Connect with us

Technology

AudioCodes Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results and Declares Semi-Annual Dividend of 18 cents per share

Published

on

OR YEHUDA, Israel, July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — 

Second Quarter Highlights

Quarterly revenues increased by 0.5% year-over-year to $60.3 million;Quarterly service revenues increased by 12.3% year-over-year to $32 million;GAAP results:
– Quarterly GAAP gross margin was 65.5%;
– Quarterly GAAP operating margin was 8.2%;
– Quarterly GAAP EBITDA was $6.2 million;
– Quarterly GAAP net income was $3.8 million, or $0.12 per diluted share.Non-GAAP results:
– Quarterly Non-GAAP gross margin was 65.8%;
– Quarterly Non-GAAP operating margin was 11.9%;
– Quarterly Non-GAAP EBITDA was $8.3 million;
– Quarterly Non-GAAP net income was $5.5 million, or $0.18 per diluted share.Net cash used by operating activities was $2.9 million for the quarter.AudioCodes repurchased 116,453 of its ordinary shares during the quarter at an aggregate cost of $1.2 million.

Details

AudioCodes (NASDAQ: AUDC), a leading vendor of advanced communications software, products and productivity solutions for the digital workplace, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Revenues for the second quarter of 2024 were $60.3 million compared to $60.0 million for the second quarter of 2023.

EBITDA for the second quarter of 2024 was $6.2 million compared to $2.9 million for the second quarter of 2023.

On a Non-GAAP basis, EBITDA for the second quarter of 2024 was $8.3 million compared to $6.2 million for the second quarter of 2023.

Net income was $3.8 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024 compared to net income of $1.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2023.

On a Non-GAAP basis, net income was $5.5 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024 compared to $5.1 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2023.

Non-GAAP net income excludes: (i) share-based compensation expenses; (ii) amortization expenses related to intangible assets; (iii) expenses related to deferred payments in connection with the acquisition of Callverso Ltd; (iv) financial income (expenses) related to exchange rate differences in connection with revaluation of assets and liabilities in non-dollar denominated currencies; (v) tax impact which relates to our Non-GAAP adjustments; and (vi) in Q1 2024 non-cash lease expense which is required to be recorded during the quarter even though this is a free rent period under the lease for the Company’s new headquarters. A reconciliation of net income on a GAAP basis to a non-GAAP basis is provided in the tables that accompany the condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this press release.

Net cash used by operating activities was $2.9 million for the second quarter of 2024.  Cash and cash equivalents, short-term bank deposits, long and short-term marketable securities and long financial investments were $93.7 million as of June 30, 2024 compared to $106.7 million as of December 31, 2023.  The decrease in cash and cash equivalents, short-term bank deposits, long and short-term marketable securities and long financial investments was the result of the use of cash for the continued repurchasing of the Company’s ordinary shares pursuant to its share repurchase program and the payment of a cash dividend during the first quarter of 2024 and purchase of property and equipment related to leasehold improvements of our new corporate headquarter in Israel, offset, in part, by cash from operating activities.

“I am pleased to report solid second quarter 2024 results, marked by the second consecutive quarter of positive top-line growth and ongoing momentum in our Microsoft and conversational AI businesses with sequential uptick in our legacy gateway business,” said Shabtai Adlersberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of AudioCodes.

In terms of our strategic business lines, Microsoft Teams business in the second quarter grew 3.3% year-over-year, with steady increase in the Live managed services, which grew about 35% year-over-year and reached ARR of $56 million exiting second quarter 2024. Second quarter Live business growth puts us on track to land within our full year 2024 ARR target range of $64$70 million, representing an average approximate annual growth rate of 40% compared to 2023.

In the CX business, our healthy pipeline continues to support a positive outlook for second half and full year 2024.  Conversational AI business grew over 50% year-over-year, benefiting from customers’ inexorable demand to drive innovation and deliver productivity improvements on projects in both the UC and CX space. We have witnessed progress made in several new Conversational AI activities. These include among others, Voca CIC, our AI first CX solution for Microsoft Teams, SaaS Recording solutions such as Meeting Insights and interaction recording, and in the MS Teams meeting room space.

Underlying business momentum remains strong, as we had several notable wins with marquee accounts in the quarter, from a combination of new customer additions as well as cross-sell of products and services to existing ones. Key to such cross sales success is our Live Platform for UCaaS and CCaaS, which encompasses a comprehensive stack of voice related services to the Microsoft Teams ecosystem. 

Overall, we delivered on our business priorities in the quarter, fostering momentum in strategic areas of our business and successfully executing on the cost rationalization initiatives.  We believe this lays the foundation to drive healthy top-line growth long-term while driving significant margin expansion in 2024 and beyond,” concluded Mr. Adlersberg. 

Share Buy Back Program

During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, the Company acquired 116,453 of its ordinary shares under its share repurchase program for a total consideration of $1.2 million.

In July 2024, the Company received court approval in Israel to purchase up to an aggregate amount of $20 million of additional ordinary shares. The court approval also permits AudioCodes to declare a dividend out of any part of this amount. The approval is valid through January 1, 2025.

Cash Dividend

AudioCodes also announced today that the Company’s Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend in the amount of 18 cents per share. The aggregate amount of the dividend is approximately $5.5 million. The dividend is payable on August 29, 2024, to all of the Company’s shareholders of record at the close of trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on August 15, 2024. 

In accordance with Israeli tax law, the dividend is subject to withholding tax at source at the rate of 25% of the dividend amount payable to each shareholder of record, subject to applicable exemptions. If the recipient of the dividend is at the time of distribution or was at any time during the preceding 12-month period the holder of 10% or more of the Company’s share capital, the withholding rate is 30%.

The dividend will be paid in U.S. dollars on the ordinary shares of AudioCodes Ltd. that are traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. The amount and timing of any other dividends will be determined by the Board.

Conference Call & Web Cast Information

AudioCodes will conduct a conference call at 8:30 A.M., Eastern Time today to discuss the Company’s second quarter of 2024 operating performance, financial results and outlook.  Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing one the following numbers:

United States Participants: 888-506-0062

International Participants: +1 (973) 528-0011

The conference call will also be simultaneously webcast.  Investors are invited to listen to the call live via webcast at the AudioCodes investor website at http://www.audiocodes.com/investors-lobby.

Follow AudioCodes’ social media channels:

AudioCodes invites you to join our online community and follow us on: AudioCodes Voice Blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

About AudioCodes

AudioCodes Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: AUDC) is a leading vendor of advanced communications software, products and productivity solutions for the digital workplace. AudioCodes enables enterprises and service providers to build and operate all-IP voice networks for unified communications, contact centers, and hosted business services. AudioCodes offers a broad range of innovative products, solutions and services that are used by large multi-national enterprises and leading tier-1 operators around the world.

For more information on AudioCodes, visit http://www.audiocodes.com.

Statements concerning AudioCodes’ business outlook or future economic performance; product introductions and plans and objectives related thereto; and statements concerning assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters, are “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined under U.S. Federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: the effect of global economic conditions in general and conditions in AudioCodes’ industry and target markets in particular; shifts in supply and demand; market acceptance of new products and the demand for existing products; the impact of competitive products and pricing on AudioCodes’ and its customers’ products and markets; timely product and technology development, upgrades and the ability to manage changes in market conditions as needed; possible need for additional financing; the ability to satisfy covenants in the Company’s loan agreements; possible disruptions from acquisitions; the ability of AudioCodes to successfully integrate the products and operations of acquired companies into AudioCodes’ business; possible adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operations; the effects of the current terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel, and the war and hostilities between Israel and Hamas, and Israel and Hezbollah as well as the possibility that this could develop into a broader regional conflict involving Israel with other parties, may affect our operations and may limit our ability to produce and sell our solutions; any disruption in our operations by the obligations of our personnel to perform military service as a result of current or future military actions involving Israel; and other factors detailed in AudioCodes’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. AudioCodes assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.

©2024 AudioCodes Ltd. All rights reserved. AudioCodes, AC, HD VoIP, HD VoIP Sounds Better, IPmedia, Mediant, MediaPack, What’s Inside Matters, OSN, SmartTAP, User Management Pack, VMAS, VoIPerfect, VoIPerfectHD, Your Gateway To VoIP, 3GX, VocaNom, AudioCodes One Voice, AudioCodes Meeting Insights, AudioCodes Room Experience are trademarks or registered trademarks of AudioCodes Limited. All other products or trademarks are property of their respective owners. Product specifications are subject to change without notice.

Summary financial data follows

 

AUDIOCODES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

U.S. dollars in thousands                  

June 30,

December 31,

2024

2023

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 20,849

$ 30,546

Short-term and restricted bank deposits

206

212

Short-term marketable securities

21,113

7,438

Trade receivables, net

55,010

51,125

Other receivables and prepaid expenses

9,146

9,381

Inventories

37,893

43,959

Total current assets

144,217

142,661

LONG-TERM ASSETS:

Long-term Trade receivables

$ 16,680

$ 16,798

Long-term marketable securities

48,944

65,732

Long-term financial investments

2,557

2,730

Deferred tax assets

5,966

6,208

Operating lease right-of-use assets

34,263

36,712

Severance pay funds

16,975

17,202

Total long-term assets

125,385

145,382

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

21,846

10,893

GOODWILL, INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND OTHER, NET

38,315

38,581

Total assets

$ 329,763

$ 337,517

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

Trade payables

5,102

7,556

Other payables and accrued expenses

26,369

29,943

Deferred revenues

39,988

38,820

Short-term operating lease liabilities

5,931

7,878

Total current liabilities

77,390

84,197

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

Accrued severance pay

$ 15,956

$ 16,662

Deferred revenues and other liabilities

17,277

17,142

Long-term operating lease liabilities

31,024

31,404

Total long-term liabilities

64,257

65,208

Total shareholders’ equity

188,116

188,112

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$ 329,763

 

$ 337,517

 

 

AUDIOCODES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data

 Six months ended

Three months ended

 June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Revenues:

Products

$ 56,897

$ 60,260

$ 28,347

$ 31,567

Services

63,482

58,973

31,956

28,453

Total Revenues

120,379

119,233

60,303

60,020

Cost of revenues:

Products

22,743

25,221

10,918

12,177

Services

19,494

18,992

9,910

9,366

Total Cost of revenues

42,237

44,213

20,828

21,543

Gross profit

78,142

75,020

39,475

38,477

Operating expenses:

Research and development, net

27,114

29,403

13,181

14,394

Selling and marketing

34,820

35,526

17,453

17,679

General and administrative

7,991

8,680

3,905

4,149

Total operating expenses

69,925

73,609

34,539

36,222

Operating income

8,217

1,411

4,936

2,255

Financial income (expenses), net

419

1,196

396

247

Income before taxes on income

8,636

2,607

5,332

2,502

Taxes on income, net

(2,779)

(1,734)

(1,558)

(1,447)

Net income

$ 5,857

$ 873

$ 3,774

$ 1,055

Basic net earnings per share

$ 0.19

$ 0.03

$ 0.12

$ 0.03

Diluted net earnings per share

$ 0.19

$ 0.03

$ 0.12

$ 0.03

Weighted average number of shares used in
computing basic net earnings per share (in
thousands)

30,337

32,024

30,341

31,900

Weighted average number of shares used in
computing diluted net earnings per share (in
thousands)

30,764

33,017

30,735

32,977

 

 

AUDIOCODES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME TO NON-GAAP NET INCOME 

U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data

Six months ended

Three months ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

GAAP net income

$ 5,857

$ 873

$ 3,774

$ 1,055

GAAP net earnings per share

$ 0.19

$ 0.03

$ 0.12

$ 0.03

Cost of revenues:

Share-based compensation (1)

175

210

96

103

Amortization expenses (2)

244

257

122

122

Lease expenses (6)

304

723

467

218

225

Research and development, net:

Share-based compensation (1)

1,171

1,441

579

698

Deferred payments expenses (3)

250

125

Lease expenses (6)

342

1,513

1,691

579

823

Selling and marketing:

Share-based compensation (1)

1,472

2,330

749

1,093

Amortization expenses (2)

22

22

11

11

Deferred payments expenses (3)

250

125

Lease expenses (6)

38

1,532

2,602

760

1,229

General and administrative:

Share-based compensation (1)

1,434

2,428

692

1,169

Lease expenses (6)

76

1,510

2,428

692

1,169

Financial expenses (income):

Exchange rate differences (4)

(809)

(470)

(445)

71

Income taxes:

Taxes on income, net (5)

422

224

(49)

562

Non-GAAP net income

$ 10,748

$ 7,815

$ 5,529

$ 5,134

Non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share

$ 0.34

$ 0.24

$ 0.18

$ 0.16

Weighted average number of shares used in computing
Non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share (in thousands)

31,561

32,977

31,552

33,017

(1)  Share-based compensation expenses related to options and restricted share units granted to employees and others.

(2)  Amortization expenses related to intangible assets.

(3)  Expenses related to deferred payments in connection with the acquisition of Callverso Ltd.

(4)  Financial income (expenses) related to exchange rate differences in connection with revaluation of assets and liabilities in non-dollar denominated currencies.

(5)  Tax impact which relates to our non-GAAP adjustments.

(6)  In Q1 2024, non-cash lease expense which is required to be recorded during the quarter even though this is a free rent period under the lease for the Company’s new headquarters.

Note:  Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the results prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The Company believes that non-GAAP information is useful because it can enhance the understanding of its ongoing economic performance and therefore uses internally this non-GAAP information to evaluate and manage its operations.  The Company has chosen to provide this information to investors to enable them to perform comparisons of operating results in a manner similar to how the Company analyzes its operating results and because many comparable companies report this type of information. 

 

 

AUDIOCODES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

U.S. dollars in thousands

Six months ended

Three months ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$ 5,857

$ 873

$ 3,774

$ 1,055

Adjustments required to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

1,784

1,320

1,261

669

Amortization of marketable securities premiums and accretion of discounts, net

615

712

301

340

Decrease in accrued severance pay, net

(479)

(272)

(369)

(288)

Share-based compensation expenses

4,252

6,409

2,116

3,063

Decrease in deferred tax assets, net

64

168

850

534

Cash financial loss (income), net

154

(332)

69

58

Decrease in operating lease right-of-use assets

3,557

4,282

1,168

2,132

Decrease in operating lease liabilities

(3,435)

(4,355)

(1,324)

(818)

Decrease (increase) in trade receivables, net

(3,767)

6,939

(6,083)

428

Decrease (increase) in other receivables and prepaid expenses

235

1,911

(305)

1,727

Decrease (increase) in inventories

5,947

(9,512)

2,689

(3,746)

Decrease in trade payables

(2,454)

(4,218)

(2,220)

(3,462)

Increase (decrease) in other payables and accrued expenses

(1,605)

(4,934)

127

(869)

Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues

1,365

6,443

(4,945)

1,383

Net cash provided by operating activities

12,090

5,434

(2,891)

2,206

Cash flows from investing activities:

Proceeds from short-term deposits

6

5,006

2

2

Proceeds from financial investment

47

26

Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities

3,450

2,000

2,950

1,000

Proceeds from redemption of financial investments

11,043

8,294

Purchase of property and equipment

(15,263)

(3,263)

(8,478)

(1,947)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

(11,760)

14,786

(5,500)

7,349

 

 

AUDIOCODES LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

U.S. dollars in thousands

Six months ended

Three months ended

June 30,

June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Purchase of treasury shares

(4,754)

(2,926)

(1,170)

(2,926)

Cash dividends paid to shareholders

(5,453)

(5,718)

Proceeds from issuance of shares upon exercise of options

180

114

18

Net cash used in financing activities

(10,027)

(8,530)

(1,170)

(2,908)

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

(9,697)

11,690

(9,561)

6,647

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

30,546

24,535

30,410

29,578

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$ 20,849

$ 36,225

$ 20,849

$ 36,225

 

Company Contacts
Niran Baruch, 
Chief Financial Officer 
AudioCodes
Tel: +972-3-976-4000
niran.baruch@audiocodes.com 

Roger L. Chuchen,
VP, Investor Relations
AudioCodes
Tel:  732-764-2552
roger.chuchen@audiocodes.com 

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2391462/audiocodes_Logo.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/audiocodes-reports-second-quarter-2024-results-and-declares-semi-annual-dividend-of-18-cents-per-share-302209458.html

SOURCE AudioCodes

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Emdoor Launches “Ailyn” AI Hub at WAIC 2026: Unifying Intelligence Across Every Device

Published

on

By

SHANGHAI, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Emdoor, a leading provider of intelligent computing devices, unveiled its latest innovation — Ailyn, an integrated software-hardware AI hub — at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026. Under the theme “Intelligence in All Things, Boundless Edge Intelligence”, Emdoor’s Booth X1B-804 showcases four immersive scenarios spanning personal, home, enterprise, and industrial use cases, demonstrating how AI can flow seamlessly across devices.

With decades of experience across cloud, edge, device, and wearable form factors, Emdoor has established one of the industry’s most comprehensive intelligent hardware portfolios. Yet the company recognized a critical gap: while individual devices grow smarter, they often operate in isolation.

Ailyn is Emdoor’s answer to this challenge. Introduced on the WAIC Magic Box stage, Ailyn serves as a unified intelligence layer that orchestrates storage, computing power, AI models, and data across PCs, NAS systems, computing boxes, and IoT devices. The result is a scalable, centrally managed intelligence platform that delivers seamless cross-device collaboration, data privacy, and AI capabilities that improve with use.

At its core, Ailyn follows a device-first, multi-device connected philosophy. By prioritizing on-device model deployment, it reduces costs while preserving privacy, minimizing latency, and enabling offline functionality. Key capabilities include unified data access, uninterrupted task handoff between devices, intelligent multi-model routing, and dynamic compute scaling — plus built-in features for knowledge accumulation, skill expansion, persona customization, and automated task execution.

Four Scenarios, One Intelligent Ecosystem

The enterprise lineup features high-performance AI workstations, AI servers, AI NAS, Mini PCs, and motherboards. Workstations support up to 96-core processors and four double-width GPUs with integrated BMC remote management. AI servers run dual Intel Xeon scalable processors with up to eight mainstream AI accelerators. The single-GPU workstation series offers dual-platform compatibility with both Intel and AMD, featuring a PCIe 5.0 ×16 slot and up to 128GB DDR5 memory. Available in two form factors — a 23.9L tower chassis and a 15.3L compact chassis with tempered glass side panel — it delivers balanced performance for both creative workloads and local AI inference. The AI NAS unifies storage and AI computing power in one device, with192GB of octa-channel LPDDR5X memory to support local large model deployment. Ailyn unifies these resources into a private computing backbone, intelligently offloading heavy workloads so users get instant on-device responsiveness with datacenter-grade power on demand.

For individual users, the showcase includes Mini PCs, AI PCs, AI tablets, and multimodal wearables. The AP16, powered by Intel’s 3rd Generation Core™ Ultra processor, delivers 180 TOPS of AI performance with sustained 54W output — capable of running large models locally. Multimodal wearable solutions built on Qualcomm and BES chips offer faster time-to-market for brand partners. Within the Ailyn ecosystem, PCs handle heavy computing while wearables provide continuous environmental awareness, each device strengthening the whole.

Industrial visitors will find AI BOX units, rugged AI notebooks, handheld terminals, and industrial PCs. AI BOX devices come preloaded with industry-specific models for production line visual inspection. Rugged notebooks deliver reliable performance for mobile field operations. Industrial PCs feature industrial-grade architecture for 24/7 uptime. Through Ailyn, these connected devices break down traditional data silos, enabling intelligent resource orchestration and a closed-loop perception-decision-execution system that accelerates industrial digital transformation.

At the center of the home scenario are AI tablets and home NAS, connected to a full-house AIoT network. The NAS acts as the family’s private data and computing hub, while the tablet serves as the primary interface for senior health reminders and children’s learning support. Ailyn weaves these devices into a cohesive system covering family memories, health care, companionship, and home security — bringing intelligence into daily life without intruding on it.

The launch of Ailyn marks a significant evolution for Emdoor — shifting from a hardware manufacturer to a builder of intelligent infrastructure. It represents the convergence of the company’s deep hardware heritage and its AI innovation roadmap. Moving forward, Emdoor will continue investing in edge AI technology and expanding the Ailyn ecosystem alongside partners, bringing distributed intelligence from the showroom into everyday life.

Company: Emdoor Digital Technology Co.,Ltd.
Contact Person: Yao Zhou
Email: marketing.digi@emdoor.com
Website: http://www.emdoordigi.com/
City: Shenzhen, China

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emdoor-launches-ailyn-ai-hub-at-waic-2026-unifying-intelligence-across-every-device-302829098.html

SOURCE Emdoor Digital

Continue Reading

Technology

AI-Powered Connectivity: APAC Charts a Path to a Smarter Digital Future

Published

on

By

Asia-Pacific’s first Broadband Development Summit brings regulators and operators to Bangkok to set the agenda

BANGKOK, July 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Government officials, standards bodies and telecom operators gathered in Bangkok on 14 July for the inaugural Broadband Development Summit APAC 2026, convened by the World Broadband Association (WBBA) to build consensus on AI-era networks.

Participants included the ITU, Thailand’s National Board of the Digital Economy and Society, WBBA, IAB, FNCAP, WAA, NIDA and the IPv6 Council, alongside operators Telkomsel, XLSmart, Surge, Globe, AIS, CMI and HKT and Huawei.

Denny Deng, President of Huawei Asia Pacific Carrier Business, envisions a “faster, smarter, greener” Asia-Pacific.

VOICES FROM THE SUMMIT

“To seize the opportunities of the AI era, we call on the industry to accelerate broadband evolution, advance computing-network synergy, and strengthen the cross-border connectivity. Together, let us build faster, smarter, and greener digital infrastructure for Asia-Pacific.”
— Denny Deng, President of Asia Pacific Carrier Business, Huawei

“High-speed broadband is no longer just about ‘getting online’ — it is the vital infrastructure upon which the entire AI revolution is being built. We view AI not merely as a tool, but as a primary engine for national competitiveness and a catalyst for improving the quality of life for all.”
— Wetang Phuangsup, Ph.D., Secretary-General, the National Board of the Digital Economy and Society, Thailand

“Three initiatives define the road to 2030. We must close the quality divide so the value of broadband reaches everyone. We must build AI-ready networks — 10G access, 800GE cores, intelligence end to end. And we must do it together, through shared standards.”
— Martin Creaner, Director General of WBBA

“Moving towards next-generation networks, network architectures must continue to evolve to deliver broader connectivity, superior quality, enhanced security, and greater intelligence. This evolution is essential for Net5.5G, positioning the network not simply as infrastructure, but as the foundation that enables AI, strengthens resilience and efficiency, and supports digital transformation across industries.”
— Dhruv Dhody, Industry Standardization Expert at Huawei, Chair of the IAB, IETF

“Across Asia-Pacific, fibre is extending beyond homes and offices into rooms, devices, and machines. By working together, we can accelerate fibre innovation and adoption to build truly AI-ready infrastructure.”
— Ilham Nandana, Chair of the Market Intelligence Committee, Fiber Network Council APAC (FNCAP)

“We fixed it before you feel it!  AIS is redefining premium home broadband by combining ultra-fast connectivity with AI-driven network intelligence and smart home ecosystem — delivering proactive, invisible service excellence that transforms connectivity into differentiated customer value and sustainable ARPU growth.”
— Thanit Chaiyaboonthanit, Head of Technology Department, Broadband Business, AIS

“Connecting the Unconnected: Affordable Broadband at Scale. Create equal access to global information and empower Indonesia’s digital society.”
— Shannedy Ong, CTO of Surge Indonesia

“Beyond Connectivity: Telkomsel is transforming into a true value creator. By leveraging our FBB market-leading footprint, we power growth through service excellence, customer loyalty, and a next-generation home ecosystem.”
— Stanislaus Susatyo, Director of Sales, Telkomsel Indonesia

“We stopped treating AI as an add-on feature. Instead, our approach at Globe starts with architecture, embedding intelligence into the very core of how we build, how we sell, and how we operate.
AI continuously monitors network health, customer behavior and service quality. Rather than waiting for failures, the system predicts degradation and initiates corrective actions. By maintaining minute-level awareness of network health, our systems automatically resolve 30% of all Wi-Fi issues without any human intervention.”
— Danny Theseira, Head of Broadband Business Group at Globe Telecom

“Huawei is driving the Optics-AI Synergy to foster their collaborative growth. Through AI-ON, operators could build an AI-centric all-optical target network and establish 1-5-20ms latency circles across the Asia Pacific region. AI-ON also supports efficient computing access and usage while delivering an ultimate network experience through gigabit/ultra-gigabit home broadband, accelerating the widespread adoption of AI services.”
— Kim Jin, Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer Optical Business Product Line, Huawei

“Connectivity is not just about technology. It is a lifeline, a platform for opportunity, and a driver of sustainable development. I believe the intersection of connectivity and artificial intelligence will shape the future of smarter, more resilient networks.”
— Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU

“Performance and user experience are the essential path to the next-generation WLAN. Based on standards and AI-driven innovation, let’s jointly explore the path to the future autonomous WLAN with all the stakeholders.”
— Dr. Crane H. Yang, Secretary-General, World WLAN Application Alliance (WAA)

“At the summit, NIDA and WBBA signed an MOU to accelerate next-generation network evolution and establish pioneering smart city benchmarks through the co-development of industry standards, the harmonization of global regulations, and the sharing of vertical industry insights.
NIDA focuses on advancing network architecture standards, while WBBA drives global consensus on broadband evolution. This natural strategic complementarity creates vast opportunities for future collaboration.”
— Joey Deng, Secretary-General of NIDA

“ION-2030 develops the global standard for next generation optical networks in the AI era. It provides exceptional AI application and service experience. The WBBA and ITU will jointly accelerate its development, and this is a unique opportunity for Asia-Pacific stakeholders to actively influence the future of optical broadband networks.”
— Dr. Marcus Brunner, Chief Expert Standardization, WBBA WG1 Chair and Vice-Chair of ETSI ISG F5G

“The transition into the AI era demands a high-quality, deterministic digital foundation. By releasing Net5.5G policy guidelines, Malaysia is accelerating the evolution of next-generation network standards based on IPv6, establishing an innovative infrastructure to unleash AI’s value and drive a prosperous digital economy for 2030.”
— Prof. Sureswaran Ramadass, Chair of APAC at IPv6 Council, Industry Partner of WBBA

“The digital economy is thriving across the Asia-Pacific region, with AI emerging as a core catalyst for intelligent transformation. China Mobile International (CMI) is driving regional growth by integrating China’s advanced AI capabilities with comprehensive communications, computing, and AI services. Moving forward, CMI will collaborate closely with industry partners to foster a shared, AI-driven future for the region.”
— Paul Lin, Managing Director of Commercial and Technology, Asia Pacific, China Mobile International

“Next-generation network infrastructure is the oxygen of the intelligent economy. By integrating cutting-edge 800G connectivity with quantum-safe security, HKT is laying the essential foundations to keep Hong Kong’s enterprises highly competitive, secure, and ready for the computing paradigm shifts of tomorrow.”
— Wilson Cheung, Vice President, Broadband Design & Cyber Security, HKT

“The evolution toward Net5.5G AI WAN is an important step in strengthening XLSMART’s transport network for the future. By progressively adopting AI-assisted operations, SRv6, SDN, service differentiation, and higher-capacity transport infrastructure, we are enhancing network intelligence, operational efficiency, and service resilience while supporting long-term sustainability. This transformation is a continuous journey that aligns with the industry’s vision of AI-native broadband networks. Through collaboration with our technology partners and the broader ecosystem, we will continue to develop capabilities that deliver better network performance and support Indonesia’s growing digital connectivity needs.”
— Regie Ginanjar, Head of Transport Autonomy & Orchestration, Transport Network Transformation, XLSMART

“For the AI era, Huawei upgrades the IP bearer network via security resilience, multi-dimensional awareness, and network autonomy. This empowers carriers to guarantee service experience, accelerate monetization, and enhance efficiency, ushering in a new chapter of intelligent connectivity.”
— Arthur Wang, Vice President of Data Communication Product Line, Huawei

A CONVERGING VIEW

Speakers agreed AI is shifting networks from connectivity to intelligent connectivity, as broadband, IP, computing and cross-border infrastructure converge to support innovation and coordination.

WBBA launched the AI-Net Certification, a global benchmark for national policy, industrial ecosystems and network intelligence. XLSmart was named first AI-Net Champion, and Indonesia was among the first with a certified operator, backed by its Net5.5G roadmap.

In another high-profile segment, WBBA Director General Martin Creaner presented the Gigacity Certification to KOMDIGI, SURGE, Telkomsel, AIS, TRUE, HKT and Globe, recognizing regional broadband pioneers.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ai-powered-connectivity-apac-charts-a-path-to-a-smarter-digital-future-302829032.html

SOURCE HUAWEI

Continue Reading

Technology

Laifen Expands U.S. Retail Footprint with Costco Launch of Best-Selling SE Hair Dryer

Published

on

By

Starting July 18, Costco Members Can Shop Laifen’s Award-Winning Hair Dryer in Select Warehouse Locations Across the U.S.

NEW YORK, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Laifen, ranked the world’s No.1 high-speed hair dryer brand, today announced the launch of its best-selling SE High-Speed Hair Dryer at select Costco warehouse locations, marking the brand’s largest U.S. retail expansion to date and bringing its award-winning haircare technology to Costco members across select U.S. markets.

The launch brings Laifen’s award-winning haircare technology to Costco, making it easier for consumers to experience the brand through one of the nation’s leading membership retailers. Laifen joins Costco’s growing portfolio of premium beauty and personal care brands. The initial rollout includes select Costco warehouse locations across the United States, with a strong presence across the Western U.S., including California, the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest.

Costco’s reputation for quality and its highly selective merchandising approach make this partnership especially meaningful. The Costco launch reflects Laifen’s continued expansion beyond direct-to-consumer channels as the brand accelerates its U.S. omnichannel retail strategy. “Costco represents an important milestone in our U.S. retail strategy,” said Romeo, General Manager of International Business of Laifen. “As more consumers seek salon-quality performance at an accessible price, we’re excited to make Laifen available through one of America’s most trusted retailers.”

Engineered to deliver professional-level performance in a sleek, lightweight design, the Laifen SE is powered by the brand’s proprietary high-speed brushless motor, delivering fast drying, reduced heat damage and smoother styling. An intelligent temperature control system continuously monitors airflow to help minimize frizz while protecting hair from excessive heat.

The Costco launch represents the next phase of Laifen’s U.S. retail expansion as the brand continues to grow beyond its direct-to-consumer and online channels. By expanding into one of the nation’s most trusted retailers, Laifen aims to broaden access to its category-disrupting haircare solutions while advancing its mission to bring more thoughtful design and everyday excellence into more homes.

The Laifen SE High-Speed Hair Dryer in White will be available at select Costco locations, while Costco.com shoppers will have access to additional color options including Purple and Pink, alongside the White model.

For more information on Laifen, please visit LaifenTech.com.

About Laifen: 

Founded in 2019, Laifen is a global personal care technology brand combining high-performance engineering with modern design across hair care, oral care, and grooming categories. Ranked the world’s No. 1 high-speed hair dryer brand by Euromonitor International, Laifen first gained recognition for its self-developed 110,000 RPM high-speed brushless motor, the proprietary technology behind its award-winning hair dryers.

Building on this innovation, Laifen has expanded its portfolio to include electric toothbrushes and shavers, delivering premium technology and elevated everyday experiences to consumers worldwide. Today, Laifen products and accessories are used by over 22 million households across more than 60 countries, supported by more than 600 patents and recognized with over 50 international design and innovation awards. Driven by continuous technological breakthroughs, Laifen is committed to making cutting-edge personal care technology more accessible to consumers around the world.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laifen-expands-us-retail-footprint-with-costco-launch-of-best-selling-se-hair-dryer-302828573.html

SOURCE Laifen

Continue Reading

Trending