailand are countries with significant potential in terms of stimulating tourism and reigniting the economy. We believe that our flight resumption will bring great opportunity and support to the countries’ economic recovery.”

    AirAsia X launching new services to South Korea and India

    Following the  resumption of passenger  services to Sydney, Australia in February, AirAsia X (AAX) is expanding its flight  network from Kuala Lumpur with new services to Incheon (Seoul), South Korea and New Delhi, India commencing from 20 April 2022. Flights to Incheon (Seoul) will initially be operated weekly on Wednesdays and returning on Thursdays. Flights to New Delhi will resume twice weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays returning on the same days. Both services are on sale now for travel between 20 April 2022 to 30 June 2022, with additional services to be added in the near future. Guests with outstanding bookings or unused credit during the pandemic, will be able to use these for future bookings, by updating their original flight booking for future travel or by utilising their credit account to book the flights.

    CEO of AirAsia X Benyamin Ismail said: “After two long years, we are thrilled to return to the skies once again with the best value airfares for medium haul travel. Now that the world is finally opening up, we are gradually resuming flights to our key markets, starting with Sydney recently and now also to South Korea and India, with more popular destinations to be announced soon. We are confident our return to these markets will be well received, particularly for those longing to visit friends and family again or for much anticipated leisure travel. With Malaysia’s international border reopening last week on 1 April, and quarantine free travel both ways on our new services, it is also the perfect time to welcome back international tourists, providing a significant boost to the nation’s tourism sector and the economy, as we did pre-pandemic.”

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  • Netflix loses a quarter of its value after reporting a shocking figure for the first quarter

    Netflix loses a quarter of its value after reporting a shocking figure for the first quarter

    Netflix shares lost more than a quarter of their value this evening after the company released shocking news about the video streamer’s first-quarter earnings. For the first time in over a decade, the company reported a quarterly loss in the number of subscribers which totaled about 200,000 users. Netflix blamed the drop on password sharing, increased competition, inflation, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
    The last time Netflix reported a decline in subscribers was in October 2011. And the bleeding is going to continue with the company forecasting a further decline of two million subscribers for the current quarter that wraps up at the end of June.
    The report was released after regular trading hours on NASDAQ where Netflix shares had risen by $10.75 or 3.18% to close at $348.61 per share. But once investors saw the first quarter results and the forecast for the current quarter, they dumped the stock taking it down to $259 for a loss of $89.61 or 25.70% in after-hours trading. Netflix also took down the shares of fellow streamers like Roku, Disney, and Spotify, all of which declined thanks to Netflix. For example, Disney stock, which rose $4.40 during regular trading hours, gave it back and more when the report was released.
    In a letter to shareholders, Netflix wrote, “Our revenue growth has slowed considerably. Streaming is winning over linear, as we predicted, and Netflix titles are very popular globally. However, our relatively high household penetration — when including the large number of households sharing accounts — combined with competition, is creating revenue growth headwinds.”
    Netflix pointed out that there is plenty of growth potential ahead as half of the world’s broadband users still do not have a Netflix account. As the company stated, “while hundreds of millions of homes pay for Netflix, well over half of the world’s broadband homes don’t yet, representing huge future growth potential.”
    Looking to reduce the practice of password sharing which is eating into Netflix’s results, the streamer is looking to hike the subscription rate for plans that are shared between households. This could result in subscribers paying an extra $2.99 monthly to allow a family member who doesn’t live at the same address to share the account. Netflix Co-CEO Reed Hastings said that the company is considering offering lower-priced ad-supported tiers of service (similar to NBCUniversal’s Peacock).
    During the first quarter of 2022, Netflix took in $7.87 billion, up 9.8% on an annual basis. Net income declined 5.9% from $1.7 billion to 1.6 billion during the first quarter. Diluted earnings per share slipped 5.8% to $3.53. For this quarter, Netflix sees earnings per share of $3.00.
    The number of global streaming paid memberships declined from 221,840,000 to 221,640,000 from the 4th quarter of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022. Wall Street was expecting a 2.7 million increase in subscribers. The suspension of Netflix’s streaming service in Russia cost Netflix 700,000 subscribers. If not for that activity, Netflix would have reported an increase of 500,000 subscribers during the quarter.
    Netflix announced today that over 100 million global households use a shared password and that a global crackdown on this practice is coming. 30 million Netflix users in the U.S. and Canada are believed to be sharing Netflix passwords while over 100 million additional households worldwide are sharing the same passwords. Netflix told shareholders on Tuesday that, “Account sharing as a percentage of our paying membership hasn’t changed much over the years, but…it’s harder to grow membership in many markets — an issue that was obscured by our COVID growth.”
    Netflix said that originally it generously allowed users ti share passwords to help users get “hooked” to the service. But now, with the heavy competition that it faces from Disney+, Peacock, AppleTV+ and others, Netflix says that it is time for those getting the service for free to start paying for it.
  • Unilever’s new New Zealand chief finally takes his office

    Unilever’s new New Zealand chief finally takes his office

    Unilever New Zealand MD Cameron Heath will relocate to take up the new role with his team this month after nearly six months of managing the role remotely.

    His predecessor, Nick Bangs, will move to Sydney to take on the role of GM, home, beauty and personal care for Unilever Australia and New Zealand.

    Heath spent seven years working as GM Baltics with Unilever in Latvia and four years as marketing director food & beverages in Prague. Prior to that, he worked at Procter & Gamble for seven years, taking responsibility for customer development and category strategy roles, including time working in the New Zealand market.

    Heath said Unilever’s commitment aligns with his personal goal to care of the health of the planet and create a fairer, more diverse, and equitable world.

    “As one of the world’s largest producers of consumer goods, we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to do more good for our planet, not just less harm,” said Heath.

    With 15 years in the FMCG industry, Heath has experience in marketing and category management, so he understands and has awareness of the challenges that lie ahead for the consumer goods sector.

    “I understand first-hand the pressure retailers and consumers are facing as we deal with supply-chain disruption and increased cost of production across the board,” he added.

    Cameron Heath started his role remotely last November and will join his team in New Zealand this month.

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  • Yum China names new executives

    Yum China names new executives

    Yum China has appointed Johnson Huang as its first chief customer officer and Warton Wang, who is currently the chief development officer, as GM of KFC. Both roles are effective on May 1.

    Yum China says creating the chief customer officer position is one of the company’s strategies to “integrate customer-centricity into its brand-driven culture”.

    Johnson Huang has served as GM of KFC and joined the company in 2006. Prior to that, he was the company’s chief information and marketing support officer and helped build IT functions and digital infrastructure.

    In his new role, Huang will focus on enhancing customer experiences as well as understanding the market demand and creating cross-functional initiatives. He will also supervise some brands like Lavazza, Coffii & Joy and Taco Bell, and continue to report to Joey Wat, the company’s CEO.

    Meanwhile, Warton Wang will succeed Huang as the GM of KFC. Wang joined the brand in 1998 as an operations management trainee and has held various operations roles within KFC, including as market manager of Hangzhou KFC.

    Wang became the regional VP of KFC Field Operations in 2015 and the company’s chief development officer in 2020.

    “Digital is a core growth enabler of Yum China to unlock tremendous opportunities. Johnson’s new leadership role will enable us to continuously strengthen our digital capabilities and elevate the customer experience,” Joey Wat.

    “With his strong technology background and deep understanding of the organisation, Johnson is most suited for this new role. [His] proven track record of leading KFC in the past five years gives us confidence that he can transform our emerging brands into future growth engines for Yum China.”

  • Central Retail invests US$3 million for Tops Market’s new model

    Central Retail invests US$3 million for Tops Market’s new model

    Central Retail has invested US$3 million to build Tops Market’s first standalone supermarket, on Bangkok’s Pattanakarn 30.

    Catering to the residential areas in Eastern Bangkok, the new standalone supermarket spans 3400sqm, housing more than 17,000 items across seven zones, including Healthiful, Snacker, Asian Flavours and Petster. Tops Market Pattanakarn 30 offers omnichannel with personal shopper service and quick commerce service through Line.

    “The new store will cater to modern consumers who prefer shopping near their home so that they do not have to worry about commuting,” said Stephane Coum, CEO of Central Food Retail. “We recognise the spending potential of the consumers in this area, as it is an upscale residential area in Eastern Bangkok, with many large-scale real estate projects.”

    Sustainability innovations and technology are implemented at the store in line with the Central Retail Retailligence strategy. Two EV charging stations are installed to support clean energy, while energy-saving refrigerators are used to reduce the use of electricity and carbon footprints.

    Customers can also collect trash and household waste to receive points on recycling days. Each point is equal to one baht, and Tops Market adds another baht to be donated to Empty Bottles, Full Value project by Wat Chak Daeng in Samut Prakan province, to make PPE uniforms for the temple and garbage collectors.

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  • Vietnam plans two-thirds cut in thermal power

    Vietnam plans two-thirds cut in thermal power

    Vietnam will reduce coal-fired power supply by two-thirds between 2025 and 2045 and increase renewable power supply to account for more than half of the total.

    All localities have expressed agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s latest version – Power Power Development Plan 8 – which was announced earlier this month. The ministry is required to complete its final draft of the plan and submit it to the government by the end of this month, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has said.

    The plan includes targets to bring down the ratio of coal-fired power supply from 29.3 percent in 2025 to 9.6 percent in 2045, when the country is set to have a total supply of 401,556 megawatts from all sources.

    This means coal-fired projects under construction will still be completed, but no new plant will be approved. Hydropower will also see its ratio reduced from 27.2 percent in 2025 to 9 percent in 2045. Renewable energy, comprising mostly of wind and solar power, will see its ratio increase from 23.7 percent in 2025 to 59.5 percent by 2045.

    Offshore projects are set to account for zero percent of supply by 2025 but will rise to 17 percent by 2045.

    Solar power farms will see its ratio more than double from 8.9 percent to 19.4 percent.

    The industry ministry also eyes a gradual transition from liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects to hydrogen power over 20 years. By the 10th year of their operation, the government wants LNG plants to have 20 percent of their capacity coming from hydrogen power.

    The latest development plan aims to maximize the reduction of coal-fired power sources in order to meet the country’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the industry ministry told the government in its report.

    Carbon emissions are set to hit 175 million tonnes by 2045 and fall to 42 million tonnes by 2050.

    The plan will also increase power independence and reduce the need for energy imports, the ministry said.

    Power imports are set to see their ratio decrease from 4.5 percent of total supply in 2025 to 2.8 percent in 2045.

    The industry ministry estimates an investment of $141.6 billion to implement this plant, with transmission accounting for nearly 10 percent.

    It wants to increase power transmission from the central and southern regions to the northern region starting 2030.

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  • ZTE COO Xie Junshi: Digitalization is the key to greater societal resilience

    ZTE COO Xie Junshi: Digitalization is the key to greater societal resilience

    At the post MWC22 sharing session recently organized by the GSMA, Xie Junshi, EVP and COO of ZTE, explored several exciting new trends in scenario-based 5G applications, mobile technologies, and industry development in an increasingly digitalized world.

    Xie noted that digitalization in the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) era is continuously strengthening the “immune system” of our society, playing an irreplaceable role in tackling not only the current pandemic but also long-term public health issues such as ageing populations while promoting sustainable development. With digitalizationaccelerating around the world, both the technology and market are changing disruptively, creating more innovations and greater potential. To maintain a competitive edge, CSPs are pursuing the transformation to DSPs. Focusing on scenarios and value creation, ZTE aims to work jointly with all partners to build a digital and intelligent ecosystem.

    Below are the highlights of Xie’s sharing:

    Accelerating global digitalization is boosting the society’s immune system

    Digitalization is the key to greater societal resilience in the post-pandemic era. Whether in telecommuting, online collaboration, or digital factories, digitalization provides support for our lives and helps guarantee the health of the entire economy. Digitalization is also playing a pivotal role in tackling VUCA and population aging while promoting green, low-carbon, and sustainable development.

    Driven by scenario and value, both the market and technology are changing disruptively. The diverse range of exhibitors and fascinating content at MWC 2022 highlight the evolution from mobile Internet to IoE and AIoE, marked by ubiquitous 5G connectivity, AI advancement, cloud-network convergence, and new technologies. Today, without a doubt, global digitalization is accelerating, creating more technological innovations and greater market potential. To maintain a competitive edge, CSPs are pursuing the transformation to DSPs.

    In every industrial revolution, higher efficiency has always been the most critical factor. This current revolution of digitalization is no exception. At MWC 2022, most of the digital innovations presented by exhibitors, including ZTE, focus on higher efficiency. For instance, ZTE shared innovations for simplified infrastructure, efficient and intelligent operations, as well as agile innovations for achieving growth in the second curve of digital services. ZTE has also adopted scenario-based approaches to realize the ultimate experience and efficiency, promoting sustainable development and future technological advancements.

    Sustainable development is the key goal of enterprises, while the key to promoting 5G application in the to-B field lies in three aspects

    For 5G networks, consumers look forward to a better experience, while enterprises look for lower costs, higher efficiency, and business growth. So far, in the to-B field, 5G technology has been widely applied to verticals. For example, to assist or replace manpower, 5G-powered automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are used in flexible production lines, 8K machine vision for more efficient quality inspection, and unmanned or remotely controlled machines to assist in operations.

    To facilitate greater breakthroughs in the to-B field, however, it is important to achieve collaboration with operators and enterprises where every party stands to benefit. Together, there are three aspects to work on: creating and sustaining competitive differentiation, developing effective business models to speed up value creation, and exploring the path to mass customization.

    Competitive differentiation means that ZTE can provide unique and optimal solutions, and hence stand out from the competition. When delivering 5G solutions for verticals, it is important to determine whether 5G technology is indispensable, or whether the 5G-powered solutions have unparalleled advantages over others. This is how competitive differentiation can be sustained.

    As for speeding up value creation in the early stage of 5G application, it is important to focus on customers’ pain points and distinctive needs in fragmented scenarios. On this basis, ZTE can explore more scenarios in different fields, so as to accelerate the development of 5G application in the to-B field.

    To achieve higher profitability, mass customization is the optimal choice. This is why ZTE aims to build underlying capabilities of digital infrastructure and component-based cloud capabilities. Through flexible orchestration of such capabilities, agile innovation can be implemented, meeting the requirements of different applications in various scenarios. In addition, this allows ZTE to continue to build successful experience across different scenarios and consolidate a strong digital foundation, to enable rapid iteration and continuous evolution.

    Evolving consumer expectations drive 5G application in the to-C field, and joint efforts are required for building the infrastructure and ecosystem

    The rapid development of the mobile Internet is driven by evolving consumer expectations and improving human capabilities. The same will be true for the application of 5G in the to-C field. For example, consumer demands boost the development of applications that can provide real-time, immersive, and interactive audio-visual experience, such as UHD videos, AR and VR applications, and cloud gaming. This has been a trend in countries with wide 5G network coverage, including China and South Korea. With 5G technology, we can now watch live sport events with a panoramic view, freely zoom in or out, and switch between different camera positions. In this way, consumers can stay at home and enjoy personalized and immersive experiences in real time. In order to make the much talked-about metaverse a reality, we need to enhance network capabilities, computing power, and storage capabilities, for which 5G technology plays a vital role.

    To promote 5G applications in the to-C field, wide and deep network coverage is of great importance. More specifically, we need optimal, cost-effective 5G solutions that can guarantee continuous and intensive network coverage both outdoors and indoors, even on high-speed trains, airplanes, and ships. ZTE has already made many innovations in the to-C fields. In addition, easy-to-use and cost-effective terminals, together with different kinds of content services, will help give rise to improved applications in a stronger and healthier ecosystem.

    ZTE is committed to building a “1+2+3” digital ecosystem.

    The next major chapter of 5G development will start with the arrival of 5G-Advanced. While 3GPP Releases 15, 16, and 17 represent the first phase of 5G standards, 5G-Advanced marks the start of the second. Following up on 5G commercial deployment and empowerment of verticals worldwide, 5G-Advanced focuses on better user experience and more industry applications.

    In December 2021, together with its industry partners, 3GPP approved a work package for its Release 18, marking the start of 5G-Advanced evolution. The work package includes 28 study or work items in a variety of scenarios, including eMBB, real-time interactive new media, network intelligence, IoT featuring high-precision positioning and low power consumption, IIoT, integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), fused location, and satellite-cellular network integration. These efforts will bring us brand new capabilities, applications, and experiences. Toward 5G-Advanced, ZTE will continuously work with industry partners to promote technological innovation and industrial transformation.

    To gain a firm foothold in this process of network evolution, ZTE is always committed to building a “1+2+3″ digital ecosystem, looking to address key pain points and create greater value for customers.

    So what exactly is ”1+2+3”?

    “1” refers to a solid foundation consisting of chipsets, algorithms, and architectures. ZTE continuously strengthens its foundation to gain momentum for growth.

    “2” refers to intelligence and security, which are crucial to 5G networks and business.

    “3” refers to capability, performance, and efficiency, which should be continuously improved through innovations and are key to the prosperity of 5G.

    With the evolution to 5G-Advanced, ZTE will work with industry partners and advance technological innovations to reinvent a digital world.

    China’s 5G development will make greater contributions to global industries and markets.

    As of January 2022, a total of 1.425 million 5G base stations have been built in China, making 5G networks available in over 98% of counties and 80% of towns. Mobile 5G connections now exceed 518 million. More crucially, over 10,000 innovative 5G use cases have been created, which span the fields of manufacturing, health care, education and transportation.

    In the 5G era, China has been an active contributor in many aspects:

    • The moderately advanced pace of network construction in China has boosted the growth of the 5G industry.
    • China has continued exploring and promoting large-scale 5G application, consolidating the foundation of the entire industry.
    • China actively pushes forward the co-building and sharing of networks for higher resource efficiency.

    China has a wide range of wireless scenarios and a sound foundation provided by its digital economy, and is witnessing the growth of huge potential in consumer markets and various industries. With the moderately advanced pace of 5G network construction, excellent network coverage and guaranteed performance, China’s unique environment is set to produce a range of more applications and continuous innovation, and contribute to global industries and markets.

    Video link to Xie’s sharing at MWC22 :

    https://res-www.zte.com.cn/MediaFiles/4/F/4/%7B4F48E19C-7979-4844-861C-99C0759DA7F4%7D202204151635.mp4