Technology

MongoDB, Inc. Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

Published

2 years ago

May 30, 2024

First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Total Revenue of $450.6 million, up 22% Year-over-Year

Continued Strong Customer Growth with Over 49,200 Customers as of April 30, 2024

MongoDB Atlas Revenue up 32% Year-over-Year; 70% of Total Q1 Revenue

NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — MongoDB, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDB) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended April 30, 2024.

“MongoDB’s delivered solid first quarter results, highlighted by 32% Atlas revenue growth. At the same time, we had a slower than expected start to the year for both Atlas consumption growth and new workload wins, which will have a downstream impact for the remainder of fiscal 2025,” said Dev Ittycheria, President and Chief Executive Officer of MongoDB.

“As we look ahead, we continue to be incredibly excited by our large market opportunity, the potential to increase share, and become a standard within more of our customers. We also see a tremendous opportunity to win more legacy workloads, as AI has now become a catalyst to modernize these applications. MongoDB’s document-based architecture is particularly well-suited for the variety and scale of data required by AI-powered applications. We are confident MongoDB will be a substantial beneficiary of this next wave of application development.”

First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights

Revenue: Total revenue was $450.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of 22% year-over-year. Subscription revenue was $436.9 million, an increase of 23% year-over-year, and services revenue was $13.7 million, an increase of 1% year-over-year.Gross Profit: Gross profit was $327.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, representing a 73% gross margin compared to 74% in the year-ago period. Non-GAAP gross profit was $337.8 million, representing a 75% non-GAAP gross margin, compared to a non-GAAP gross margin of 76% in the year-ago period.Loss from Operations: Loss from operations was $98.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, compared to a loss from operations of $68.5 million in the year-ago period. Non-GAAP income from operations was $32.8 million, compared to non-GAAP income from operations of $43.7 million in the year-ago period.Net Loss: Net loss was $80.6 million, or $1.10 per share, based on 73.0 million weighted-average shares outstanding, for the first quarter of fiscal 2025. This compares to a net loss of $54.2 million, or $0.77 per share, in the year-ago period. Non-GAAP net income was $42.7 million, or $0.51 per share, based on 83.2 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding. This compares to a non-GAAP net income of $45.3 million, or $0.56 per share, in the year-ago period.Cash Flow: As of April 30, 2024, MongoDB had $2.1 billion in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash. During the three months ended April 30, 2024, MongoDB generated $63.6 million of cash from operations, used $0.5 million of cash in capital expenditures and used $2.1 million of cash in principal repayments of finance leases, leading to free cash flow of $61.0 million, compared to free cash flow of $51.8 million in the year-ago period.

A reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure has been provided in the financial statement tables included at the end of this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

First Quarter Fiscal 2025 and Recent Business Highlights

MongoDB announced a number of new products and capabilities at MongoDB.local NYC. Highlights included the preview of MongoDB 8.0—with significant performance improvements such as faster reads and updates, along with significantly faster bulk inserts and time series queries—and the general availability of Atlas Stream Processing to build sophisticated, event-driven applications with real-time data.MongoDB continues to expand its AI ecosystem with the announcement of the MongoDB AI Applications Program (MAAP), which provides customers with reference architectures, pre-built partner integrations, and professional services to help them quickly build AI-powered applications. Accenture will establish a center of excellence focused on MongoDB projects, and is the first global systems integrator to join MAAP.Bendigo and Adelaide Bank partnered with MongoDB to modernize their core banking technology. With the help of MongoDB Relational Migrator and generative AI-powered modernization tools, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank decomposed an outdated consumer-servicing application into microservices and migrated off its underlying legacy relational database technology significantly faster and more easily than a traditional migration.

Second Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2025 Guidance

Based on information available to management as of today, May 30, 2024, MongoDB is issuing the following financial guidance for the second quarter and full year fiscal 2025.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2025

Full Year Fiscal 2025

Revenue

$460.0 million to $464.0 million

$1.88 billion to $1.90 billion

Non-GAAP Income from Operations

$35.0 million to $38.0 million

$168.0 million to $183.0 million

Non-GAAP Net Income per Share

$0.46 to $0.49

$2.15 to $2.30

Reconciliations of non-GAAP income from operations and non-GAAP net income per share guidance to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are not available without unreasonable efforts on a forward-looking basis due to the high variability, complexity and low visibility with respect to the charges excluded from these non-GAAP measures; in particular, the measures and effects of stock-based compensation expense specific to equity compensation awards that are directly impacted by unpredictable fluctuations in MongoDB’s stock price. MongoDB expects the variability of the above charges to have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on its future GAAP financial results.

Conference Call Information

MongoDB will host a conference call today, May 30, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss its financial results and business outlook. A live webcast of the call will be available on the “Investor Relations” page of MongoDB’s website at https://investors.mongodb.com. To access the call by phone, please go to this link (registration link), and you will be provided with dial in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. A replay of the webcast will also be available for a limited time at http://investors.mongodb.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements concerning MongoDB’s financial guidance for the second fiscal quarter and full year fiscal 2025 and underlying assumptions, our ability to capitalize on our market opportunity and deliver strong growth for the foreseeable future as well as the criticality of MongoDB to artificial intelligence application development. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts and statements identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “would” or the negative or plural of these words or similar expressions or variations. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in or suggested by those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and are subject to a variety of assumptions, uncertainties, risks and factors that are beyond our control including, without limitation: our customers renewing their subscriptions with us and expanding their usage of software and related services; the effects of the ongoing military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas on our business and future operating results; economic downturns and/or the effects of rising interest rates, inflation and volatility in the global economy and financial markets on our business and future operating results; our potential failure to meet publicly announced guidance or other expectations about our business and future operating results; our limited operating history; our history of losses; failure of our platform to satisfy customer demands; the effects of increased competition; our investments in new products and our ability to introduce new features, services or enhancements; our ability to effectively expand our sales and marketing organization; our ability to continue to build and maintain credibility with the developer community; our ability to add new customers or increase sales to our existing customers; our ability to maintain, protect, enforce and enhance our intellectual property; the effects of social, ethical and regulatory issues relating to the use of new and evolving technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in our offerings or partnerships; the growth and expansion of the market for database products and our ability to penetrate that market; our ability to integrate acquired businesses and technologies successfully or achieve the expected benefits of such acquisitions; our ability to maintain the security of our software and adequately address privacy concerns; our ability to manage our growth effectively and successfully recruit and retain additional highly-qualified personnel; and the price volatility of our common stock. These and other risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2024. Additional information will be made available in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2024, and other filings and reports that we may file from time to time with the SEC. Except as required by law, we undertake no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, changes in expectations or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes the following financial measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per share and free cash flow. Non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin exclude expenses associated with stock-based compensation. Non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share exclude:

expenses associated with stock-based compensation including employer payroll taxes upon the vesting and exercising of stock-based awards and expenses related to stock appreciation rights previously issued to our employees in China;amortization of intangible assets for the acquired technology and acquired customer relationships associated with prior acquisitions; andin the case of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share, amortization of the debt issuance costs associated with our convertible senior notes and gains or losses on our financial instruments;additionally, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share are adjusted for an assumed provision for income taxes based on an estimated long-term non-GAAP tax rate. The non-GAAP tax rate was calculated utilizing a three-year financial projection that excludes the direct impact of the GAAP to non-GAAP adjustments and considers other factors such as operating structure and existing tax positions in various jurisdictions. We intend to periodically reevaluate the projected long-term tax rate, as necessary, for significant events and our ongoing analysis of relevant tax law changes.

MongoDB uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing its financial results and believes they are useful to investors, as a supplement to GAAP measures, in evaluating MongoDB’s ongoing operational performance. MongoDB believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing its financial results with other companies in MongoDB’s industry, many of which may present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors.

Free cash flow represents net cash from/used in operating activities, less capital expenditures, principal repayments of finance lease liabilities and capitalized software development costs, if any. MongoDB uses free cash flow to understand and evaluate its liquidity and to generate future operating plans. The exclusion of capital expenditures, principal repayments of finance lease liabilities and amounts capitalized for software development facilitates comparisons of MongoDB’s liquidity on a period-to-period basis and excludes items that it does not consider to be indicative of its liquidity. MongoDB believes that free cash flow is a measure of liquidity that provides useful information to investors in understanding and evaluating the strength of its liquidity and future ability to generate cash that can be used for strategic opportunities or investing in its business in the same manner as MongoDB’s management and board of directors.

Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. In particular, other companies may report non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per share, free cash flow or similarly titled measures but calculate them differently, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, as presented below. This earnings press release and any future releases containing such non-GAAP reconciliations can also be found on the Investor Relations page of MongoDB’s website at https://investors.mongodb.com.

About MongoDB

Headquartered in New York, MongoDB’s mission is to empower innovators to create, transform, and disrupt industries by unleashing the power of software and data. Built by developers, for developers, MongoDB’s developer data platform is a database with an integrated set of related services that allow development teams to address the growing requirements for today’s wide variety of modern applications, all in a unified and consistent user experience. MongoDB has tens of thousands of customers in over 100 countries. The MongoDB database platform has been downloaded hundreds of millions of times since 2007, and there have been millions of builders trained through MongoDB University courses. To learn more, visit mongodb.com.

Investor Relations
Brian Denyeau
ICR for MongoDB
646-277-1251
ir@mongodb.com

Media Relations
MongoDB
press@mongodb.com

MONGODB, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

April 30, 2024

January 31, 2024

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 815,704

$ 802,959

Short-term investments

1,258,292

1,212,448

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,814 and $8,054 as of April 30,

2024 and January 31, 2024, respectively

266,025

325,610

Deferred commissions

93,390

92,512

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

218,914

50,107

Total current assets

2,652,325

2,483,636

Property and equipment, net

50,214

53,042

Operating lease right-of-use assets

34,807

37,365

Goodwill

69,679

Acquired intangible assets, net

1,303

3,957

Deferred tax assets

4,524

4,116

Other assets

221,577

217,847

Total assets

$ 3,034,429

$ 2,869,642

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$ 9,349

$ 9,905

Accrued compensation and benefits

110,234

112,579

Operating lease liabilities

9,881

9,797

Other accrued liabilities

84,110

74,831

Deferred revenue

323,920

357,108

Total current liabilities

537,494

564,220

Deferred tax liability

770

285

Operating lease liabilities

28,417

30,918

Deferred revenue

16,210

20,296

Convertible senior notes, net

1,144,125

1,143,273

Other liabilities

38,157

41,661

Total liabilities

1,765,173

1,800,653

Stockholders’ equity:

Common stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized as of April 30, 2024

and January 31, 2024; 73,449,966 shares issued and 73,350,595 shares outstanding as of April 30,

2024; 72,840,692 shares issued and 72,741,321 shares outstanding as of January 31, 2024

Additional paid-in capital

3,068,730

2,777,322

Treasury stock, 99,371 shares (repurchased at an average of $13.27 per share) as of April 30, 2024

and January 31, 2024

(1,319)

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(6,003)

4,545

Accumulated deficit

(1,792,225)

(1,711,632)

Total stockholders’ equity

1,269,256

1,068,989

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$ 3,034,429

$ 2,869,642

MONGODB, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended April 30,

2024

2023

Revenue:

Subscription

$ 436,896

$ 354,714

Services

13,665

13,566

Total revenue

450,561

368,280

Cost of revenue:

Subscription(1)

100,762

78,173

Services(1)

21,935

19,276

Total cost of revenue

122,697

97,449

Gross profit

327,864

270,831

Operating expenses:

Sales and marketing(1)

219,444

182,733

Research and development(1)

146,060

116,817

General and administrative(1)

60,546

39,828

Total operating expenses

426,050

339,378

Loss from operations

(98,186)

(68,547)

Other income, net

20,174

16,788

Loss before provision for income taxes

(78,012)

(51,759)

Provision for income taxes

2,581

2,487

Net loss

$ (80,593)

$ (54,246)

Net loss per share, basic and diluted

$ (1.10)

$ (0.77)

Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted

72,990,141

70,177,499

(1) Includes stock‑based compensation expense as follows:

Three Months Ended April 30,

2024

2023

Cost of revenue—subscription

$ 6,163

$ 5,514

Cost of revenue—services

3,255

2,948

Sales and marketing

39,613

37,606

Research and development

55,173

44,066

General and administrative

16,559

13,821

Total stock‑based compensation expense

$ 120,763

$ 103,955

MONGODB, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended April 30,

2024

2023

Cash flows from operating activities

Net loss

$ (80,593)

$ (54,246)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

4,826

4,373

Stock-based compensation

120,763

103,955

Amortization of debt issuance costs

852

847

Amortization of finance right-of-use assets

993

994

Amortization of operating right-of-use assets

2,479

2,225

Deferred income taxes

(188)

Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on short-term investments, net

(7,781)

(13,230)

Unrealized gain on financial instruments

(479)

(2,226)

Unrealized foreign exchange loss

115

429

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable, net

59,326

73,364

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

1,233

(2,909)

Deferred commissions

(4,820)

2,664

Other long-term assets

166

(46)

Accounts payable

(547)

(304)

Accrued liabilities

6,526

(12,631)

Operating lease liabilities

(2,185)

(2,394)

Deferred revenue

(37,431)

(47,266)

Other liabilities, non-current

163

319

Net cash provided by operating activities

63,613

53,730

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchases of property and equipment

(539)

(623)

Investments in non-marketable securities

—

(1,306)

Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities

125,000

280,000

Purchases of marketable securities

(172,604)

(66,789)

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

(48,143)

211,282

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

953

1,472

Principal repayments of finance leases

(2,093)

(1,342)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

(1,140)

130

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(1,583)

709

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

12,747

265,851

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

803,643

456,339

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$ 816,390

$ 722,190

MONGODB, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended April 30,

2024

2023

Reconciliation of GAAP gross profit to non-GAAP gross profit:

Gross profit on a GAAP basis

$ 327,864

$ 270,831

Gross margin (Gross profit/Total revenue) on a GAAP basis

73 %

74 %

Add back:

Expenses associated with stock-based compensation: Cost of Revenue—Subscription

6,497

5,688

Expenses associated with stock-based compensation: Cost of Revenue—Services

3,474

3,385

Non-GAAP gross profit

$ 337,835

$ 279,904

Non-GAAP gross margin (Non-GAAP gross profit/Total revenue)

75 %

76 %

Reconciliation of GAAP operating expenses to non-GAAP operating expenses:

Sales and marketing operating expense on a GAAP basis

$ 219,444

$ 182,733

Less:

Expenses associated with stock-based compensation

42,154

40,331

Amortization of intangible assets

760

Non-GAAP sales and marketing operating expense

$ 177,205

$ 141,642

Research and development operating expense on a GAAP basis

$ 146,060

$ 116,817

Less:

Expenses associated with stock-based compensation

57,760

45,724

Amortization of intangible assets

2,568

1,535

Non-GAAP research and development operating expense

$ 85,732

$ 69,558

General and administrative operating expense on a GAAP basis

$ 60,546

$ 39,828

Less:

Expenses associated with stock-based compensation

18,445

14,780

Non-GAAP general and administrative operating expense

$ 42,101

$ 25,048

Reconciliation of GAAP loss from operations to non-GAAP income from operations:

Loss from operations on a GAAP basis

$ (98,186)

$ (68,547)

GAAP operating margin (Loss from operations/Total revenue)

(22) %

(19) %

Add back:

Expenses associated with stock-based compensation

128,330

109,908

Amortization of intangible assets

2,653

2,295

Non-GAAP income from operations

$ 32,797

$ 43,656

Non-GAAP operating margin (Non-GAAP Income from operations/Total revenue)

7 %

12 %

Reconciliation of GAAP net loss to non-GAAP net income:

Net loss on a GAAP basis

$ (80,593)

$ (54,246)

Add back:

Expenses associated with stock-based compensation

128,330

109,908

Amortization of intangible assets

2,653

2,295

Amortization of debt issuance costs related to convertible senior notes

852

847

Less:

Gains on financial instruments, net

479

2,226

Income tax effects and adjustments *

8,088

11,316

Non-GAAP net income

$ 42,675

$ 45,262

Reconciliation of GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted, to non-GAAP net income per share,
basic and diluted:

Net loss per share, basic and diluted, on a GAAP basis

$ (1.10)

$ (0.77)

Add back:

Expenses associated with stock-based compensation

1.76

1.57

Amortization of intangible assets

0.04

0.03

Amortization of debt issuance costs related to convertible senior notes

0.01

Less:

Gains on financial instruments, net

0.01

0.03

Income tax effects and adjustments *

0.11

0.16

Non-GAAP net income per share, basic

$ 0.59

$ 0.65

Adjustment for fully diluted earnings per share

(0.08)

(0.09)

Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted **

$ 0.51

$ 0.56

* Non-GAAP financial information is adjusted for an assumed provision for income taxes based on our long-term projected tax rate of

20%. Due to the differences in the tax treatment of items excluded from non-GAAP earnings, our estimated tax rate on non-GAAP

income may differ from our GAAP tax rate and from our actual tax liabilities.

** Diluted non-GAAP net income per share is calculated based upon 83.2 million and 81.5 million of diluted weighted-average shares

of outstanding common stock for the three months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The following table presents a reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP

measure, for each of the periods indicated (unaudited, in thousands):

Three Months Ended April 30,

2024

2023

Net cash provided by operating activities

$ 63,613

$ 53,730

Capital expenditures

(539)

(623)

Principal repayments of finance leases

(2,093)

(1,342)

Capitalized software

—

Free cash flow

$ 60,981

$ 51,765

MONGODB, INC.

CUSTOMER COUNT METRICS

The following table presents certain customer count information as of the periods indicated:

4/30/2022

7/31/2022

10/31/2022

1/31/2023

4/30/2023

7/31/2023

10/31/2023

1/31/2024

4/30/2024

Total Customers (a)

35,200+

37,000+

39,100+

40,800+

43,100+

45,000+

46,400+

47,800+

49,200+

Direct Sales Customers(b)

4,800+

5,400+

5,900+

6,400+

6,700+

6,800+

6,900+

7,000+

7,100+

MongoDB Atlas Customers

33,700+

35,500+

37,600+

39,300+

41,600+

43,500+

44,900+

46,300+

47,700+

Customers over $100K(c)

1,379

1,462

1,545

1,651

1,761

1,855

1,972

2,052

2,137

(a) Our definition of “customer” excludes users of our free offerings and all affiliated entities are counted as a single customer.

(b) Direct Sales Customers are customers that were sold through our direct sales force and channel partners.

(c) Represents the number of customers with $100,000 or greater in annualized recurring revenue (“ARR”) and annualized monthly recurring revenue (“MRR”).

ARR includes the revenue we expect to receive from our customers over the following 12 months based on contractual commitments and, in the case of

Direct Sales Customers of MongoDB Atlas, by annualizing the prior 90 days of their actual consumption of MongoDB Atlas, assuming no increases or reductions

in their subscriptions or usage. For all other customers of our self-serve products, we calculate annualized MRR by annualizing the prior 30 days of their actual

consumption of such products, assuming no increases or reductions in usage. ARR and annualized MRR exclude professional services.

MONGODB, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL REVENUE INFORMATION

The following table presents certain supplemental revenue information as of the periods indicated:

4/30/2022

7/31/2022

10/31/2022

1/31/2023

4/30/2023

7/31/2023

10/31/2023

1/31/2024

4/30/2024

MongoDB Enterprise Advanced: % of Subscription Revenue

33 %

28 %

29 %

28 %

26 %

27 %

26 %

25 %

Direct Sales Customers(a)

Revenue: % of Subscription Revenue

87 %

86 %

87 %

88 %

87 %

(a) Direct Sales Customers are customers that were sold through our direct sales force and channel partners.

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SOURCE MongoDB, Inc.

Technology

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

Published

4 hours ago

July 18, 2026

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.

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SOURCE HUAWEI

Technology

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

Published

5 hours ago

July 18, 2026

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.

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SOURCE Laifen

Technology

Pillsbury Notice of Data Breach

Published

8 hours ago

July 18, 2026

NEW YORK, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (“Pillsbury”) was among many law firms targeted by sophisticated social engineering attempts in an incident last year. While the firm quickly detected and blocked the activity, an unauthorized actor was able to access some of the firm’s documents during a short window of time. Pillsbury notified any impacted clients last year and undertook a detailed process to review the accessed documents for personal information. Pillsbury then began notifying individuals whose personal information was affected. That process is now complete, and today, Pillsbury is publishing substitute notice as a final step.

For more information, please visit the substitute notice on our website at https://www.pillsburylaw.com/en/breach-notice.html.

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SOURCE Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP