Technology

TOTAL PLAY ANNOUNCES 16% GROWTH IN EBITDA TO Ps.5,483 MILLION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2024

Published

1 year ago

February 27, 2025

—EBITDA margin of 49%, highest level since the company issues public debt—

—Capex for the quarter was equivalent to 29% of the company’s revenue, compared to Capex equivalent to 36% of revenue a year ago—

—The EBITDA balance, net of Capex and interest, reached Ps. 816 million in the quarter and totaled Ps. 2,763 million for the full year—

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Total Play Telecomunicaciones, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“Total Play”), a leading telecommunications company in Mexico, which offers internet access, pay television and telephony services, through one of the largest 100% fiber optic networks in the country, announced today financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024 and full year 2024.

“The company’s strict financial discipline, solid operational efficiency initiatives, and the strategy to moderate subscriber base growth, significantly strengthened our profitability during the period,” commented Eduardo Kuri, CEO of Total Play. “Higher revenues, combined with cost reductions, led to double-digit EBITDA growth and a five-percentage-point increase in the EBITDA margin, to 49% — the highest level since the company issues public debt. The higher EBITDA, along with Capex that accounted for 29% of quarterly revenue, generated cash flow — defined as EBITDA less Capex and interest paid — of Ps. 816 million this period, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of solid cash generation.”

“Regarding the balance sheet, the Company announced on February 7 that it successfully completed the exchange of US$821 million, representing 94.3% of its exchange offer of up to US$870 million. The agreement involved exchanging US$566 million of existing notes due 2028 for new secured notes due 2032, along with the subscription of an additional US$255 million in cash. This transaction extends our maturity profile and enhances Total Play’s liquidity, further strengthening our capital structure,” added Mr. Kuri.

Fourth quarter results

Quarterly revenue totaled Ps. 11,176 million, a 5% increase from Ps. 10,674 million in the same period last year. Total costs and expenses were Ps. 5,693 million, down 4% from Ps. 5,938 million in the prior year.

As a result, Total Play’s EBITDA increased 16% to Ps. 5,483 million from Ps. 4,736 million a year ago. The EBITDA margin for the quarter reached 49%, five percentage points higher than the same period of 2023. The company reported operating income of Ps. 973 million, compared to Ps. 605 million a year earlier.

Total Play reported a net loss of Ps. 1,519 million, compared to a loss of Ps. 1,024 million in the same quarter of 2023.

Q4 2023

Q4 2024

Change

Ps.

Revenue from services

$10,674

$11,176

$502

5 %

EBITDA

$4,736

$5,483

$747

16 %

Operating income

Net result

$605

$(1,024)

$973

$(1,519)

$368

$(495)

61%

(48)%

Amounts in millions of pesos.
EBITDA: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

Revenue from services

The company’s revenue grew by 5%, driven by an 8% increase in the residential segment revenue, partially offset by a 12% decline in enterprise revenue.

Totalplay Residencial’s revenue increased to Ps. 9,655 million, up from Ps. 8,945 million a year ago, driven by a 9% rise in the number of subscribers compared to the same quarter last year. The total subscriber base reached 5,219,782 this period, including 68,996 small and medium-sized businesses. The company attributes this growth to its ability to provide technologically advanced internet services with superior stability and speed, continuous innovation in its entertainment platform, and excellence in customer service.

Compared to the previous quarter, the subscriber base grew by 95,349 users, in line with Total Play’s strategy of moderating its subscriber base growth.

The average revenue per user (ARPU) for the quarter was Ps. 607, compared to Ps. 616 a year ago.

At the end of the period, Total Play had passed 17,599,524 homes in Mexico, a minor change from 17,556,755 homes a year earlier. This is part of the company’s strategy to refrain from expanding geographic coverage, focusing instead on further strengthening its cash flow generation.

Penetration — the proportion of homes passed by Total Play that have subscribed to the company’s telecommunications services — reached 29.7% at the end of the quarter, up from 27.2% a year ago.

Revenue from the enterprise was Ps. 1,521 million, down from Ps. 1,729 million a year ago. This decrease is attributed to the completion of projects with predetermined duration, scheduled to conclude this quarter.

Costs and expenses

Total costs and expenses decreased 4%, driven by a 17% reduction in service costs, partially offset by a 3% increase in general expenses.

The decrease in costs, from Ps. 2,064 million last year to Ps. 1,708 million this year, is mainly due to lower content costs and the completion of business projects during the quarter, partially offset by higher link and membership costs.

The increase in expenses, from Ps. 3,874 million to Ps. 3,985 million, reflects higher maintenance expenses as the company’s operations grow, partially offset by lower advertising and personnel expenses.

EBITDA and net result

Total Play’s EBITDA was Ps. 5,483 million, a 16% increase compared to Ps. 4,736 million in the previous year.

The key variations below EBITDA were as follows:

A Ps. 379 million increase in depreciation and amortization, primarily due to user acquisition costs, telecommunications equipment, labor, and installation expenses.

A Ps. 228 million increase in interest expense, consistent with a higher financial debt balance, driven by the depreciation of the exchange rate on foreign currency-denominated debt and the issuance of Certificados Bursatiles, as well as an increase in the cost of debt.

A foreign exchange loss of Ps. 817 million this quarter, compared to a foreign exchange gain of Ps. 613 million in the same period last year. This was due to net liability monetary position in foreign currency, along with the depreciation of the peso against the basket of currencies in which the company’s monetary liabilities are denominated, in contrast to the appreciation of the peso in the previous year.

Total Play reported a net loss of Ps. 1,519 million, compared to a loss of Ps. 1,024 million in the same period of 2023.

Balance sheet

As of December 31, 2024, the company’s debt with cost was Ps. 56,278 million, up from Ps. 52,199 million a year ago. This increase reflects the impact of the exchange rate depreciation on foreign currency-denominated debt and the issuance of Certificados Bursatiles during the period.

Lease liabilities were Ps. 4,490 million, 21% less in comparison to Ps. 5,665 million a year ago.

The balance of cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash held in trusts, was Ps. 5,743 million, compared to Ps. 5,754 million a year ago. As a result, the company’s net debt was Ps. 55,025 million, up from Ps. 52,110 million in the prior year.

The debt ratio — Net Debt/EBITDA for the last two annualized quarters — was 2.53x.

Total Play’s fixed assets — including accumulated investments in fiber optics, telecommunications equipment, and subscriber acquisition costs, among other assets — was Ps. 61,504 million in comparison to Ps. 61,946 million a year ago.

In a subsequent event, on January 7, the company announced an exchange offer for holders of the US$600 million Senior Notes due 2028, with interest rate of 6.375%, for New Senior Secured Notes due 2032 with interest rate of 11.125%. The agreement included a 45% additional cash subscription by Senior Notes holders, exchanged for the New Senior Secured Notes. On February 7, the company announced that it successfully completed the US$821 million exchange, which included the exchange of US$566 million in Senior Notes and the subscription of an additional US$255 million in cash.

Twelve-month results

Total revenue for 2024 was Ps. 44,530 million, a 10% increase from Ps. 40,503 million a year ago, driven by an 8% rise in residential revenue and a 19% growth in enterprise revenue.

Total costs and expenses grew 6% to Ps. 23,574 million from Ps. 22,142 million, reflecting a 4% increase in service costs and an 8% rise in expenses.

Total Play reported EBITDA of Ps. 20,956 million, up 14% from Ps. 18,361 million in the prior year, with the EBITDA margin increasing two-percentage points to 47%. Operating income grew to Ps. 3,844 million, compared to Ps. 2,316 million in 2023.

The company recorded a net loss of Ps. 7,504 million, compared to a loss of Ps. 3,147 million a year earlier.

2023

2024

Change

Ps.

Revenue from services

$40,503

$44,530

$4,027

10 %

EBITDA

$18,361

$20,956

$2,595

14 %

Operating income

Net result

$2,316

$(3,147)

$3,844

$(7,504)

$1,528

$(4,357)

66%

—-

Amounts in millions of pesos.
EBITDA: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

About Total Play

Total Play is a leading Triple Play provider in Mexico that, thanks to the widest direct-to-home fiber optic network in the country, offers entertainment and technologically advanced services with the highest quality and speed in the market. For the latest news and updates about Total Play, visit: www.totalplay.com.mx.

Total Play is a Grupo Salinas company (www.gruposalinas.com), a group of dynamic, fast-growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value to improve community well-being; and environmental value by reducing the negative impact of its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors, and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values, and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results, and world-class performance.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are concepts about the future that involve risks and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Other risks that may affect Total Play and its subsidiaries are presented in documents sent to the securities authorities.

Investor Relations:

Bruno Rangel

Rolando Villarreal

+ 52 (55) 1720 9167

jrangelk@totalplay.com.mx

rvillarreal@totalplay.com.mx

Press Relations:

Luciano Pascoe
Tel. +52 (55) 1720 1313 ext. 36553
lpascoe@gruposalinas.com.mx

TOTAL PLAY TELECOMUNICACIONES, S.A.P.I. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY INCOME STATEMENTS

(Millions of Mexican pesos)

4Q23

4Q24

Change

Revenue from services

10,674

100 %

11,176

100 %

502

5 %

Cost of services

(2,064)

(19 %)

(1,708)

(15 %)

356

17 %

Gross profit

8,610

81 %

9,468

85 %

858

10 %

General expenses

(3,874)

(36 %)

(3,985)

(36 %)

(111)

(3 %)

EBITDA

4,736

44 %

5,483

49 %

747

16 %

Depreciation and amortization

(4,131)

(39 %)

(4,510)

(40 %)

(379)

(9 %)

Operating profit

605

6 %

973

9 %

368

61 %

Financial cost:

Interest revenue

0 %

1 %

26 %

Change in fair value of financial instruments

(135)

(1 %)

0 %

160

119 %

Accrued interest expense

(1,461)

(14 %)

(1,689)

(15 %)

(228)

(16 %)

Other financial expenses

(33)

(0 %)

(194)

(2 %)

(161)

n.m.

Foreign exchange gain (loss) – Net

613

6 %

(817)

(7 %)

(1,430)

n.m.

(963)

(9 %)

(2,608)

(23 %)

(1,645)

(171 %)

Loss before income tax provisions

(358)

(3 %)

(1,635)

(15 %)

(1,277)

n.m.

Income tax provision

(666)

(6 %)

116

1 %

782

117 %

Net loss for the period

(1,024)

(10 %)

(1,519)

(14 %)

(495)

(48 %)

TOTAL PLAY TELECOMUNICACIONES, S.A.P.I. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED ACCUMULATED INCOME STATEMENTS

(Millions of Mexican pesos)

Accumulated

12M23

12M24

Change

Revenue from services

40,503

100 %

44,530

100 %

4,027

10 %

Cost of services

(7,801)

(19 %)

(8,108)

(18 %)

(307)

(4 %)

Gross profit

32,702

81 %

36,422

82 %

3,720

11 %

General expenses

(14,341)

(35 %)

(15,466)

(35 %)

(1,125)

(8 %)

EBITDA

18,361

45 %

20,956

47 %

2,595

14 %

Depreciation and amortization

(16,045)

(40 %)

(17,112)

(38 %)

(1,067)

(7 %)

Operating profit

2,316

6 %

3,844

9 %

1,528

66 %

Financial cost:

Interest revenue

191

0 %

302

1 %

111

58 %

Change in fair value of financial instruments

(463)

(1 %)

(1,099)

(2 %)

(636)

(137 %)

Accrued interest expense

(5,528)

(14 %)

(6,345)

(14 %)

(817)

(15 %)

Other financial expenses

(506)

(1 %)

(271)

(1 %)

235

46 %

Foreign exchange gain (loss) – Net

3,384

8 %

(4,443)

(10 %)

(7,827)

n.m.

(2,922)

(7 %)

(11,856)

(27 %)

(8,934)

n.m.

Equity interest in net results of non-controlling entities

(19)

(0 %)

–

0 %

(19)

(100 %)

Loss before income tax provisions

(625)

(2 %)

(8,012)

(18 %)

(7,387)

n.m.

Income tax provision

(2,522)

(6 %)

508

1 %

(3,030)

(120 %)

Net loss for the period

(3,147)

(8 %)

(7,504)

(17 %)

(4,357)

(138 %)

TOTAL PLAY TELECOMUNICACIONES, S.A.P.I. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Millions of Mexican pesos)

As of December 31,

2023

2024

Change

Assets

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

2,377

3 %

3,355

4 %

978

41 %

Restricted cash in trusts

3,377

4 %

2,388

3 %

(989)

(29 %)

Customers – net

4,426

5 %

3,319

4 %

(1,107)

(25 %)

Other accounts receivable

183

0 %

–

0 %

(183)

(100 %)

Derivative financial instruments

–

0 %

451

1 %

451

n.a.

Recoverable taxes

4,141

5 %

3,719

4 %

(422)

(10 %)

Related parties

367

0 %

251

0 %

(116)

(32 %)

Inventories

2,926

3 %

2,708

3 %

(218)

(7 %)

Prepaid expenses

529

1 %

499

1 %

(30)

(6 %)

Total current assets

18,326

21 %

16,690

20 %

(1,636)

(9 %)

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Related parties

237

0 %

284

0 %

20 %

Property, plant and equipmente – Net

61,946

71 %

61,504

73 %

(442)

(1 %)

Rights-of-use assets -Net

4,780

5 %

3,184

4 %

(1,596)

(33 %)

Trademarks and other assets

2,099

2 %

2,458

3 %

359

17 %

Total non-current assets

69,062

79 %

67,430

80 %

(1,632)

(2 %)

Total assets

87,388

100 %

84,120

100 %

(3,268)

(4 %)

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES

Financial debt

4,573

5 %

7,846

9 %

3,273

72 %

Lease liabilities

2,338

3 %

2,508

3 %

170

7 %

Trade payables

13,373

15 %

13,746

16 %

373

3 %

Reverse factoring

2,234

3 %

1,590

2 %

(644)

(29 %)

Other payables and payable taxes

1,416

2 %

1,672

2 %

256

18 %

Related parties

1,012

1 %

1,216

1 %

204

20 %

Liabilities from contracts with customers

994

1 %

720

1 %

(274)

(28 %)

Interest payable

316

0 %

259

0 %

(57)

(18 %)

Derivative financial instruments

175

0 %

–

0 %

(175)

(100 %)

Total short-term liabilities

26,431

30 %

29,557

35 %

3,126

12 %

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

Financial debt

47,626

54 %

48,432

58 %

806

2 %

Lease liabilities

3,327

4 %

1,982

2 %

(1,345)

(40 %)

Derivative financial instruments

1,442

2 %

–

0 %

(1,442)

(100 %)

Employee benefits

0 %

26 %

Deferred income tax

5,253

6 %

5,401

6 %

148

3 %

Total long-term liabilities

57,722

66 %

55,908

66 %

(1,814)

(3 %)

Total liabilities

84,153

96 %

85,465

102 %

1,312

2 %

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

3,235

4 %

(1,345)

(2 %)

(4,580)

(142 %)

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

87,388

100 %

84,120

100 %

(3,268)

(4 %)

TOTAL PLAY TELECOMUNICACIONES, S.A.P.I. DE C.V. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Millions of Mexican pesos)

12th months period ended

December 31,

2023

2024

Operating activities:

Loss before income tax provision

(625)

(8,012)

Items not requiring the use of resources:

Depreciation and amortization

16,045

17,112

Employee benefits

Items related to investing or financing activities:

Accrued interest income

(191)

(302)

Accrued interest expense and other financial transactions

6,497

7,715

Unrealized exchange (gain) loss

(3,420)

4,077

Non-controlling participation

–

18,341

20,613

Resources (used in) generated by operating activities:

Customers and unearned revenue

1,087

832

Other receivables

183

Related parties, net

388

244

Taxes to be recovered

(330)

422

Inventories

(584)

218

Advance payments

379

Trade payables

2,403

560

Other payables

(1,021)

248

Cash flows generated by operating activities

20,715

23,350

Investing activities:

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

(15,627)

(12,146)

Other assets

(44)

Collected interest

191

302

Cash flows (used in) investing activities

(15,417)

(11,888)

Financing activities:

Loans received

6,034

(460)

Leasing cash flows

(2,650)

(2,284)

Restricted Cash in Trusts

(1,389)

988

Reverse factoring

(457)

(643)

Derivative financial instruments

(1,000)

(2,038)

Interest payment

(5,349)

(6,047)

Cahs flows used in financing activities

(4,811)

(10,484)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

487

978

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

1,890

2,377

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

2,377

3,355

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SOURCE Total Play Telecomunicaciones, S.A.P.I. de C.V.

Technology

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

Published

1 hour 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

1 hour 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

Technology

New Datingsmatch Survey: 1 in 5 Users Say a Wink Led to a Conversation

Published

2 hours ago

July 19, 2026

New findings from a Datingsmatch.com user survey show that the smallest gestures are doing more of the communication work than most people realize.

GIBRALTAR, July 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — People tend to think about opening messages as the moment a conversation actually starts online. The carefully worded introduction, the line someone spent time writing and then rewrote. What the data from a recent Datingsmatch survey points to is something different: for a meaningful share of users, none of that is where things began. It began with a wink.

According to the survey, 1 in 5 users of Datingsmatch reported that a wink was what got a conversation going. One-fifth of respondents, spread across different age groups and usage habits, identified that a single small gesture as the moment something actually started between two people.

What the Datingsmatch Survey Found

The survey was conducted among 5,000 users of the Datingsmatch online communication platform in June 2026, with participants asked to voluntarily share their experiences. The aim was to get a clearer picture of how conversations tend to begin, what it is that people hesitate about, and what eventually prompts someone to go ahead and reach out.

The wink finding was among the more consistent findings from the responses. Among users who described a conversation they felt good about, a notable portion were able to trace it back to a wink being sent first, whether they had sent it or received it. The reverse situation, where someone sent a cold message with no prior signal of any kind, was something respondents described as harder on both sides of the exchange.

That tracks with what broader research also points to. A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 55% of online daters felt insecure about the number of messages they received, and 36% felt overwhelmed by incoming contact. What that suggests is not that people don’t want to connect — it’s that the way contact gets initiated matters a great deal for how it lands.

Why Small Signals Carry More Weight Than They Seem

The Datingsmatch survey also looked at what stops people from reaching out when they want to. Uncertainty came up repeatedly. Not knowing whether someone is open to hearing from you. Not wanting to guess wrong and feel like you’ve overstepped.

What respondents described is not a lack of interest in connecting. It’s the absence of a clear enough signal that the other person is open to it. A Datingsmatch wink feature provides exactly that. It’s visible, unambiguous, and low-commitment enough that neither person has to feel exposed by it. For those still finding their footing on the platform, the beginner’s guide to the Datingsmatch platform walks through how these features work and how to use them effectively.

This connects to a 2024 study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking that examined online rejection: ghosting was the most common form of rejection in digital communication, even after substantial prior exchanges. The fear that a message will simply be ignored — without any acknowledgment — is a real barrier. A lower-stakes signal reduces that barrier because the cost of no response feels smaller.

Datingsmatch notes, based on what survey participants shared, that this kind of low-friction signal seems to work differently than most people expect. It doesn’t just start conversations. It seems to reduce the gap that many users described feeling between “I want to reach out” and “I actually did.”

How People Actually Use the Wink Feature on Datingsmatch

Survey responses offered a more specific picture of the behavior. Winks were not being used randomly or as a form of mass outreach. Respondents described using them deliberately, on users they had spent time looking at, toward people they were genuinely interested in but not yet sure about approaching with a message.

Some users described sending a wink as a way of checking whether there was any openness to further contact, without having to commit to a full message exchange in order to find out. Others who had been on the receiving end of a wink said it was something they found easier to respond to, in part because it did not feel like it was asking too much of them too soon. There were also respondents who noted that when a wink had gone back and forth between two people, the first actual message felt less like an approach out of nowhere and more like a natural continuation of something that had already started.

Datingsmatch customer service regularly hears from users that knowing how to start a conversation is one of the things people think about most when they first join the platform. The survey data puts some numbers to what those conversations have long suggested.

What This Means for How the Platform Thinks About Connection

Datingsmatch highlights that findings like these shape how the platform continues to think about the role of small, low-pressure interactions in the overall experience. A conversation that begins with a wink is not a lesser conversation. Survey respondents who traced their most valued exchanges back to a wink described those conversations in consistently positive terms.

The platform sees value in giving users multiple ways to signal interest at different levels of commitment. A message is a commitment. A wink is an invitation. Both have a place, and the data suggests that for a meaningful portion of users, the invitation comes first and matters more than it might look like from the outside.

About Datingsmatch

Datingsmatch is an online communication platform that gives people a range of ways to connect online. The platform is built around the idea that how a conversation starts shapes everything that follows, and that not every interaction needs to begin with a message. Datingsmatch operates globally and continues to develop its communication tools based on how users actually engage with each other.

Media Contact

Elizabeth Fielden, Datingsmatch, 1 5869132511, review@datingsmatch.com, https://datingsmatch.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/new-datingsmatch-survey-1-in-5-users-say-a-wink-led-to-a-conversation-302828676.html

SOURCE Datingsmatch