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WBBA Releases Global Net5.5G Readiness Assessment and Certification Standards, and Huawei Unveils Upgraded Net5.5G IP Bearer Network Offerings to Boost New Industry Vitality

BEIJING, March 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At MWC Barcelona 2026, the World Broadband Association (WBBA), together with global industry partners, released the Net5.5G Readiness Assessment and Certification white paper during the Broadband Development Congress (BDC). The white paper provides a standardized framework for intelligent network evolution for carriers and enterprises worldwide. At the same event, Huawei announced its upgraded Net5.5G IP bearer network offerings, helping accelerate the industry's journey into the intelligent world. WBBA released Net5.5G readiness assessment and certification standards, establishing the first global unified assessment framework for intelligent networks. The white paper introduces the IP Network Development Index, the world's first assessment and ranking framework covering campus networks, IP bearer networks, and data center networks. It provides carriers and enterprises with a reference standard and clear direction for evaluating network development, and will drive global commercial deployment and intelligent evolution. Meanwhile, the Net5.5G Pioneer Program, led by WBBA, has made steady progress, with the global pioneer matrix now including 32 visionary pioneers, 6 region pioneers, and 44 business pioneers. Huawei announced upgraded Net5.5G IP bearer network offerings, which are fully aligned with the new standards. Steven Zhao, delivering a keynote speech titled "Moving Towards the All Intelligence Era, Net5.5G Leads Intelligent IP Innovation" Steven Zhao, Vice President of Huawei's Data Communication Product Line, said, "To embrace the All Intelligence era, WBBA is promoting the in-depth integration of networks and AI based on Net5.5G, and Huawei has upgraded IP bearer networks across three dimensions—security resilience, multi-dimensional awareness, and network autonomy. These efforts empower carriers to build a Net5.5G intelligent IP network foundation to safeguard service experience, accelerate monetization, and enhance efficiency, leading a new chapter of intelligent connectivity." Global practices: Net5.5G moving from standards to real-world business value Leading carriers and industry players showcased their latest Net5.5G practices. France's Orange Group turns its networks into an AI-ready platform, leveraging high bandwidth, intelligent and agile, efficient, trusted and reliable transport and access networks. CTM in Macao (China) built an intelligent bearer network with Net5.5G AI WAN. It leveraged AI training and inference-driven perception to identify encrypted video traffic and enable precision marketing and application-level experience assurance, reducing customer churn and boosting the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU). Meanwhile, IGA in Türkiye leveraged AI-driven decision-making to reduce three-runway scheduling wait times by 20%. Powered by a reliable network capacity that ensures safe and real-time visualized baggage handling, the airport harnessed digital intelligence to enhance aviation safety and deliver an exceptional network experience for passengers. IGA has become a shining example for efficient, eco-friendly, and resilient development among global hub airports. Looking ahead, WBBA calls on global industry organizations to deepen collaboration and drive innovations in technology standards, industry policies, and commercial practices for intelligent evolution to Net5.5G. Huawei will continue to work with WBBA and global partners, leveraging Net5.5G standards and cutting-edge intelligent solutions to promote industry prosperity.

2026-03-04

HiRO Leads Cross‑Border Dialogue at JPM, Offering Insights for Biotechs Seeking Asian Investment

SOMERSET, N.J., March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO), a global contract research organization specializing in strategic planning for clinical development and cross‑border clinical trial solutions and services, concluded a successful presence at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. HiRO's Founder and CEO, Dr. Karen Chu, was a featured speaker at RESI JPM, where she moderated a panel convening investors and strategics at the forefront of the cell and gene therapy revolution. Panelists Robert Balfour of ALSA Ventures and Bettina Ernst of BERNINA BioInvest highlighted the current momentum in cell and gene therapies, discussed how they assess technical and commercial risk, identified partnership models that accelerate progress, and outlined where capital is flowing in this rapidly advancing field. Dr. Chu also led a workshop titled "Leveraging Asia: How to Navigate Asian VC Investment Mandates." The session opened with the 2026 industry outlook and key trends, then highlighted priority therapeutic areas. It explained the NewCo model and the criteria Asian venture capital firms use to evaluate global biotech assets, their co‑investment preferences, and expectations for commercialization. The workshop featured Asia‑based investors Dr. Alva Chen, Managing Director and Head of Therapeutics, VMS Group; Jayson Lee, Partner and Head of Healthcare Investing, LongRiver Investments; and Dr. Maomeng Tong, Principal, INCE Capital, who shared strategic insights for biotechs pursuing cross‑border capital or collaboration. (Left to right): Dr. Maomeng Tong, Principal, INCE Capital; Jayson Lee, Partner and Head of Healthcare Investing, LongRiver Investments; Dr. Alva Chen, Managing Director and Head of Therapeutics, VMS Group; Dr. Karen Chu, Founder and CEO, HiRO. "Asia's steady capital recovery is fueling more diverse, higher-quality biotech deals. Investors are increasingly favoring more scalable, capital-efficient, innovative business models. One such emerging approach is the NewCo model, which combines equity participation with experienced management teams, leverages Asia's efficient clinical speed and ecosystem partners to accelerate data generation, and enables program-level co-development. These elements de-risk global development in multiple ways, making the opportunities more attractive for international syndicates," said Dr. Alva Chen, Managing Director and Head of Therapeutics, VMS Group. "Clinical development now spans multiple regions more than ever and requires an integrated strategy. HiRO's cross‑border capabilities across APAC, the US, and Europe allow us to align regulatory strategy, site selection, and operational execution to bridge data across regions, accelerate timelines, and reduce redundant costs. By leveraging local expertise, regional cost advantages, and selective partnerships, we help biotech sponsors generate earlier, higher‑quality readouts and deploy capital more efficiently to advance financing and licensing goals," said Dr. Karen Chu, Founder and CEO of HiRO. About Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO) Harvest Integrated Research Organization (HiRO) is a globally oriented, innovative clinical research organization. With global operations and integrated capabilities, HiRO provides a full range of cross-border solutions and services to its clients, including early pre-clinical strategic planning, clinical trial design, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, statistics, data management, end-to-end project management, and clinical and medical monitoring services. As an emerging global CRO, HiRO strives to become a market-leading, integrated global clinical research organization that works collaboratively with biotech and pharmaceutical companies to bring new products from the laboratory to the market, providing more effective solutions for patients worldwide. For more information on HiRO, please visit www.harvestiro.com.

2026-03-04

Huawei's Yang Chaobin: Creating Mobile Value Creates a Better Intelligent World

BARCELONA, Spain, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Yang Chaobin, CEO of Huawei's ICT Business Group, today called on the ICT industry to intensify efforts in ensuring everyone can access the fast track of AI at MWC Barcelona 2026. This call included recommendations on spectrum and network capabilities for scaling 5G-Advanced to support emerging AI applications, and an appeal to expand inclusive connectivity to bridge the digital divide in underserved regions. In his keynote, Yang said, "The intelligent era is approaching fast. New AI applications are emerging every day, and so it is time for the industry to come together to unleash the full potential of 5G-A. We must efficiently utilize new spectrum resources like U6 GHz to create new value for the industry while paving the way for evolution to 6G." As AI applications like text-to-video and AI-powered shopping become more and more common, token consumption will surge. The number of tokens consumed daily has grown 300 times over the past two years. Yang believes that this is creating enormous opportunities for the mobile industry. However, these achievements have highlighted gaps that he says the industry must address. First, Networks must move away from being downlink-centric and deliver ultra-high bandwidth both uplink and downlink to support multimodal data exchanges between devices and clouds for AI. Second, networks must provide secure, reliable, and ultra-low-latency connectivity to support real-time AI collaboration and intelligent decision-making. 6G standardization is also already underway, and its standards are not expected to be frozen before March 2029, according to 3GPP. Yang explained that the next five years will create a window of opportunity both for mobile AI services to boom and for the industry to create new value, so long as carriers invest effectively in 5G-A. This half-generation step between 5G and 6G is already playing a key role in the industry, as it delivers 10 times higher uplink speeds, superior AI service experience, new IoT technologies like reduced capability (RedCap) and passive IoT, and AI for differentiated network capabilities. Yang Chaobin, Huawei ICT BG CEO, speaking at MWC Barcelona 2026 5G-A has been commercially deployed at scale in more than 300 cities around the world, and its deployment is expanding to all frequency bands. New and refarmed spectrum resources are needed to make 5G-A even more capable, particularly in countries and regions where C-band resources are scarce. The U6 GHz band is becoming the key to unleashing this network potential. After multiple rounds of discussion at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC), U6 GHz has been established as a mainstream frequency band for future mobile communications. 5G-A already supports U6 GHz, and mainstream device chips and the industry chain for 5G-A devices are also mature. This means 5G-A is ready for large-scale commercial use. Yang urged his speech attendees, all of whom are players in the telecom industry, to lean deeper into collaboration on 5G-A and frequency bands like U6 GHz to support surging AI service demand. The second focus of Yang's speech was the industry's urgent need to address global imbalances in digital access. According to GSMA, more than 300 million people are not covered by a mobile broadband network. Over the past two decades, the communications industry has made great efforts to bridge the digital divide, but the rapid growth of AI seems to be widening this gap. Stronger digital inclusion drives and continued innovation are needed. Yang encouraged further exploration of inclusive connectivity strategies like diversified frequency-band combinations and more cost-effective solution design. Huawei itself has launched innovative all-scenario RuralStar solutions to provide inclusive mobile access to 170 million people in 80 countries, as well as a number of additional inclusion programs. These include the DigiTruck classrooms providing rural students digital skills training in Kenya, inclusive financial services for rural residents in Bangladesh, and mobile medical services for villages in Argentina. Wrapping up his keynote, Yang called on all industry players to continue working together on commercial 5G-A adoption at scale in order to address the pressing needs from emerging AI services and pave the way for evolution to 6G. MWC Barcelona 2026 will be held from March 2 to March 5 in Barcelona, Spain. During the event, Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions at stand 1H50 in Fira Gran Via Hall 1. The era of agentic networks is now approaching fast, and the commercial adoption of 5G-A at scale is gaining speed. Huawei is actively working with carriers and partners around the world to unleash the full potential of 5G-A and pave the way for the evolution to 6G. We are also creating AI-Centric Network solutions to enable intelligent services, networks, and network elements (NEs), speeding up the large-scale deployment of level-4 autonomous networks (AN L4), and using AI to upgrade our core business. Together with other industry players, we will create leading value-driven networks and AI computing backbones for a fully intelligent future. For more information, please visit: https://carrier.huawei.com/en/minisite/events/mwc2026/

2026-03-04

Huawei Releases 115 Industrial Intelligence Showcases with Global Customers; and Launches 22 Industrial Intelligence Solutions with Partners at MWC 2026

BARCELONA, Spain, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- During MWC Barcelona 2026, Huawei released 115 industrial intelligence showcases, together with its customers, during Industrial Digital and Intelligent Transformation Summit 2026. The summit, titled Advancing Industrial All Intelligence, was held by Huawei to explore new practices in industrial intelligence with its customers, partners, and peers. Besides, Huawei announced the launch of upgrades to its SHAPE 2.0 partner framework. Huawei also showcased 22 new industrial intelligence solutions with partners, for the electric power, manufacturing and retail, finance, transportation, oil and gas, ISP, media, public service, and smart city sectors. Huawei proposed the ACT Pathway: A replicable intelligence framework AI technologies have advanced rapidly over the last year, with reasoning models and agentic workflows both maturing, and physical AI beginning to truly take off. This has allowed AI tools to begin entering core production scenarios and helped applications move from pilots to large-scale use. AI agents can also now better understand and interact with the physical world, and are now capable of making decisions independently. Huawei introduced the ACT Pathway, and three key steps specified in the ACT framework were mandatory for achieving comprehensive industrial intelligence. The first step is "assessing high-value scenarios". Huawei has helped customers identify over 1,000 core production scenarios where AI can play a big role. The second is "calibrating AI models with high-quality vertical data". Huawei has built a 6-layer AI security framework to ensure every stage of the AI lifecycle is secure and trustworthy. The third is "transforming business operations with AI talent". Talent that understands both industry and AI are needed. Huawei does this by three areas, including hands-on practice programs, CANN open-source communities, vertical industry communities on Huawei Cloud, and ICT Academies. Huawei worked with customers to release global industrial intelligence showcases During the summit, A number of Huawei's customers joined on stage to launch 115 global showcases for industrial intelligence, including executives from Eskom, Shandong Port Group, Converge ICT, HM Hospitales, and PetroChina (Beijing)'s Digital Intelligent Research Institute, CNPC, providing reference for organizations of various sectors to embark on their journey towards intelligence. from left to right: Len De Villiers, Chief Technology and Information Officer of Eskom; Zhang Liangang, Chief Scientist of Shandong Port Group; Nicholas Ma, Corporate Vice President, President Global Gov. & Enterprise Key Accounts, Huawei; Dennis Uy, CEO and Co-Founder of Converge ICT; Dr. Juan Abarca Cidón, President of HM Hospitales; and Su Yila, Deputy Director of PetroChina (Beijing) Digital Intelligent Research Institute Co., Ltd, CNPC Huawei upgraded the SHAPE 2.0 partner framework Huawei upgraded the SHAPE 2.0 partner framework with AI as the core engine, which includes five major updates: The First is AI-powered products upgrades. Huawei is embedding AI into product and solution offerings, such as the new network agents which can now automate fault location and network optimization to make O&M more efficient. Secondly, Huawei has upgraded their joint innovation mechanism. Partners can use one-stop AgentArts on Huawei Cloud to develop agents and industry AI solutions. The third is helping partners develop AI capabilities. Huawei released a set of standards for AI capabilities and launched over 20 new AI certification courses. And it plans to help over 1,000 partners get AI-certified. The fourth is making cooperation more efficient with AI. Huawei provides multiple AI tools that help partners increase productivity, like AI-assisted configuration and HUAWEI eKit chat for technical support. Fifth is creating more growth opportunities with AI. Huawei deploys over 3,000 scenario-specific AI experts and launches intelligent transformation lighthouse projects across 38 industries. Its AI-integrated solutions, like the Atlas 850 server, empower partners to efficiently build their own all-in-one AI solutions. At the summit, Huawei showcased 22 of its latest industrial intelligence solutions jointly developed with partners. Global customers and partners shared innovative practices at the summit Len De Villiers, Chief Technology and Information Officer of Eskom, said at the summit, "Sustainable electricity supports economic growth, reduces poverty, and improves living standards. Eskom remains pivotal in transforming lives through our significant contribution to South Africa's economy. Eskom's strategy and turnaround plan is to pursue financial and operational sustainability, and to modernize power system and energy transition. Through unbundling, Eskom will evolve to be more agile and attract the funding required to deliver the future energy landscape and economic growth." Ng Wun-kit, Principal of Pui Kiu Middle School, Hong Kong, China, said at the summit, "Vision of Pui Kiu Middle School in the AI era is to be a leading AI-driven educational pioneer, leveraging technology to deliver personalized, intelligent learning, and cultivate future-ready leaders with global perspectives and innovative minds. We have already implemented AI General Knowledge Course, AI-Empowered Smart Classroom, and Smart & Safe Campus. We will launch the Global Model School of Huawei AI Education Center (AIEC) Solution, and we look forward to sharing our transformative journey, proven methodologies with the international community." Hoy-Jin Lee, Vice President of Sales, Solum Europe GmbH, said at the summit, "With the industry's most extensive ESL lineup, Solum is equipped to optimize any store setting. We have jointly developed an All-in-One Retail Infrastructure Platform, unifying telecom infrastructure and ESL into one scalable, cost-efficient architecture. This solution features a unified gateway that supports LTE, Wi-Fi and ESL, with no dedicated ESL AP required; it offers pre-integrated, ready-to-use deployment and an independent, secure network architecture, which can help reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) by up to 55 percent and deliver up to 33% savings for large-format stores." In the Enterprise Business exhibition area in Hall 1, 98 exhibition stands and 51 interactive demos were set up to demonstrate Huawei's commitment to intelligent transformation and innovative digital infrastructure, showcasing the latest products, solutions, and global practices of industrial intelligent transformation to customers and partners. Besides, Huawei set up a partner exhibition area to display its latest partner policies, tools, marketable solutions, and star products. The Huawei Enterprise booth at MWC Barcelona 2026 please visit: MWC Barcelona 2026 | Huawei Enterprise

2026-03-04

TECHTRONIC INDUSTRIES DELIVERS SOLID PERFORMANCE IN 2025

GROWING SALES TO US$15.3 BILLION, NET PROFIT INCREASED TO US$1.2 BILLION HONG KONG, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. ("TTI" or the "Company") (stock code: HK:0669, ADR symbol: TTNDY), a global cordless power tool, outdoor power equipment and floorcare & cleaning company, is pleased to announce the audited consolidated results of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2025. TTI delivered record sales of US$15.3 billion in 2025, growing 4.4% on a reported basis and 4.1% in local currency. Our two leading brands, MILWAUKEE and RYOBI, both delivered solid performances in 2025 with MILWAUKEE growing 7.9% and RYOBI growing 5.4% in local currency. TTI delivered record sales and earnings despite significant tariff headwinds, growing sales 4.4% to US$15.3 billion and net profit 6.8% to US$1.2 billion. Our Global MILWAUKEE business grew 8.1% on a reported basis with underlying sales rising 10.3% in local currency (excluding the discretionary suspension of certain second half promotions due to tariffs). RYOBI, the #1 global consumer cordless tool and outdoor products brand, grew 5.4% in local currency. Reported EBIT Margin increased 7 bps to 8.8% as a percentage of sales, while normalized EBIT Margin (after adjusting for the exit of the HART business) increased 57 bps to 9.3%, due to strong performance in the EMEA region, corporate cost out initiatives and a focus on driving leverage and profitability. TTI reported nearly US$1.4 billion in Free Cash Flow in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of US$1.2 billion+ in Free Cash Flow and ending the year in a net cash position of US$700 million. The Board intends to implement a discretionary share buyback plan of up to US$500 million over the next 18 months. Financial Performance Highlights for 2025 2025*US$'million 2024US$'million Changes Revenue 15,260 14,622 +4.4 % Gross profit margin 41.2 % 40.3 % +91 bps EBIT 1,336 1,270 +5.2 % Profit attributable to Owners of the Company 1,198 1,122 +6.8 % Basic Earnings per share (US cents) 65.61 61.43 +6.8 % Dividend per share (approx. US cents) 33.08 29.09 +13.7 % *For the year ended December 31, 2025 Gross margin improved 91 basis points to 41.2% in 2025. The increase reflects the positive mix impact of our high margin MILWAUKEE business, productivity enhancements, and operational efficiencies created in our RYOBI and other Consumer businesses. Margin expansion accelerated as tariff mitigation efforts materialized in the second half of the year. EBIT grew 5.2% to US$1.3 billion, while EBIT margin increased 7 basis points to 8.8%. Net Profit increased 6.8% to US$1.2 billion and earnings per share rose 6.8% to US65.61 cents. As a percentage of sales, working capital rose 109 bps to 15.5%. Inventory days on hand increased 4 days to 106 days and remain at a very comfortable level. The Company generated nearly US$1.4 billion in positive Free Cash Flow in 2025, ending the period in a US$700 million net cash position. The TTI Power Equipment segment delivered sales of US$14.4 billion in 2025, an increase of 5.3% in reported currency and 5.0% in local currency. On a reported basis, MILWAUKEE achieved 8.1% reported sales growth in 2025, finishing up 7.9% in local currency. RYOBI business had another outstanding year, growing 5.4% in local currency and marking the second consecutive year of mid-single digit revenue growth following the post-pandemic adjustment period of 2022-23. Sales for Floorcare and Cleaning fell 9.7% in 2025 due to weakness in the HOOVER, DIRT DEVIL, ORECK, and VAX brands. The Board is recommending a final dividend of HK132.00 cents (approximately US16.99 cents) (2024: HK118.00 cents (approximately US15.19 cents)) per share. Together, with the interim dividend of HK125.00 cents (approximately US16.09 cents) per share, this will result in a full-year dividend of HK257.00 cents (approximately US33.08 cents) per share. Mr. Horst Pudwill, Executive Chairman of TTI, said, "With the healthiest balance sheet in the Company's history, a diversified global manufacturing footprint, and stable capital spending requirements, we anticipate our ability to further increase returns to shareholders in the years to come." Mr. Steven P. Richman, CEO of TTI, commented, "With the #1 Professional and Consumer brands in the World, TTI is off to a strong start in 2026 and we look forward to another year of strong results. On a blended basis, we expect the core MILWAUKEE and RYOBI businesses to grow revenue mid-to-high single digits." Forward-Looking StatementsThis announcement contains certain forward-looking statements or uses certain forward-looking terminologies which are based on the current expectations, estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of TTI about the businesses and the markets in which the Group operates and reflect TTI's views as of the date of this announcement. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to market risk, uncertainties and factors beyond the control of TTI. Therefore, actual outcomes and returns may differ materially from the assumptions made and the statements contained in this announcement. About TTI Techtronic Industries Company Limited ("TTI" or the "Company"), founded in 1985 by German entrepreneur Horst Julius Pudwill, is a world leader in cordless technology. As a pioneer in Power Tools, Outdoor Power Equipment, Floorcare and Cleaning Products, TTI serves professional, industrial, Do It Yourself (DIY), and consumer markets worldwide. With more than 48,000 employees globally, the company's relentless focus on innovation and strategic growth has established its leading position in the industries it serves. MILWAUKEE is at the forefront of TTI's professional tool portfolio. With global research and development headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the historic MILWAUKEE brand is renowned for driving innovation, safety, and jobsite productivity worldwide. The RYOBI brand, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, remains the top choice for DIYers and continues to set the standard in DIY tool innovation. TTI's diverse brand portfolio also includes trusted brands like AEG, EMPIRE, HOMELITE, and leading floorcare names HOOVER, ORECK, VAX, and DIRT DEVIL. TTI's international recognition and renowned brand portfolio are supported by a strong ownership structure that underscores the company's global reach and stability. The Pudwill family remains the company's largest shareholder, with the remaining ownership held largely by institutional investors at North American and European-owned firms. TTI is publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Index, operating globally with a strong commitment to environmental, social, and corporate governance standards. For more information, visit www.ttigroup.com. All trademarks listed other than AEG and RYOBI are owned by the Group. AEG is a registered trademark of AB Electrolux (publ.) and is used under license. RYOBI is a registered trademark of Ryobi Limited and is used under license.

2026-03-03

AI × Fibre Lights the Way to an Intelligent Future: YOFC Showcases All-Optical Innovations at MWC 2026

BARCELONA, Spain, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At MWC Barcelona 2026, held on March 2, Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC) unveiled its latest innovations under the theme "AI × Fibre Leading an Intelligent Future." The company's exhibition featured dedicated solution zones including the AI Computing Center, Link the Global AI, Empower AI Applications, All Optical Home and the Hollow-Core Fibre VIP Showcase, highlighting end-to-end optical communications solutions and recent technical developments. YOFC Showcases All-Optical Innovations at MWC 2026 The centerpiece of YOFC's showcase was hollow-core fibre, the event's key technology highlight. Compared with traditional solid-core fibre, YOFC's hollow-core fibre reduces transmission latency by approximately 31% and lowers nonlinear effects by nearly three orders of magnitude. This breakthrough meets the high-bandwidth, low-latency demands of large-scale AI model training and distributed computing, while its energy-efficient design supports efficiency and sustainability objectives. With decades of expertise in large-scale fibre manufacturing, YOFC has achieved commercial-scale production of long-length, ultra-low-loss (＜0.1 dB/km) hollow-core fibre, placing it among a small number of companies worldwide with both core technical capability and proven commercialization readiness. At MWC Barcelona 2026, YOFC showcased a cohesive all-optical ecosystem. The AI Intelligent Computing Center integrates hollow-core fibre with multi-core fibre and 400G/800G optical transceivers to deliver high-efficiency, low-carbon computing infrastructure. The Global AI Network Connectivity solution uses hollow-core fibre, G.654.E fibre, and submarine optical cables to form an intercontinental all-optical network corridor. Meanwhile, YOFC's industry-specific fibre-based solutions extend optical fibre applications into smart transportation, immersive entertainment, and other real-world scenarios, creating an end-to-end ecosystem from core technology to commercial and operational deployment. Zhuang Dan, Executive Director and President of YOFC, said: "The scaled deployment of hollow-core fibre represents a major step forward for optical communications—from supporting the digital economy to enabling next-generation intelligent networks. We will continue to drive innovation, expanding hollow-core fibre applications in emerging fields such as intelligent computing and quantum communications. Through environmentally responsible manufacturing and our global footprint, we aim to translate technical capability into sustainable growth, building intelligent networks that are low-latency, energy-efficient, and broadly accessible." Notably, YOFC integrates technological innovation with sustainability across its solutions, embedding low-carbon and energy-efficiency considerations throughout the entire lifecycle—from R&D and production to deployment and application. With its global presence and environmentally responsible manufacturing, YOFC delivers efficient, reliable, and low-carbon optical communications, supporting the long-term development of digital infrastructure worldwide.

2026-03-03

Beyond Telcos: Exploring Deterministic Paths to Business Success in the Agentic Era

BARCELONA, Spain, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Eric Yang, President of Huawei Carrier Business, delivered a keynote speech at MWC Barcelona 2026. Yang pointed out, "The agentic era is creating unprecedented opportunities for the communications industry, and carriers are uniquely positioned to seize these opportunities. They can integrate intelligent capabilities deeply into their core business, consumer-and-home converged scenarios, and internal operations. This will allow them to explore deterministic paths and realize a value leap." Eric Yang, President of Huawei Carrier Business, delivering a keynote speech Reimagining home and consumer services to unlock new AI opportunities Home services are a core business scenario in which carriers have traditionally been strong. By integrating AI into services such as home network management, deterministic experience assurance, and intelligent video watching, and synergizing high-quality networks and Wi-Fi 7 devices, carriers can drive a paradigm shift in home services from passive usage (users adapting to the network) to proactive services (network adapting to user requirements). Users can use single voice commands to realize automatic network fault detection and troubleshooting, control Internet access time, and enjoy guaranteed experience in key services such as gaming and videos. By combining these service innovations with bandwidth upgrades and home networking services, carriers can improve service quality and increase revenue. Voice services are traditionally one of the main consumer services offered by carriers. AI-powered calling agents can boost service experience in multiple scenarios. They can remove background noise and ensure high-quality call experience for users even when in noisy surroundings. Furthermore, these agents can provide AI-enabled simultaneous interpretation, shorthand, and health assistance – all through calls. Calling agents help carriers explore new ways to increase revenue from voice services. In mobile Internet access scenarios, AI agents can provide services like intelligent network QoE degradation monitoring and real-time experience assurance. They are also capable of realizing cross-app scheduling and execution to enable intelligent assistants for multiple purposes, such as personal travel booking, travel planning, and real-time translation. Providing consistent experience across devices and scenarios to enhance user stickiness AI agents can provide consistent and personalized AI services for users wherever they are, be it at home, in the office, or on a trip, across screens of all sizes. For example, users at home can gain high-speed access to the carrier's cloud drive, and use the agent for voice interaction and intelligent search. Users on the move can also access their home storage at high speeds through the carrier's dedicated network channel. Additionally, by using an agent service platform capable of multimodal intent understanding, long-term and short-term memory, and concurrent multi-task scheduling, carriers can break down the boundaries between scenarios and devices, and deliver a consistent, intelligent service experience to users across scenarios and devices. Using AI to first improve internal operational quality and efficiency, and then enable industries For carriers exploring new opportunities in B2B intelligent transformation, service scenarios are the key to monetization, and capabilities are the foundation for providing services. Marketing and sales, customer services, office, and O&M are the core scenarios where value flows. Carriers can first focus on these scenarios, using AI to improve their operational efficiency, optimize user experience, and grow their service capabilities. These capabilities will lay the foundation to better position carriers for success in the AI era. Carriers can then embed these AI capabilities into the business and operations of their industry customers. For core industry scenarios that demand high security and reliability, such as government services and manufacturing, carrier can fully utilize their systematic advantages in the cloud and networks, and work with partners to implement end-to-end solutions. Through such actions, carriers can help their industry customers realize digital and intelligent transformation. Eric Yang concluded his speech by citing that "The future is not just a place we are going to, but one we are creating." He reiterated that Huawei is creating AI-Centric Network solutions to enable intelligent services, networks, and network elements (NEs), thus helping carriers unleash their strengths in networks and provide differentiated experiences and intelligent services. Huawei will keep working with carriers and industry partners to innovate side by side, build an ecosystem together, jointly move towards a new intelligent world, and achieve a new leap in value. MWC Barcelona 2026 will be held from March 2 to March 5 in Barcelona, Spain. During the event, Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions at stand 1H50 in Fira Gran Via Hall 1. The era of agentic networks is now approaching fast, and the commercial adoption of 5G-A at scale is gaining speed. Huawei is actively working with carriers and partners around the world to unleash the full potential of 5G-A and pave the way for the evolution to 6G. We are also creating AI-Centric Network solutions to enable intelligent services, networks, and network elements (NEs), speeding up the large-scale deployment of level-4 autonomous networks (AN L4), and using AI to upgrade our core business. Together with other industry players, we will create leading value-driven networks and AI computing backbones for a fully intelligent future. For more information, please visit:https://carrier.huawei.com/en/minisite/events/mwc2026/

2026-03-03

MINISO Debuts Malaysia's First MINISO LAND, Advancing Its Global IP‑Driven Retail Strategy

SELANGOR, Malaysia, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 28, global lifestyle brand MINISO unveiled the Malaysia's first MINISO LAND at Sunway Pyramid, Selangor. Featuring a 1,700-square-meter immersive space and MINISO's most comprehensive IP product offering in the country, the store brings local consumers an all‑day, joy‑filled experiential playground. Malaysia‘s First MINISO LAND- YOYO theme zone MINISO LAND Selangor is emerging as a key IP attraction in Malaysia, drawing both local and regional shoppers with its premium location and engaging experiential design. Situated on the first floor of the Sunway Pyramid Mall—one of Malaysia's landmark shopping destinations—the store benefits from excellent connectivity and a diverse visitor base, making it a favored destination for young consumers and families. Malaysia‘s First MINISO LAND Opening Day In total the store features over 8,000 curated SKUs, with IP merchandise making up more than 70% of the assortment. Designed with 15 themed consumption and interactive experience zones, its gold‑toned interior, accented with eye-catching bulb‑inspired elements, brings a lively and welcoming energy to the space. Visitors can browse diverse product zones spanning IP‑themed collections, home and lifestyle, beauty and skincare, and toys, offering fan‑favorite goods such as blind boxes, vinyl plush toys, water bottles, blankets, and tote bags. Enhancing the experience, interactive installations—including giant pajama Stitch figures and a Snoopy themed zone—invite guests to enjoy playful, character‑driven moments. Malaysia‘s First MINISO LAND Building on this immersive setting, MINISO LAND also brings together one of the broadest IP selections available in Malaysia, blending global icons, regional favorites, and first‑to‑market characters into a single cohesive experience. The lineup spans beloved names like Sanrio and Monchhichi, creating strong emotional appeal among diverse fan groups. The store also introduces several IPs making their first appearance in Malaysia, including the retro-style Pac-Man, which has quickly gained attention for its distinctive visual appeal and collectible value. Adding to the excitement, MINISO's proprietary IP lineup—such as the YOYO Cupid Ring series—makes its Malaysia debut at this MINISO LAND location. 10 YOYO character sculptures are displayed throughout the store, creating engaging photo moments while bringing the character's heartwarming identity through immersive visual displays. Together, over 100 IPs forms a comprehensive, multi‑category ecosystem that encourages shoppers to discover, experience, and collect their favorite characters all in one place, reinforcing MINISO LAND as a go‑to destination for immersive retail experiences. Malaysia‘s First MINISO LAND IP selections - Sanrio To celebrate the opening, MINISO's Gift Bear and Friends mascots made their Malaysia debut, energizing the crowd with upbeat interactions and highly shareable photo moments. Guests stepped into a vibrant "Fun Mode: ON" atmosphere filled with themed activations, exclusive check‑ins, and launch‑day perks. The momentum continued online, where the "What Is Your Favorite IP in MINISO LAND" campaign and UGC challenges gained strong buzz across RedNote, Instagram and TikTok. Together, the lively on‑site festivities and widespread digital buzz made the launch a local highlight. MINISO’s Gift Bear and Friends MINISO LAND Selangor brings together a vibrant mix of global and local fan‑favorite IPs, creating an immersive space where shopping becomes a joyful experience. As Malaysia's first and Southeast Asia's largest MINISO LAND, the store elevates the brand's presence in Southeast Asia and reflects to its continued global expansion. The MINISO LAND concept is rapidly gaining popularity worldwide, with more openings on the way. MINISO will continue introducing richer IP choices and fresh immersive experiences, while creating fun, social spaces that bring joy to every fan. About MINISO MINISO Group is a global lifestyle brand offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand.

2026-03-03

Now Is Yours: Huawei Redefines Smart Living at MWC 2026

BARCELONA, Spain, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 2 in Barcelona, Spain, Huawei unveiled the future at the much-anticipated Mobile World Congress (MWC 2026). Guided by the theme "Now Is Yours", Huawei showcased a dazzling array of products including smartphones, PCs, tablets, watches, and earbuds. The tech giant highlighted its latest breakthroughs in foldable screen technology, fitness and health, mobile imaging, productivity, and creativity, presenting a bold vision of the future digital lifestyle to consumers worldwide. At the "Your Intelligent World" zone, Huawei showcased its technological prowess as a leader in smart technology. With a diverse variety of tablets, Huawei delivers PC-level productivity. Powered by HarmonyOS, Huawei's devices allow users to seamlessly run full-featured office software like WPS. Complemented by the efficiency of HUAWEI Notes, they enable professional creativity and collaboration anytime, anywhere. Regarding hardware-software integration, Huawei's PaperMatte Display offers a clear, eye-comfort display while delivering a unique paper-like writing and painting experience. The event also featured the debut of the HUAWEI MatePad Mini, an 8.8-inch flagship compact tablet that blends portability with high-end intelligent technology. A significant spotlight was placed on the powerful AI capabilities of Huawei's latest flagship smartphones, the Mate 80 series, which enhance user engagement through intelligently tailored features. Furthermore, detailed videos revealed the intricate engineering of foldable devices like the Mate X7, showcasing cutting-edge hinge and display technology that sets a new industry benchmark. The "Your Intelligent World" zone The "Energize Your Life" zone offered immersive, hands-on experiences showcasing how Huawei technology empowers fitness and health. Visitors could test wearable devices in simulated real-life scenarios. Demonstrations highlighted specialized features: the HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 series with advanced cycling metrics for more efficient rides; the HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 and its Intelligent Marathon Mode, guiding runners through pre-race training, in-race pacing, and post-race analysis; and the HUAWEI WATCH 5 and HUAWEI WATCH D2, which demonstrates comprehensive health management, from convenient monitoring to proactive reminders, providing users with complete health care solutions. The "Energize Your Life" zone At the "Explore Yourself" zone, visitors unlocked their creative potential with Huawei's self-developed app "GoPaint". Thanks to its intuitive interface and rich asset library, the app makes professional-grade artistry accessible to everyone. For mobile filmmaking, Huawei showcased its XMAGE imaging technology, highlighting significant advancements in HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro's video capture—super high dynamic range, accurate color reproduction, and industry-leading telephoto macro and slow-motion capabilities. This empowers users to effortlessly capture the beauty in everyday moments and produce professional-quality videos. The "Explore Yourself" zone Huawei embraces a bold, youthful spirit with its latest philosophy, "Now Is Yours", heralding a new chapter in smart living for users worldwide. Moving forward, Huawei remains committed to relentless innovation—delivering cutting-edge products and seamless, all-scenario experiences that empower everyone to explore and capture their own extraordinary moments in 2026.

2026-03-03

in-cosmetics Global 2026 to serve a taste of tomorrow's beauty in Paris

PARIS, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- in-cosmetics Global 2026, the world's leading event for personal care ingredients, returns to Paris from 14–16 April, offering the global beauty industry a crucial opportunity to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market. With future growth anchored in innovation, the show will unite brands, formulators, R&D specialists, cosmetic scientists, manufacturers and suppliers from around the world, who will showcase ingredients, formulations and services spanning the entire lab-to-launch process. As beauty leaders sharpen their focus on efficacy, sensory appeal, wellness and sustainability, the 2026 edition will spotlight emerging trends across skincare, haircare, fragrance, colour cosmetics and nutricosmetics. Industry leaders, including The Estée Lauder Companies, COSMAX, Chanel and K18, will join over 1,000 exhibitors and 14,000 expected attendees. Key ingredient suppliers such as BASF, Lubrizol, Symrise, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics by Clariant, Givaudan Active Beauty, Ashland, Evonik and Croda will also attend, alongside 130 first-time exhibitors entering the global beauty ingredients market. Reflecting the industry's shift towards holistic beauty and wellness, in-cosmetics Global will introduce the Inner Beauty Zone, bridging cosmetics and nutraceuticals as it expands into the fast-growing nutricosmetics market. Sponsored by KSM-66 and launched in partnership with The Good Pill Co™, the zone will spotlight innovations in ingestible beauty ingredients, from vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to fortified foods and functional drinks. The Taste Bar will allow visitors to sample finished beauty-from-within concepts firsthand. An expanded Fragrance Zone will feature the new Scent Bar, demonstrating how scent enhances product perception and supports premiumisation. Further, a dedicated Contract Manufacturer Zone will bring leading partners together in one focused space to facilitate new business connections. Andy Mather, Event Director of in-cosmetics Global, said: "The beauty industry is at a pivotal point, expanding beyond traditional personal care towards beauty from within and wellness, by focusing on nutricosmetics. Brands are under pressure to move faster from concept to commercialisation, and in-cosmetics Global sits at the heart of this value chain. in-cosmetics Global supports innovation from lab to launch by connecting science, ingredients, formulation expertise and manufacturing on one global platform. Our focus for 2026 is helping businesses develop smarter products, accelerate launches and drive sustainable growth in an evolving market." in-cosmetics Global will take place from 14-16 April at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. For more information, visit the website.

2026-03-03