In an interaction with Voice&Data, Robert Bu, General Manager, UCWeb India reveals the changing patterns in news consumption and future of news media in the digital world and how important it is to the company’s global plans. Excerpt
Voice&Data: What is your overall presence in India?
Robert Bu: UCWeb established itself in India before it was merged into Alibaba Group in 2011. We are the only business within Alibaba Mobile Business Group to set feet on foreign lands out of China.
As a core member of the Alibaba Mobile Business Group, we aim at providing infrastructural internet services to India internet users - webpage browsing and application downloading, as the 2 gateways to make connecting to the internet world easy and fun.
The core products of UCWeb are UC Browser – the all-in-one browsing experience and 9Apps - a dynamically designed android application store with over 250 mn monthly active users.
In terms of page views, according to the generally used 3rd party data from StatCounter, over 50% of the webpages are accessed by UC Browser in India – a major milestone on our mission to connect half of the India Cyber Citizens to the Internet. Our monthly active users in India stand at over 80 million (as of March 2016) - accounting for more than 30% of the population of mobile internet users. Our journey in India has been fascinating, rich and rewarding, in more ways than one.
Voice&Data: What are the challenges faced by the company while working in the Indian Market?
Robert Bu: Smartphone penetration is expected to reach 520 million by 2020 (Ernst & Young) and millions of Indian users are exploring internet for the first time on their mobile phones.
Mobile Browser is now the gateway to internet and its potential is immense. 45% of all content consumed expected to be on the small screen at that time. Apart from limited bandwidth availability, content distribution and accessibility is the new challenge faced by the industry.
Voice&Data: What solution did the company adopt to overcome these challenges?
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2016 من Voice and Data.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2016 من Voice and Data.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Data discomfort: Why India's data connectivity speeds are falling
India is one of the world’s biggest markets for 5G Internet services, but that has come at the cost of connectivity speed—at least for now
A full-stack mission to orbit
With its all-in-one model, Dhruva Space is merging satellite design, launch, and support under one roof to streamline India's space-tech future
5G dreams: A tech revolution hits roadblocks
India's swift 5G rollout encounters hurdles as operators struggle to monetise their investment, with sluggish consumer and enterprise adoption stalling growth
Empowering India's next-gen business pathways
Cloud, data centres, and 5G form a powerful trio, shaping India’s digital future with scalable infrastructure, seamless connectivity, and rapid innovation
Interconnected technologies, unlocking enterprise growth potential
The synergy of AI, IoT, and 5G is transforming business operations, enabling smarter decision-making and paving the way for scalable, data-driven growth
Beyond the 5G horizon, a new era of user expectations
Telecom experts explore a future beyond 5G, revealing how Al, loT, and secure infrastructure will transform industries and meet rising user demands
Unfolding India’s digital journey beyond 5G
India’s telecom leaders envision a future of next-gen connectivity, aiming for a digitally inclusive landscape driven by innovation and sustainable growth
Digital infrastructure: not the Achilles' heel but the jugular
As cyber threats intensify, digital infrastructure faces rising risks, demanding vigilant, multi-layered defences to ensure resilience for the future.
BUILDING SMARTER HIGHWAYS IN TELECOM'S NEW DIGITAL FRONTIER
Autonomous networks enable telcos to streamline operations, enhance services, and reduce costs, driving efficiency in a data-driven, hyperconnected world
Pre-zero data dreams: Are AI smartphones leading the way?
Artificial Intelligence can unlock personalised insights, ushering in a new era of data-driven experiences that anticipate user needs before they are expressed.
