Tag: Asia
Google subsidiary agrees to pursue internet “diversification” in Asia to block China access to U.S. market
The global internet continues to disintegrate into regional internets. Yesterday, the FCC authorized a Google subsidiary, GU Holdings, to open a submarine fiber optic link between the U.S. and Taiwan, while continuing to block the company’s expansion of the cable to Hong Kong. The cable, operated by Pacific Light Data…
Read More
Indian online grocery startup BigBasket raises $60M
Indian grocery startup BigBasket has raised $60 million as it scales its business in the country to meet growing demand from customers stuck at home. Alibaba and other existing investors including Mirae Asset and CDC Group participated in the bridge-round, Vipul Parekh, co-founder of BigBasket, told TechCrunch in an interview.…
Read More
Disney+ Hotstar has about 8 million subscribers
We finally know just about how many subscribers Hotstar has amassed over the years in India. “Approximately 8 million.” Disney said on Wednesday that its eponymous streaming service has hit 50 million subscribers, nearly 8 million of whom are in India, where it launched its service atop of Hotstar this…
Read More
Outrunning COVID-19 twice
Editor’s note: Our writer Rita’s journey from China to the US and back again was planned months before the coronavirus pandemic descended on the world. That descent ended up turning a simple trip home into a kind of epic journey. The changes in her location — which we reference, but…
Read More
India’s Oyo furloughs thousands of employees as revenue drops by over 50%
Oyo has placed thousands of employees on furloughs for up to three months in the U.S. and several other markets as the Indian budget lodging firm confronts the coronavirus outbreak that has cut its revenue and demand by over 50%. The startup’s teams in the U.S. are most impacted by…
Read More
Rakuten Mobile’s low-cost data plan fully launches in Japan
Rakuten Mobile announced the full commercial launch of its low-cost data plan in Japan today. Priced at 2,980 yen (about $27) per month, the plan gives users unlimited calls and data where Rakuten has its own networks. The company also raised the amount of domestic roaming data in response to…
Read More