NORTH ANDOVER MAN ARRESTED, ARRAIGNED IN CONNECTION WITH TRAFFICKING HEROIN

NORTH ANDOVER MAN ARRESTED, ARRAIGNED IN CONNECTION WITH TRAFFICKING HEROIN

LAWRENCE – A North Andover man has been arrested and arraigned in connection with selling heroin and cocaine in Lawrence, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Rodolfo Soto, age 22, of North Andover, was arrested Tuesday night in Lawrence by State Police assigned to the AG’s Office and State Police assigned to the Transportation Drug Unit.

Soto was charged with Trafficking Heroin over 36 grams (one count), Trafficking Heroin over 18 grams (two counts), Distribution of a Class A Substance (heroin) (one count), Distribution of a Class B Substance (cocaine) (one count), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (one count), Receiving Stolen Property over $250 (one count), School Zone Violation (three counts) and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (one count).

Soto was arraigned today in Lawrence District Court where he pleaded not guilty to the charges and bail was set at $500,000. He is due back in court on March 25 for a probable cause hearing.

“The heroin and opioid epidemic is devastating families and communities across our state,” said AG Healey. “We are losing four people a day to this crisis. Our office is committed to combating this epidemic on all fronts including going after those who put these deadly drugs on our streets.”

Authorities allege that Soto attempted to sell over 36 grams of heroin and cocaine to an undercover state trooper in Lawrence on Tuesday. Authorities executed a search warrant later that day at a North Andover apartment and on Soto’s car and seized over 18 grams of heroin, 10 grams of cocaine, and a gun, which was determined to be stolen from New Hampshire.

State Police assigned to the AG’s Office began an investigation into Soto in December 2015 with assistance from State Police troopers assigned to the Transportation Drug Unit and troopers assigned to the Firearms Licensing and Trafficking Unit.

This investigation is ongoing. These charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

In June, the AG’s Office indicted Jose Casellas in connection with running a major drug trafficking operation in the Lawrence area. Casellas was charged with Trafficking over 200 Grams (Habitual Offender), Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl (Habitual Offender), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (3 counts) and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number.

Shortly before taking office, AG Healey announced the formation of an internal task force to more aggressively combat the heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis in Massachusetts. AG Healeyhas vowed to use a multi-faceted approach to educate prescribers, pursue illegal drug traffickers and pill mills, and expand access to recovery and treatment programs.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Gina Kwon, of AG Healey’s Enterprise and Major Crimes Division, with assistance from State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, State Police assigned to the Transportation Drug Unit and the Firearms Licensing and Trafficking Unit.

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $17.7 MILLION IN HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES $17.7 MILLION IN HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING FOR BOSTON

BOSTON - Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the City of Boston and the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region (MBHSR) have received $17.7 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program.    "I am extremely proud of the strong partnership between the City of Boston and the Department of Homeland Security," said Mayor Walsh. "I'm grateful for Secretary Johnson's continued support of our world-class City, and a special thanks to our Massachusetts delegation -- Senators Warren and Markey, Congressman Lynch and Capuano - who have been incredibly supportive during the process. The City of Boston has always placed a premium on the safety and security of our first responders, and this grant funding provides critical resources and ensures long term resiliency."   The Mayor's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is the agency responsible for ensuring the City has plans to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies and disasters. During emergencies, OEM operates the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) where City agencies gather to share critical information and coordinate response for managing an incident. OEM is also entrusted with managing homeland security funding for the entire MBHSR region comprised of Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Quincy, Revere, Somerville and Winthrop.     "Whether natural or man-made, emergencies can happen anytime. This funding allows us to enhance the capabilities of our first responders, ensuring they are trained and prepared for any potential emergency or disaster," said Rene Fielding, OEM Director. "The program will also support efforts to work with Boston's surrounding communities in preparing for emergencies."   Past funding has supported initiatives in communications interoperability by providing the capability to allow first responders to clearly and seamlessly communicate with one another and in running Urban Shield Boston, the largest first responder exercise conducted in New England and the cornerstone of the MBHSR training and exercise program. Urban Shield Boston was last held in May 2014 and involved approximately 2,000 emergency response personnel from more than 50 local, state and federal agencies. The goal of Urban Shield is to test and evaluate specific public safety capabilities that have been developed, or enhanced, with the investment of funds received through the UASI grant program.

『老鷹想飛』2/27 到波士頓

一部拍了23年，講述關於人與老鷹及土地深厚感情的得獎紀錄片『老鷹想飛』即將於2016年2月27日（星期六）下午3點，於波士頓Tufts Medical School’s Sackler Auditorium 放映，會後並將與來自台灣的本片導演梁皆得先生舉行面對面座談會。

台灣的常見猛禽老鷹曾經漫天飛舞，曾經是每個人童年遊戲「老鷹抓小雞」的主角，曾幾何時，老鷹不見了，看不到了，在1991年，全台灣只剩下不到200隻，被公告列為珍貴稀有保育類動物。有一位高中老師，沈振中，毅然決然辭去穩定工作，發願要花20年，為老鷹立傳。從1992年到2012年，38歲到58歲，他真的信守承諾，奉獻了人生最精華的20年，簡樸度日，默默守護了台灣的老鷹。而自然影像工作記錄者梁皆得導演，也在一旁陪伴，記錄了沈老師20年的行腳足跡。2012年，沈老師退休了，但有受到沈老師感動的新生代研究人員繼續加入，老鷹的故事仍在繼續。

這是一部拍了23年，見證了23年台灣土地風貌變遷，老鷹生存奮鬥的紀錄片，但它其實更跨越了時空的尺度，清楚訴說生命互相關懷，愛是超越物種界線的感人故事。2015年底在台灣上映後好評不斷，更有小學生看過之後主動寫信給知名國際企業希望他們能出錢出力幫助老鷹，事實上本片的完成也是靠了很多願意關懷環境的公司贊助。有觀眾淚中帶笑感謝沈老師與梁導演兩位傻子，成就了這麼一部好片。在台灣的上映期間票房破了千萬，但他們投注的20年光陰早使得本片成本無法估算，這部片更需要的其實是希望能讓更多關懷土地的人好好看過，看看我們的環境，看看台灣老鷹遭遇的殘酷困境，讓觀眾陪老鷹一起再走一次20年來的旅程，讓影片的畫面與情節觸動心裡的某個地方。

波士頓有一群同樣熱血的團體，排除萬難把『老鷹想飛』和梁皆得導演帶來波城了

。主辦單位紐英崙中華專業人員協會（NEACP）為促進台灣、香港、中國大陸和美國科學知識技術，及社會文化交流的非營利性社團。協辦單位與活動贊助計有：新英格蘭台灣青年商會，新英格蘭玉山科技協會，新英格蘭台灣商會聯合總會，波士頓台灣同鄉會，哈佛公衛學院台灣同學會，大波士頓地區台大校友會，台北奈米生醫，Tufts University School of Medicine，Harvard Meditation Club，Silent Spring Institute，BE Capital Partners，Wizhead，U - ARK America, Inc.。

門票每張5元，12歲以下兒童免費入場。門票收入僅作成本支出，若有餘額將全數捐助社團法人台灣猛禽研究會（http://raptor.org.tw）黑鳶研究基金。

影片購票細節請上：http://goo.gl/8ADJqI

康麗雪（Lisa Kang, NEACP) lisatarheel@gmail.com 電話：617-528-0668

本片獲得第12屆世界自然野生生物映像祭「環境保護獎」，由吳念真旁白，林強配樂，yahoo雅虎奇摩觀眾回應4.7顆星推薦。（撰稿：吳盈瑩）


Taiwanese Wildlife Documentary “Fly, Kite Fly” Coming to Boston

Boston, Massachusetts – February 13, 2016. A documentary film about the rare Taiwanese black kite (a bird of prey) called “Fly, Kite Fly” will be shown at Tufts Medical School’s Sackler Auditorium in Boston starting 3 PM on February 27, 2016. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite at http://goo.gl/8ADJqI for $5. Children under 12 will be admitted for free. The film was directed by Taiwanese nature photographer Liang Chieh-te and produced by the Raptor Research Group of Taiwan. It won the Best Environmental Conservation Award at the 2015 Japan Wildlife Film Festival.

A group of nature enthusiasts, including members of local Taiwanese-American organizations, have brought “Fly, Kite Fly” to Boston in hopes of spreading Director Liang’s message about the universal importance of environmental and wildlife conservation. The movie has English subtitles for non-Chinese speaking attendees. There will be a Q&A session with the director, with English translation, after the film.

Film summary: When schoolteacher Shen Chen-chung noticed the disappearance of a group of black kites from Waimu Mountain in 1991, he decided to travel to Taiwan’s remaining black kite populations to study them. “Fly, Kite Fly” follows his 23-year journey to understand these birds of prey and why they have been disappearing. Black kites are doing relatively well in other Asian countries, but there are only about 200 left in Taiwan.

The event is hosted by the New England Association of Chinese Professionals (NEACP), a non-profit organization. NEACP creates a platform for professionals from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mainland China, and the US to exchange opinions and news about science and the liberal arts. Sponsors include the Harvard Meditation Club, Harvard Taiwanese Student Association, Monte Jade Science and Technology Association of New England, National Taiwan University Alumni, Silent Spring Institute, Taiwanese Association of America, Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, Taiwanese Youth Chamber of Commerce, Tufts University School of Medicine, U-Ark America, Inc., and Wizhead.

Written by Melody Wu

Event Contact:
Lisa Kang, NEACP
lisatarheel@gmail.com

Ph: 617-528-0668

MAYOR WALSH DISPATCHES CREWS TO REPAIR POTHOLES, ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO REPORT PROBLEM AREAS

MAYOR WALSH DISPATCHES CREWS TO REPAIR POTHOLES, ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO REPORT PROBLEM AREAS

BOSTON - Tuesday, February 16, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced he is dispatching between 15 and 20 crews from the Public Works Department (PWD) to repair potholes across the City.  The combination of a dramatic freeze, followed by warmer temperatures and precipitation has made roads especially susceptible to pothole damage.    The Mayor is encouraging residents to report potholes through any of the City's several different platforms, including:  Mobile: download the free BOS:311 app on iOS or Android (previously known as Citizens Connect) Online: Boston.gov/311 Social media: tweet @BOS311 Phone: dial 3-1-1 (previously the Mayor's 24-hour hotline 617-635-4500. For those with VoIP and for calls from outside Boston, callers should continue to dial 617-635-4500.   PWD spent Monday actively canvassing neighborhoods to evaluate roadways and will begin inspections on Tuesday and continue repair work on Wednesday.

洪聚佐、Sharon Cho 將代表BCNC跑馬拉松

Pamela Hung & Sharon Cho Represent BCNC in 2016 Boston Marathon Pamela Hung (25) and Sharon Cho (28) are representing The Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) in the 2016 Boston Marathon. Together, they have set an ambitious goal of raising $19,000. All proceeds will benefit BCNC’s family-centered services for children, youth and families. “Sharon and Pamela’s applications to run stood out, because of their dedication and commitment to BCNC’s mission”, said Kelly Yardley, BCNC Development Associate. Pamela Hung is an active member of the local Asian American community, serving as the President of the Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP) organization and as a member of the steering committee member for the Saffron Circle, a multi-generational and multi-ethnic Asian giving circle located in Greater Boston. When asked why Pamela is running the Boston Marathon, she replies: “BCNC is a Boston community institution that makes the city a more welcoming place for Asian immigrants. My parents emigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan and I know that if I had just arrived in Boston from a different country, BCNC would be a home away from home for me, too”. Pamela also appreciates BCNC’s “family-centered” approach, suggesting this strategy is “the primary ingredient to building a stronger and more cohesive community.” This is Pamela’s first marathon and she admits to it being a “dream come true” for her, in terms of her participation this year. Sharon Cho is the daughter of Korean immigrants and she first became familiar with BCNC through friends, who worked for BCNC. As she became more involved with community organizations, she developed an awareness of BCNC’s positive impact upon the Greater Boston community. “As a child, I often witnessed the struggles that Asian immigrant families face, including language barriers, lack of culturally competent resources, and difficulties navigating government bureaucracies”, says Sharon. “Given my upbringing, I understand at a personal level how vital BCNC’s services are to the Asian immigrant community it serves”. Sharon is currently serving on the support committee for the Chinese Progressive Association and is assisting in the Chinatown “stabilization” and “just cause” eviction campaigns. Additionally, she is a planner and trainer for the Activist Training Institute (ATI), a leadership development and training program for Asian Americans in the Greater Boston area. Sharon has served on the Board of Directors of the Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), where she remains an active member. “I am running for team BCNC because I care deeply about community. And that is what BCNC's work is about, says Sharon: “to support Boston's Asian and Asian Americans in their efforts to live a more equitable and full life”. To support Pamela and Sharon, please visit: https://www.crowdrise.com/TeamBCNC2016/fundraiser/pamelahung https://www.crowdrise.com/TeamBCNC2016/fundraiser/sharoncho

Governor Baker Joins Bipartisan Governors’ Accord for a New Energy Future

Governor Baker Joins Bipartisan Governors’ Accord for a New Energy Future

Governors Commit to Advance Clean Energy and Collaborate on Energy Policy

BOSTON – Governor Charlie Baker today joined with a bipartisan group of 17 governors in announcing the Governors’ Accord for a New Energy Future – a joint commitment to take action to promote clean energy, clean transportation choices and a modern electrical grid.

The Accord provides participating governors – a bipartisan coalition together representing 127 million Americans – with a platform through which their states will collaborate, learn from one another, and leverage partnerships in energy planning and policymaking.

“The Governors’ Accord for a New Energy Future highlights the tremendous opportunities to create a shared clean, affordable and resilient energy future,” said Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.  “Massachusetts will continue to lead the way on clean energy, energy efficiency and the adoption of innovative technologies such as energy storage. These efforts, and our legislative proposal to bring additional hydroelectricity and other renewable resources into the region, will ensure we meet our ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets while also creating a stronger economy for the Commonwealth.”

“This Accord will allow us to collaborate with like-minded governors to create innovative clean energy policy and ensure a stronger national energy future,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Joining the Accord reaffirms our commitment to diversifying the Commonwealth’s energy portfolio, supporting new energy technologies, and meeting our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2020.”

Each governor committed to continue to diversify energy generation and expand clean energy sources, encourage clean transportation options, plan for an energy transition and collaborate to make transformational policy changes. Senior advisors to participating governors will convene shortly to discuss initial steps to pursue their shared priorities and commitments contained in the Accord.

“Through this collaborative, bipartisan platform, we can work together with other clean energy leaders to strengthen our economy, protect public health and natural resources, and increase energy security,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “This new commitment builds on the Commonwealth’s forward-thinking leadership in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, and addressing the pressing threat of climate change.”

The Baker-Polito Administration has been working to stabilize and reduce the cost of energy for residents and businesses, strengthen the clean energy economy in Massachusetts and help meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements set forth under the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA). Through the filing ofhydropower and solar legislation, the Administration hopes to diversify Massachusetts’ energy portfolio and encourage the development of renewable energy resources.

The Administration’s 2016-2018 energy efficiency plan, recently approved by the Department of Public Utilities, sets nation-leading savings levels for both electricity and gas and is estimated to achieve $8 billion in economic, environmental, and energy benefits. The Administration also launched a $10 million Energy Storage Initiative to support the continued growth of renewable power generation and make Massachusetts a national leader in the deployment and effective use of innovative energy technology solutions.

Last month, Governor Baker added $2 million in funding to the state’s electric vehicle (EV) rebate program, an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector by increasing the use of zero emission vehicles in Massachusetts.

A recent update to Massachusetts’ Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020concluded that the Commonwealth is well-positioned to meet, or exceed, a greenhouse gas reduction goal of 25% by 2020 through the full implementation of the Baker-Polito Administration’s energy policies.

The Administration’s commitment to action on climate is also demonstrated by signing the Metro Boston Climate Preparedness Commitment, endorsing the Subnational Global Climate Leadership Memorandum of Understanding (Under2MOU) and joining Eastern-Canadian Premieres and New England Governors in signing a climate change resolution calling for a 35-45% greenhouse gas reduction, below 1990 emission levels, by 2030.

Click here to access the full text of the Governors’ Accord for a New Energy Future.

賑濟台南震災 全球僑胞捐款逾60萬美元

強震重創台南 全僑同心賑助

6日清晨3時57分高雄美濃發生規模6.4強震，對鄰近的台南市造成嚴重災情。海外僑胞聞訊，第一時間發起捐款活動，各大僑團也於春節活動中同步響應募款，廣獲迴響，僑領僑胞紛紛慷慨解囊。

截至台灣時間15日止，全球各地主動籌募超過60萬美元，充分展現僑胞與國內同胞血濃於水的情感。

由於僑胞捐款持續湧入，本會將以代收代轉方式將捐款轉致「衛生福利部0206震災專案」、「台南市政府社會救助金」等專戶，專款專用，期使僑胞愛心發揮最大效益，日後也將依華僑熱心公益自動捐獻奬勵要點規定，表揚捐款個人及團體。

此外，為確保南台灣地區僑生安全無虞，本會在地震發生後立即聯繫台南地區的成功大學、台南大學、台南應用科大、崑山科大、康寧大學及南台科技大學等學校。經回報，僅部分校園圍牆傾斜或磁磚掉落，加上適逢寒假期間，多數僑生已返回僑居國，留校僑生人身均安。

DOT Launches Process to Award the New Flights

DOT Launches Process to Award the New Flights

HAVANA – Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles Rivkin, Cuban Minister of Transportation Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez and President of the Cuban Civil Aviation Institute (IACC), Ministry of Transportation Colonel Alfredo Cordero Puig signed an arrangement that provides for the re-establishment of scheduled air services between the United States and Cuba.  Immediately following the signing, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) invited U.S. air carriers to apply for an allocation of the new opportunities to provide scheduled passenger and cargo flights.  

“We are excited to announce the availability of new scheduled air service opportunities to Cuba for U.S. carriers, shippers, and the traveling public, and we will conduct this proceeding in a manner designed to maximize public benefits,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

In 2014, the Obama Administration announced its intention to re-establish diplomatic relations and embark on a process of normalization with Cuba.  Less than one year later, in December 2015, after several months of negotiations, the governments of the United States and Cuba concluded negotiations on a non-legally binding arrangement to re-establish scheduled air services between the two countries.  This new arrangement will facilitate visits for travelers that fall under one of 12 categories authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.  It also  represents a major step forward in President Obama’s policy of engagement with Cuba.  There have been no scheduled flights between the United States and Cuba for over half a century. 

The new arrangement provides each country with the opportunity to operate up to 20 daily roundtrip flights between the United States and Havana.  The arrangement also provides each country with the opportunity to operate up to 10 daily roundtrip flights between the United States and each of Cuba’s nine other international airports, providing U.S. carriers with the opportunity to operate up to a total of 110 daily roundtrip flights between the United States and Cuba.  The arrangement does not limit charter services, meaning that no DOT allocation procedures are needed and charter flights can continue as before. 

Today’s order invites applications from U.S. carriers and initiates a proceeding for DOT to select which U.S. carriers will be able to offer scheduled flights to Cuba, and from which U.S. points.  In making its selection, the Department will consider which proposals will offer and maintain the best service to the traveling and shipping public.  The Department recognizes the eagerness of U.S. carriers to take advantage of these new Cuba opportunities, and intends to reach a final decision as expeditiously as possible.

DOT’s order states that applications are due March 2, 2016; answers to applications are due March 14, 2016; and replies to those answers are due March 21, 2016.  Interested parties may track the progress of the case and view the publicly available documents at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2016-0021.

HUD ALLOCATES MORE THAN $660 MILLION TO NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING

HUD ALLOCATES MORE THAN $660 MILLION TO NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced more than $660 million in grant allocations to 587 Native American tribes in 35 states (see list below).  Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) allocations are distributed each year to eligible Indian tribes or their tribally designated housing entities for a range of affordable housing activities.

IHBG funds benefit low-income families living on Indian reservations or in other American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The amount of each grant is based on a formula that considers local needs and housing units under management by the tribe or designated entity.

“Every family, every community in America, deserves the chance to flourish,” said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. “Tribes use this funding to build new homes, or to solve their most pressing housing issues. Our partnerships with tribal communities and leaders are critical today to help ensure better housing, neighborhoods and economic opportunities for tomorrow.”

Eligible activities for the funds include housing development, assistance to housing developed under the Indian Housing Program of the 1937 Housing Act, housing services to eligible families and individuals, housing management services, crime prevention and safety, and model activities that provide creative approaches to solving affordable housing problems. The block grant approach to housing was enabled by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA).

“The Indian Housing Block Grant program is the single, largest source of affordable housing assistance in Native American communities,” said HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “Over the life of the program, recipients have been able to build or acquire almost 37,000 affordable homes and have rehabilitated more than 77,000 housing units.”

HUD’s proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Budget seeks $700 million for Native American Housing Block Grants, $50 million above the 2016 enacted level, to address severe overcrowding and substandard housing conditions in Indian Country.  An additional $20 million in Indian Community Development Block Grant funding is being requested for projects to improve outcomes for Native youth, such as the construction or renovation of community centers, health clinics, transitional housing, pre-school/Head Start facilities and teacher housing.  And up to $5 million in Jobs-Plus funding will be used to implement a demonstration of the program  in Indian Country to boost employment and earnings. 

Huawei Unveils Five Initiatives for Digital Transformation in Telecom Industry

Openness, collaboration, and shared success for a robust ecosystem

LONDON and BEIJING, Feb. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei today unveiled its five 'Big Initiatives' for the telecom industry to accelerate its digital transformation. Huawei also endorsed open platforms to enable collaboration so that shared success can be achieved in telecom industry. In addition, the company announced innovative solutions for 4.5G, Internet of Things (IoT), 2K/4K video, and Safe City. The Big Initiatives and the innovative solutions represent Huawei's long term commitment to building a Better Connected World through extensive collaboration in the industry.

Huawei foresees a potential $100 billion video industry market and a $1 trillion enterprise cloud market. The number of IoT connections is expected to grow 10-fold. There will be unprecedented opportunities for telecom operators. Huawei's Big Initiatives are designed to create new opportunities. The five Big Initiatives are Big Video – Everywhere, Big IT – Enabling, Big Operation – Agile, Big Architecture – Elastic, Big Pipe – Ubiquitous.

"Digital transformation is a new engine for telecom industry growth, and it will also empower the innovation of other industries," said William Xu, Executive Director of the Board and Chief Strategy Marketing Officer of Huawei, in London, "Huawei will continue to open up platform capabilities to help carriers to build an open, collaborative, and win-win industry ecosystem to accelerate digital transformation."

With its partners, Huawei is setting up open labs for joint innovation, to support rapid commercial use of new services. More than ten open labs across China, Europe and other regions have brought together over 600 partners. For developers, Huawei has built an eSDK platform delivering flexible and easy-to-use development tools and support services. The company has also launched a $1bn Developer Enablement Program to build a facilitating environment for innovation. For the digital transformation of vertical industries, Huawei is collaborating with consultants and software partners to build industry-specific ecosystems so as to provide integrated solutions to industries such as transportation, energy, government, and finance. Huawei is also innovating with upstream and downstream partners to help them adapt to new telecom trends such as 5G, SDN/NFV, and digital operations.

Huawei has developed open platform solutions for 2K/4K video, which aggregate content and enable innovation in video services. In cloud computing, Huawei's priority is working with telecom operators to provide cloud services. Huawei's cloud strategy is to co-build an open cloud ecosystem with its partners: Huawei will focus on building IaaS, enabling PaaS and aggregating SaaS, to empower our partners in application oriented and data driven high value creation.

"Huawei focuses on its core businesses and is committed to empowering carriers' digital transformation with continuous strategic investment. We believe long-term focused efforts and perseverance will lead to breakthrough," said Ryan Ding, Executive Director of the Board and President of Products & Solutions of Huawei, in Beijing.

During the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC), Huawei will showcase its innovative 4.5G, IoT, and Safe City solutions, etc., which can help global telecom carriers and enterprises achieve agile innovation, accelerated transformation, and business success in the digital era.

4.5G will deliver mobile broadband data rates of up to 1,000 Mbit/s, enabling HD voice, 2K/4K HD video, and virtual reality experiences to be available anywhere. 4.5G will also make possible the IoT, which will make our lives smarter, and help telecom operators expand into industry markets. GigaRadio, one of Huawei's key products launched at this year's MWC, is a crucial technology for 4.5G. GigaRadio will be deployed commercially on a large scale in 2016, and will help to accelerate the global adoption of 4.5G.

Huawei's IoT solutions will drive the digital transformation of carriers' home broadband services by making the smart home a reality. Huawei's LTE-based Narrow Broadband IoT (NB-IoT) technology will enable telecom operators to deliver ubiquitous, cellular IoT. This technology will spark new business opportunities in smart metering, smart parking, logistics tracking, and smart cities.

Huawei's Safe City solutions are powered by the latest IoT and mobile broadband (MBB) technologies to deliver smart, video-based security systems for cities. These systems enable governments and municipal authorities to prevent crises and improve their response to emergencies. To date, Huawei's Safe City solutions have been deployed in over 100 cities across more than 30 countries.

According to forecasts, by 2025 there will be four billion new broadband users, more than 100 billion things will be digitally connected, and every person's consumption of data will increase more than 500-fold. The digital and physical worlds are rapidly converging; and consumers are demanding the ROADS experience (Real-time, On-demand, All-online, DIY, and Social) as the new norm.

For the telecom industry to deliver the ROADS experience and meet its customers' diversified needs, requires expanding its own vision, opening up pipes, data, and services to partners, embracing the Big Initiatives for digital transformation, and sharing resources in complementary partnerships.

At MWC 2016, Huawei, together with its telecom operator and enterprise customers, will share valuable insights into digital transformation within the telecom industry.

MWC 2016 will be held in Barcelona, Spain, between February 22 and 25. Huawei's exhibition booths are in Fira Gran Via Hall 1 & Hall 3. For more information, visithttp://www.huawei.com/en/mwc2016.

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Our innovative ICT solutions, products and services are used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving over one-third of the world's population. For details, visit Huawei at www.huawei.com.