Technology

Close to 90% of people have never heard of ‘robocalls’

Published

2 years ago

October 30, 2024

Survey on robocalls conducted in response to the rapid global expansion of risks, such as fake phone calls during the US presidential election

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN), a global provider of real time communications technology and IP optical networking solutions to many of the world’s largest service providers, enterprises, and critical infrastructure operators to modernize and protect their networks has conducted a survey on robocalls (automated voice calls) in Japan.

Machine-generated robocalls, also known as automated voice calls, often utilizing AI technology. While these calls can enhance operational efficiencies and reduce manpower requirements, they are frequently misused for fraudulent activities, such as obtaining personal information or conducting scams.

Earlier this Spring, robocalls mimicking President Biden’s voice using generative AI technology were used to dissuade voters from participating in the New Hampshire electoral primary ahead of the November 5th presidential election. Globally, robocalls have become a significant social issue. In Japan there has been a sharp increase in fraudulent robocalls, including scams involving false claims of unpaid fees.

Key survey findings include:

Awareness Gap: Approximately 90% of respondents had never heard of robocalls. However, among those who were aware, approximately 85% recognized their use in fraudulent activities around the world.Suspicious Calls: One in five respondents reported receiving suspicious robocalls soliciting personal information or suspected of being scams, suggesting that despite limited public awareness, fraudulent robocalls are currently being made in Japan.Impact on Daily Life: Over 90% of those who received suspicious robocalls felt uncomfortable answering their phones, indicating that the impact of suspicious robocalls extends into everyday life.Limited countermeasures: 70% of respondents believe that individuals only have limited options in fighting against unwanted calls.As generative AI continues to evolve, the potential for damage caused by abusive robocalls is likely to increase. This underscores the need for companies and telecom providers to deploy robust tools to combat the misuse of robocalls are abused.

Comments by Yoshikazu Kuwabara, Senior Manager, Systems Engineering Department, Ribbon Communications
Robocalls have been increasing around the world over the past few years, and while not all robocalls are malicious, thery are contributing to a growing loss of trust in telephony. More and more, people refuse to answer calls from unknown numbers, blocked numbers, or avoid answering the phone altogether.

As robocalls are not a daily occurrence in Japan at present, many people are unaware of them. However, as 42% of respondents have experienced robocalls (automated voice calls), indicating that robocalls do exist in Japan and could become more common in the future. In the USA, where robocalls have become a major issue, call verification (STIR/SHAKEN) has already been mandated by the FCC and Congress.

In this context, Ribbon Communications offers Ribbon Call Trust as a solution for assuring the identity of callers (Identity Assurance Solution). It provides caller Reputation scoring, robocall and fraudulent call detection with anomaly analysis, STIR/SHAKEN services (Caller ID authentication, signing and verification), blocklisting, encryption, CAC, policy routing and CVT (Call Validation Treatment). functions, contributing to the creation of a safe and secure telephony environment.

Survey Summary

90% of people have never heard of ‘robocalls’!Of those who know about robocalls, about 85% know of cases where they have been used fraudulently.Around 42% of respondents have experienced robocalls!One in five people have experienced a suspicious robocall!Approximately 94% of those who experienced a suspicious robocall had negative feelings about the call they subsequently received.When a call comes in from an unknown number, the countermeasure taken by around 70% of people is: ‘I don’t answer unknown numbers’.About 71% of respondents feel that there are limited measures that individuals can take against unwanted phone calls!

Survey Overview

Survey Method

：Internet

Research Organization

：JustSystems Corporation

Study Period

：22 to 24 of July 2024

Survey Area

：Japan

Subject of a Survey

：Men and women aged 20~65 years

Number of People

：330

Almost 90% of people have never heard of ‘robocalls’!
When asked if they had heard of robocalls, close to 90% of respondents said they had not heard of them or did not know about them. Although robocalls are a problem worldwide, they are still not well recognised in Japan. (n=330）

About 85% of those who know about robocalls are aware of cases where they have been used fraudulently.
Approximately 85% of those who are aware of Robocalls, know that they are being used fraudulently around the globe, including for various scams. Those who were aware of robocalls were also aware of a high percentage of cases of abuse. (n=39）

Around 42% of respondents have experienced robocalls!
When asked if they had received robocalls to their mobile or landline, around 42% said they had.（n=330）

The survey also found that more than half of those aged 50-65 years had been targeted by robocalls.

One in five people have experienced a suspicious robocall!
Of those who said they had experienced robocalls, around 46% said they had experienced suspicious robocalls that attempted to ask for personal information or were suspected of being a scam. These results show that one in five people have experienced a suspicious robocall. (n=138）

In terms of age, the most frequent experience of suspicious robocalls was in the 30s, at around 70%, followed by those in their 50s at around 50%.

Approximately 94% of those who experienced a suspicious robocall had negative feelings about the call they subsequently received
Of those who had experienced a suspicious robocall, around 94% said that they felt uncomfortable or did not pick up the subsequent call because they felt uncomfortable. This suggests that abusive and suspicious robocalls are having an impact on daily life. (n=63）

When a call comes in from an unknown number, the countermeasure taken by around 70% of people is: ‘I don’t answer unknown numbers’.
When asked what they do when they receive a call from an unknown number, the most common response was that they do not answer unknown numbers, at around 70%. A certain number of people do not take any countermeasures, with around 20% of respondents saying they have not thought about it. (Multiple answers) (n=325）

About 71% of respondents feel that there are limited measures that individuals can take against unwanted phone calls!
Around 71% of respondents felt that there are limited measures that individuals can take against unwanted calls, indicating that most people feel that this is a challenge. (n=325）About Ribbon Call Trust®
Ribbon Call Trust is an Identity Assurance Solution (Identity Assurance Solution) designed to guarantee the identity of the caller. To prevent excessive robocalls and fraudulent calls, it is important to understand the caller’s intentions and reputation. To this end, it provides Reputation Score, robocall and fraudulent call detection through anomaly analysis, STIR/SHAKEN services (Caller ID authentication, signature and verification), blocking, encryption, CAC, policy routing and CVT (Call Validation Treatment), Ribbon Call Trust is widely used by telecom operators, mainly in the US and Canada, but also in France and other countries where STIR/SHAKEN is mandatory.

Providing a comprehensive Robocall Reputation Score in real-time using ML (Machine Learning) from multiple data sources, including external fraud information databases, telecom operators’ own databases and statistics from analytics, to enable telecom This enables operators to perform appropriate CVT (Call Validation Treatment), such as announcement connection, activation of CAPTCHA authentication and call disconnection, for calls deemed to have a high potential for robocalls or fraud.

Ribbon Call Trust® website
https://learn.rbbn.com/jp/identity-assurance

About Ribbon
Ribbon Communications (Nasdaq: RBBN) delivers communications software, IP and optical networking solutions to service providers, enterprises and critical infrastructure sectors globally. We engage deeply with our customers, helping them modernize their networks for improved competitive positioning and business outcomes in today’s smart, always-on and data-hungry world. Our innovative, end-to-end solutions portfolio delivers unparalleled scale, performance, and agility, including core to edge software-centric solutions, cloud-native offers, leading-edge security and analytics tools, along with IP and optical networking solutions for 5G. We maintain a keen focus on our commitments to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters, offering an annual Sustainability Report to our stakeholders. To learn more about Ribbon, please visit rbbn.com.

Japanese website https://learn.rbbn.com/jp

Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including those regarding the expected benefits from use of Ribbon Communication’s products, are forward-looking statements. The actual results of Ribbon Communications may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Ribbon Communications’ business, please refer to the “Risk Factors” section of Ribbon Communications’ most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements represent Ribbon Communications’ views only as of the date on which such statement is made and should not be relied upon as representing Ribbon Communications’ views as of any subsequent date. While Ribbon Communications may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point, Ribbon Communications specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.

Media Contact
Ribbon Communications Public Relations Office（Within Kyodo Public Relations Co.）
Kanno, Otsuka、Kikuchi
TEL: 03-6260-4856 E-mail: ribbon-pr@kyodo-pr.co.jp

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SOURCE Ribbon Communications Inc.

Technology

China-Europe Youth Exchange Campaign: When Fashion Meets Football — A Green Pitch Appointment for Cross-Cultural Dialogue

Published

46 minutes ago

July 19, 2026

BEIJING, July 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On July 18, in Rongjiang County, Guizhou Province, China, the much-anticipated Guizhou Village Super League staged several thrilling grassroots football matches, accompanied by a one-of-a-kind football culture creative showcase.

The showcase, themed Common Love, blended fashion runway elements with local music and dance, presenting 16 distinctive football-themed jersey designs. These featured Italian architectural graffiti, Brazilian color blocks, as well as motifs of the Great Wall, pandas, Chinese auspicious clouds, and ethnic patterns. The outfits were modeled by over 20 young people from diverse walks of life in Guizhou, while the designs themselves were contributed by more than 100 youth participants from over 20 countries and regions during the China-Europe Youth Exchange Campaign: When Fashion Meets Football.

Launched by the China Media Group, European and Latin American Languages Programming Center, the campaign took football as a shared global language. Through youth creative workshops and interactive exchanges, it encouraged young people worldwide to harness AIGC tools to design football jersey patterns, thereby deepening mutual understanding and strengthening friendship.

This initiative drew enthusiastic participation from youth across the globe, who engaged in online dialogues on sports culture and AI-driven creativity. Experts such as Ana Vasques, Executive President, IETI Artificial Intelligence & Creative Design branch; Giulio Cuomo, Professor of Video Production and AI at Accademia Italiana; and Dr. Zhang Youyu, Distinguished Research Fellow at Peking University, shared their insights based on the campaign’s outcomes. They emphasized that football has long transcended the realm of sport, evolving into a cultural symbol that embodies diverse civilizations. Meanwhile, the innovative application of artificial intelligence is opening new pathways for cross-cultural dialogue among global youth.

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhzZPHPk8IA

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/3006669/20260719205937_131_59.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/china-europe-youth-exchange-campaign-when-fashion-meets-football–a-green-pitch-appointment-for-cross-cultural-dialogue-302829189.html

Technology

Singtel Receives Four Frost & Sullivan 2026 Recognitions for Leadership in Enterprise Connectivity, Cybersecurity, and Digital Transformation

Published

5 hours ago

July 19, 2026

The recognitions highlight Singtel’s leadership in secure connectivity, network transformation, IoT innovation, and cybersecurity, delivering customer value through intelligent digital infrastructure and AI-enabled enterprise services.

SAN ANTONIO, July 20, 2026 /CNW/ — Frost & Sullivan is pleased to honor Singtel with the 2026 Southeast Asia IoT Connectivity Service Provider Company of the Year, 2026 Singapore Network Transformation Customer Value Leadership, 2026 Singapore Cybersecurity Services Company of the Year, and 2026 Singapore SD-WAN and SASE Service Provider Company of the Year recognitions. These acknowledgements reflect Singtel’s outstanding achievements in delivering secure, intelligent, and scalable digital infrastructure that enables enterprises to modernize operations, simplify complexity, and accelerate digital transformation across Singapore and Southeast Asia. They underscore the company’s consistent leadership in strategy execution, customer value creation, and innovation across enterprise connectivity, cybersecurity, software-defined networking, and IoT connectivity services.

Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. Singtel excelled in both, demonstrating its ability to anticipate evolving enterprise requirements while consistently translating long-term vision into measurable customer outcomes. Through platforms such as Singtel CUBΣ (CUBE) and its multidomestic IoT connectivity architecture, the company continues to unify networking, cybersecurity, automation, and AI-driven intelligence into integrated solutions that address the growing complexity of hybrid, multicloud, and connected environments. “Singtel has established itself as a benchmark for enterprise digital infrastructure by converging connectivity, cybersecurity, network intelligence, and IoT orchestration into a unified, customer-centric ecosystem. Its disciplined execution, platform-led innovation, and commitment to simplifying complex enterprise environments continue to strengthen operational resilience and deliver sustained value for organizations across the region,” said Kenny Yeo, Director at Frost & Sullivan.

Guided by a long-term strategy focused on digital innovation, intelligent infrastructure, and customer-centric transformation, Singtel has moved well-beyond traditional telecommunications to a trusted technology partner for enterprises navigating increasingly connected and data-driven environments. Its strategic investments in AI-enabled operations, cloud-native platforms, secure connectivity, and ecosystem partnerships enable organizations to modernize critical infrastructure while maintaining the flexibility to support future business growth.

The company’s strategic agility and sustained investment in integrated digital platforms have enabled it to scale innovative services across local, regional, and global enterprise environments. Innovation remains central to Singtel’s approach through solutions including the CUBΣ connected intelligence platform, multidomestic IoT connectivity powered by eSIM orchestration, managed cybersecurity services, AI-driven network automation, and network-as-a-service capabilities. These solutions simplify network and security management, strengthen cyber resilience, improve operational visibility, and provide enterprises with scalable, secure, and high-performing connectivity across cloud, edge, IoT, and hybrid infrastructures.

By streamlining service delivery through intelligent automation, centralized orchestration, proactive monitoring, and flexible managed and co-managed service models, Singtel continues to help organizations reduce operational complexity while improving service reliability and business agility. Its ability to integrate best-of-breed technologies in a unified operational framework, combined with strong regional network ownership and localized expertise, enables customers to confidently scale digital initiatives while maintaining security, governance, and operational excellence.

Frost & Sullivan commends Singtel for setting a high standard in competitive strategy, execution, and customer value across multiple technology domains. By combining intelligent networking, secure digital infrastructure, AI-enabled operations, and cross-border IoT capabilities in an integrated platform strategy, the company is shaping the future of enterprise connectivity while helping organizations build resilient, future-ready digital ecosystems.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents its Company of the Year and Customer Value Leadership recognitions to organizations that demonstrate outstanding strategy development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in customer satisfaction, competitive positioning, and business performance. These recognitions honor forward-thinking companies that continuously raise industry standards through innovation, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition
Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.
Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:
Tarini Singh
E: Tarini.Singh@frost.com

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

Technology

Foreign entrepreneurs find business opportunities and a home in Yiwu

Published

5 hours ago

July 19, 2026

BEIJING, July 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A report from People’s Daily:

Yiwu, a city in east China’s Zhejiang province, is neither a coastal hub nor a border town. Yet it has built a trade network that reaches across the globe. Today, the city is home to more than 10,000 foreign-invested businesses and around 38,000 foreign merchants who live and work there.

People’s Daily reporters recently visited Yiwu to meet foreign entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses and settled down in the city. They shared stories of growing alongside Yiwu and becoming part of its remarkable transformation.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Yiwu,” said Senegalese businessman Sourakhata Tirera, a sentiment he often expresses. He first came to Yiwu in 2003 to source hardware products and was immediately impressed by the Yiwu International Trade Market. He noted, “If you can’t find something here, it’s probably because you haven’t searched carefully enough.”

In 2007, Tirera opened a foreign trade agency in Yiwu. In 2012, leveraging Yiwu’s comprehensive foreign trade pilot reform project, he established a wholly foreign-owned trading company. Today, his company ships 200 to 300 containers every month, dealing in more than 1,000 product categories and providing one-stop sourcing services for clients across Africa.

“Everyone is fascinated by Yiwu because it’s a place full of opportunities. Things that once seemed impossible can become reality here,” Tirera told People’s Daily after he finished receiving a trade delegation from Gabon.

Yemeni businessman Maged Mohammed Ali Al-Huraibi came to Yiwu alone in 2008 to pursue his entrepreneurial dream and founded a cosmetics trading company. In 2024, Yiwu launched a one-stop entrepreneurship service for foreign talent, offering factory leasing, policy consultation, and talent recruitment. Seizing the opportunity, Al-Huraibi invested in a cosmetics factory early that year, successfully transitioning from trader to manufacturer.

“Yiwu made my entrepreneurial dream come true. Now I want to bring cosmetics made in Yiwu to even more countries and regions around the world,” Al-Huraibi said.

Yiwu’s success is not simply about gathering products. More importantly, it comes from the city’s ability to create what the market needs — pioneering new approaches where none exist and forging new paths through continuous exploration.

Nepalese businessman Khadka Raj Kumar first came to Yiwu in 2002. In 2011, Yiwu pioneered a dual-track system for representative offices and foreign-invested business entities, addressing challenges related to residency, employment and business operations for foreign entrepreneurs. The following year, Kumar established his own trading company in Yiwu and later bought a home there.

In 2013, Yiwu established China’s first people’s mediation committee dedicated to foreign-related disputes, inviting foreign businesspeople to serve as mediation processes. Kumar has served in this role since 2017 and has participated in resolving more than 150 foreign-related disputes.

“In Yiwu, we’re not outsiders — we’re part of the local community,” he said.

As Yiwu’s sixth-generation marketplace, the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center marks the city’s transition from traditional trade to a digital trade ecosystem.

Pakistani businessman Sheikh Jamil, who has operated in Yiwu for 21 years, has witnessed this transformation firsthand. According to him, more and more business is now conducted online. With the help of AI, he can quickly generate product solutions tailored to different market demands. “I can do business with the whole world without leaving my office,” he said.

Yemeni businessman Hasan Mohammed entered Yiwu’s cosmetics business as a distributor a decade ago. In 2018, he registered his own cosmetics brand in Saudi Arabia. With its products registered in Saudi Arabia, manufactured in China and sold worldwide, his business model delivers both high-quality products and a strong competitive edge.

“Yiwu is more like an ecosystem where ideas can quickly become reality. It offers not only opportunities, but also the potential for continuous growth,” said Mohammed.

For Brazilian businesswoman Ana Garcia, Yiwu’s transformation from “Made in Yiwu” to “Created in Yiwu” has been fueled by broad support in branding, digital innovation and global expansion. She founded a business consultancy that helps overseas clients identify market opportunities and sourcing needs, connect with qualified suppliers, and manage every step of the supply chain — from product selection and quality inspection to logistics and customs clearance.

Yiwu belongs not only to China, but also to the world. Together with entrepreneurs from around the globe, the city will continue turning the impossible into the possible, further burnishing its reputation as the “world’s supermarket” and ensuring that products created in Yiwu benefit people in more countries.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/foreign-entrepreneurs-find-business-opportunities-and-a-home-in-yiwu-302829158.html

SOURCE People’s Daily