United News of Bangladesh

Summertime revenue growth at Google’s corporate parent slipped to its slowest pace since the pandemic jarred the economy more than two years ago, with advertisers clamping down on spending and bracing for a potential recession. Alphabet Inc., which owns an array of smaller technology companies in addition to Google, on Tuesday posted revenue of $69.1 billion for the July-September quarter, a 6% increase from the same time last year. It marked the first time Alphabet’s year-over-year quarterly revenue has risen by less than 10% since the April-June period of 2020. At that time, the advertisers that generate most of its revenue pulled in their reins because of the economic uncertainty during the pandemic’s early months. Google’s ad sales weakened even more dramatically than Alphabet’s overall revenue. Ad revenue totaled $54.5 billion, up just 2.5% from the same time last year. In another sign of more challenging times, YouTube’s quarterly ad sales decreased 2% from last year, the first time the video site’s revenue has regressed since Google began disclosing its results in 2019. The revenue slowdown also created a drag on Alphabet’s profits. The Mountain View, California, company earned $13.9 billion, $1.06 per share, a 27% drop from the same time last year. Both revenue and earnings per share fell below projections of analysts surveyed by FactSet. Alphabet’s shares declined nearly 7% in extended trading after the numbers came out. The stock price has plummeted by more than 30% this year, erasing about $600 billion in shareholder wealth. “Online ad spending is clearly slowing more than we thought,” said David Heger, an analyst for Edward Jones. “It looks like it is going to be tough sledding for the next few quarters.” Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai described the conditions as “uncertain” and told analysts during a conference call, “it is a moment where you take the time to optimize the company to make sure we are set up for the next decade of growth ahead.” Google’s moneymaking machine, propelled by its dominant search engine, roared back as pandemic restrictions loosened last year and government stimulus juiced the economy, helping power Alphabet to a 41% increase in its revenue last year that lifted its stock price to new peaks. But the economy has been sputtering in recent months as central bankers steadily lift interest rates to combat the highest inflation rates in more than 40 years, a strategy that is threatening to plunge the economy into a recession. As it is, many households have already tightened their budgets and cut back on some discretionary items — a trend that has prompted advertisers to spend less marketing their products and services. “This disappointing quarter for Google signifies hard times ahead,” warned Insider Intelligence analyst Evelyn Mitchell. Alphabet has vowed to scale back its hiring, but didn’t show much restraint during the summer months. After adding 17,500 employees to its payroll during the first half of the year, the company’s workforce increased by another 11,765 people in the past quarter. Alphabet ended September with nearly 187,000 employees. Ruth Porat, Alphabet’s chief financial officer, predicted during the conference call that the company will hire fewer than 6,380 workers during the final three months of this year, a more measured approach that Pichai said would continue into next year. The cautious remarks came after Pichai told Alphabet employees last month to be “a bit more responsible through one of the toughest macroeconomic conditions” of the past decade and urged them not to “equate fun with money.” Although the economy is squeezing its finances, Google is faring far better than other internet companies whose fortunes are tied to digital advertising. Facebook suffered its first year-over-year quarterly decline in revenue earlier this year. Another social networking company, Snap, has been so hard hit that its stock price has plunged by more than 80% so far this year. Facebook, Snap and a variety of other internet services rely on being able to track users’ whereabouts and online activities to target ads. Apple began blocking that tracking on iPhones 18 months ago unless users consented to the surveillance. Google’s search engine is still able to gather personal information prized by advertisers through its search engine, minimizing the impact of Apple’s tougher privacy controls on its revenue. Facebook’s corporate parent, Meta Platforms, is scheduled to report its results for the latest quarter Wednesday afternoon.

Global tech giant Huawei has called upon all industry players to prepare on all fronts so that they can move faster towards the 5.5G era and eventually build a better, intelligent world together. David Wang, Huawei's executive director of the Board and Chairman of ICT Infrastructure Managing Board, said this while delivering a keynote address at the Global Mobile Broadband Forum which began in Bangkok on Tuesday. "With the intelligent world fast approaching, the rapid changes we are set to experience will all be accompanied by increasing requirements for digital infrastructure. The next milestone we must hit on the path to the intelligent world is 5.5G. 5.5G will deliver 10 Gbit/s experiences, support hundreds of billions of connections, and help us achieve native intelligence," he said. Wang emphasized that after two years of concerted efforts across the industry, 5.5G has seen huge progress and three things have become clear. "First, the standardization of 5.5G has been initiated and is on the right track, making it more than just a vision. Second, the industry has made breakthroughs in key technologies for 5.5G, and ultra-large bandwidth and ELAA can now deliver 10 Gbit/s experience. "Third, the industry has a clear vision for the IoT landscape. Three types of 5.5G-enabled IoT technologies supported by 5.5G, namely NB-IoT, RedCap, and passive IoT, are developing rapidly and will support numerous IoT connections," he said. The communications industry, Wang said, is constantly evolving. "5.5G has been kicked into high gear. Looking ahead, our task is to tackle these five new areas – standards, spectrum, products, ecosystems, and applications. Together, let's stride to 5.5G and build a better, intelligent world." The Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2022 is hosted by Huawei, together with its industry partners, GSMA and GTI. This annual forum gathers mobile network carriers, vertical industry leaders, and ecosystem partners from around the world to discuss how to make 5G a commercial success and other hot topics like green development, intelligence, and 5G evolution. It may be mentioned that in December 2021, telecom regulator BTRC launched the initial 5G network in Bangladesh in collaboration with state-owned mobile operator Teletalk. But the initial coverage remains extremely limited, extending only to the Prime Minister's Office, Parliament, Secretariat, Bangabandhu Museum on Dhanmondi 32, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth place Tungipara in Gopalganj, and the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar. The country, however, has big ambitions with 5G and its expanded capabilities in the near future, as coverage expands. Till now, it has partnered with Huawei in bringing 5G to Bangladesh.

The call for submission of research on the fourth industrial revolution – a first of its kind initiative by Awami League's subcommittee on science and technology – drew overwhelming response with papers submitted by globally and nationally acclaimed academics and experts. As many as 578 authors came up with their research papers encompassing different fields revolving 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) in technology – mostly to complement the party’s effort to build on the pledge of “Smart Bangladesh”, the next phase of digital transformation the government seeks to implement to address future challenges. Among them there are researchers from the Silicon Valley, London Imperial College, Australia’s Monash University, McMaster and Calgary universities in Canada, several universities in US, and Kyoto University in Japan, according to a press release. Set to be held next month, the two-day international conference would see participation from the country’s state minister for ICT Junaid Ahmed Palak and Engineer Md Abdus Sabur, AL’s Science and Technology Secretary, among other experts. It will take place at the capital's Engineers' Institution, Bangladesh (IEB). The international conference provides a unique opportunity for professionals, scientists, engineers, educators, researchers and students to share their views and thoughts on both the innovative drives of the government targeting 4IR and exploring emerging technologies that can lead to a “smart Bangladesh” by 2041. The organizers believe the country is progressing rapidly and to address the course of future progress, such initiatives stand as a pointer to the party’s measures for chartering out timely ideas to shape its visions. Courtesy Sajeeb Wazed, the ICT affairs advisor to PM, who has been credited with the country’s real and measurable gains in digital landscape with setting many records from making internet cost effective, taking public services at people’s doorstep, setting up ICT parks, and expansion of mobile financial services over the space of a decade, Bangladesh now boasts a significant earning from overseas through offering different services. Digital Bangladesh is a vision introduced by AL before the 2008 national election, seeking to brining about a revolution in the country’s overall rise in South Asia. In a word, this is one step forward towards works on 4IR and the party believes that this conference will give a chance to make inter and intra relationships and share knowledge among policymakers, scientists and researchers. 

After the longest reported downtime, WhatsApp messaging services are now operational again. For approximately 90 minutes, the instant messaging service was not available. Users reported receiving all messages now that WhatsApp is officially up and running. WhatsApp is currently functional on WhatsApp Web, Android, and iOS apps. Although some users claim that services on WhatsApp Web are still not functioning, phone app should be functional. Read WhatsApp down: Users report not being able to send, receive messages Many worldwide use WhatsApp, a popular messaging service owned by Meta, to send rapid texts. Earlier today, WhatsApp experienced a significant outage that lasted for about two hours. This prevented millions of WhatsApp users from sending or receiving messages globally. WhatsApp earlier claimed that it was working to resume operations. “We’re aware that some people are currently having trouble sending messages and we’re working to restore WhatsApp for everyone as quickly as possible,” a Meta spokesperson has said. Read Users report not able to send, receive messages Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are all owned by the US-based firm Meta.

Global giant Huawei’s chairman Ken Hu on Tuesday (October 25, 2022) promised to expand its investment and enhance innovation for ensuring better telecommunication under the 5G regime across the world. "5G has grown faster than any previous generation of mobile technology," Hu said in a keynote paper at the 13th Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2022, which began in Bangkok on Tuesday.  "In just three years, we've seen solid progress in network deployment, consumer services, and industry applications,” he added saying that more than 230 carriers around the world have already launched commercial 5G services. Read:Huawei ICT Incubator announces top 6 startups from Bangladesh In total, he said, the industry has set up over three million 5G base stations, serving more than 700 million subscribers.  "5G is in the fast lane," Hu said. “But there's more we can do…We need to work together to fully unleash the power of 5G networks and expand into services like cloud and system integration,” he said. Chinese company Huawei, together with its industry partners GSMA and GTI, is hosting the two-day event. Organisers say mobile network carriers, vertical industry leaders and ecosystem partners from around the world will discuss how to make 5G a commercial success, as well as other high-priority industry topics like green development, intelligence, and 5G evolution. Read:Huawei, RedDot team up to develop Bangladesh cloud market Hu said that in telecoms, consumer services still account for the bulk of carrier revenue. But now, he said, as 5G becomes more prevalent, its vastly superior experience is driving new shifts in consumer behavior, including a sharp rise in high-definition video traffic. He also said B2B 5G applications are also becoming a new engine for carrier revenue growth, producing considerable value in industries like oil and gas, manufacturing, and transportation.  Read Huawei launches its largest-ever regional Seeds for the Future Program He said these applications are not only innovative – they're generating real commercial value for carriers. In 2021, for example, Chinese carriers brought in over $500 million in new revenue from more than 3,000 industrial 5G projects. “B2B 5G applications are poised to become the fastest growing revenue stream for carriers. 5G is enabling new service scenarios, applications, and business models, paving the way for unprecedented growth opportunities in the industry,” he said. He said to keep this momentum the carriers should work together. Read Huawei cloud, digital power teams onboard 60 fresh graduates "The industry needs to come together to define standards, prepare the spectrum, and build out the ecosystem," said Hu. “Industry digitalisation is the next wave of global economic development. As a key enabler of digital transformation, 5G opens up a world of new opportunities. But the ICT ecosystem needs to work together to make the most of them,” he said. He said Huawei would continue to follow the trend of innovation. Read Huawei: Maximise network resources for 5G's commercial success

Users in several countries, including in Bangladesh, are reporting problems with WhatsApp’s text sending and receiving capabilities – suggesting that the app may be experiencing a bug. The number of people reporting the outage of WhatsApp has sharply increased, according to Downdetector, a website that measures online outages throughout the world. According to the BBC, users in the UK cannot access the messaging service. Italian and Turkish social media users both complained about not being able to send messages on WhatsApp. Read Users report not able to send, receive messages According to Downdetector, more than 11,000 users in India have reported a WhatsApp outage, compared to 68,000 in the UK and 19,000 in Singapore, as of 7:50GMT (Bangladesh time 1:50pm). WhatsApp has claimed that it is working to resume operations. “We’re aware that some people are currently having trouble sending messages and we’re working to restore WhatsApp for everyone as quickly as possible,” a Meta spokesperson has said. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are all owned by the US-based firm Meta.  Read Top WhatsApp Alternatives for Free Calling and Group Chatting

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) mobilised a $135 million financing package for VinFast Trading and Production Joint Stock Company (VinFast) for manufacturing Vietnam's first fully-electric public transport bus fleet and first national electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The assistance will support Vietnam's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and expand high-tech manufacturing industries. The seven-year climate financing comprises a $20 million loan funded by ADB, parallel loans of $87 million facilitated by ADB as mandated lead arranger, and concessional financing of up to $28 million. Climate financing is certified by the Climate Bonds Initiative, a scientifically-based standard for labelling bonds, loans, and other debt instruments which contribute to addressing climate change. ADB has partially offset the project's risks by using concessional financing from its managed trust funds comprising a loan of up to $20 million from the Australian Climate Finance Partnership funded by the Australian Government (ACFP); a loan of up to $5 million from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF); and a grant of up to $3 million from the Climate Innovation and Development Fund, funded by Goldman Sachs and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Parallel loans were also mobilised by ADB from Export Finance Australia, the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation, Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG, and ResponsAbility. "This project delivers a high-impact, sustainable transport solution for Vietnam while helping it meet its climate goals and supporting the growth of climate finance in the region," ADB Private Sector Operations Department Director General Suzanne Gaboury said. "Asia and the Pacific is the frontline of the global fight against climate change, and private sector projects like this one with innovative partners such as VinFast are crucial to help its countries decarbonise their economies." Vietnam's transport sector accounts for 18 percent of the country's annual greenhouse gas emissions, and its decarbonisation, through options like e-mobility, is expected to directly impact the country's ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. "We are delighted to receive this extensive support and a long-term financing package from ADB and several esteemed international development finance Institutions. We see this as a vote of confidence in our efforts to become a global smart mobility company that offers environmentally friendly public transportation, and to advance Vietnam's transition to a low carbon economy," said VinFast's Global CEO Thuy Le. Established in 2017, VinFast is Vietnam's first domestic car company and e-vehicle manufacturer. VinFast is a subsidiary of Vingroup Joint Stock Company, Vietnam's largest private enterprise and the largest listed company in Vietnam. VinFast develops e-cars for the domestic and international markets and is investing in a nationwide network of fast-charging units to support its e-vehicle expansion in Vietnam.  

Elon Musk plans to lay off most of Twitter’s workforce if and when he becomes owner of the social media company, according to a report Thursday by The Washington Post. Musk has told prospective investors in his Twitter purchase that he plans to cut nearly 75% of Twitter’s employee base of 7,500 workers, leaving the company with a skeleton crew, according to the report. The newspaper cited documents and unnamed sources familiar with the deliberations. San Francisco-based Twitter and a representative for Musk attorney Alex Spiro did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. While job cuts have been expected regardless of the sale, the magnitude of Musk's planned cuts are far more extreme than anything Twitter had planned. Musk himself has alluded to the need to cull some of the company's staff in the past, but he hadn't given a specific number — at least not publicly. "A 75% headcount cut would indicate, at least out of the gates, stronger free cash flow and profitability, which would be attractive to investors looking to get in on the deal," said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. “That said, you can’t cut your way to growth." Ives added that such a drastic reduction in Twitter's workforce would likely set the company back years. Already, experts, nonprofits and even Twitter's own staff have warned that pulling back investments on content moderation and data security could hurt Twitter and its users. With as drastic a reduction as Musk may be planning, the platform could quickly become overrun with harmful content and spam — the latter of which the Tesla CEO himself has said he'll address if he becomes owner of the company. After his initial $44 billion bid in April to buy Twitter, Musk backed out of the deal, contending Twitter misrepresented the number of fake “spam bot” accounts on its platform. Twitter sued, and a Delaware judge has given both sides until Oct. 28 to work out details. Otherwise, there will be a trial in November.

India's competition regulator has imposed a whopping fine of Rs 1,337 crore on Google, in an anti-trust suit linked to the Android mobile operating system. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Thursday night tweeted to say that the fine was imposed on the search engine giant "for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in the Android mobile device ecosystem". According to the CCI order, the search engine "operates and manages the Android OS and licences its other proprietary applications, and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) use this OS and Google's apps in their smart mobile devices". "Accordingly, they enter into multiple agreements to govern their rights and obligations, such as Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA). "MADA assured that the most prominent search entry points i.e., search app, widget and Chrome browser are pre-installed on Android devices, which accorded significant competitive edge to Google's search services over its competitors," the CCI said. Google also secured significant competitive edge over its competitors, in relation to its another revenue-earning app i.e. YouTube in Android devices, according to the CCI order. Google is yet to respond to the order. 

Global ICT infrastructure provider Huawei has announced six startups as the winners of its ICT Incubator 2022 programme. The winners will get seed money as the award in addition to the opportunity to meet global startups for knowledge sharing. The announcement was made at a city hotel Wednesday (October 19, 2022). Huawei organised the event with the cooperation of Startup Bangladesh and the Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA). Read Huawei's 20-yr presence in Bangladesh witnesses tech transformation The competition has two groups, namely, the Idea Stage and the Early Stage. The winners of the Idea Stage and the Early Stage, respectively, are Insure Cow (Champion), Durjoy DSS (first runners-up), and Relaxy (second runners-up); and Jahaji (champions), Palki (first runners-up), and We Gro Technologies (second runners-up). The champions will get Tk500,000 as prize money and $125,000 Huawei Cloud credit; whereas the first and second runners-up will get Tk300,000 and Tk100,000 as prize money, respectively, in addition to $80,000 Huawei Cloud Credit. Apart from these, a co-founder from each company will visit abroad to meet successful foreign startups. An independent jury panel of the iDEA project, Huawei Bangladesh, Startup Bangladesh and other renowned leaders of the startup ecosystem of Bangladesh, selected the winners. Read Huawei welcomes 10 BD ICT talents in Beijing ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak joined the event as the chief guest. Li Jiming, ambassador of China to Bangladesh, was present as a special guest along with Professor Vincent Chang, vice-chancellor of Brac University, Pan Junfeng, CEO of Huawei Bangladesh, Sami Ahmed, managing director of Startup Bangladesh, Md Altaf Hossain, project director (joint secretary) of iDEA Project. Around 180 participants applied for this year's ICT Incubator programme. Divided into two groups – The idea stage and the Early stage, 68 startups were selected to join the Incubator Bootcamp, where they were mentored and provided technical training. After this, the participants presented their startup ideas before the jury panel. Based on the judgment of the jury members, a total of 20 startups from both stages were selected as finalists for the gala event of Huawei ICT Incubator 2022. Finally, the top 3 from the Idea stage and the top 3 from the Early stage have been announced as winners at the gala event. Read Huawei brings three competitions for Bangladeshi youths