Industry
China's chip war: From Xi Jinping's call to technology transfer
When Chinese President Xi Jinping stood before world leaders on the stage of Davos in Switzerland in 2017, his voice was filled with a message of peace. While newly elected Donald Trump was calling for 'America First', Xi spoke of 'mutual benefit' in global trade - the media gave him the title of 'protector of globalization'. But behind that seemingly calm and generous declaration, a different plan was going on inside.
How Intel forgot innovation?
For decades, Intel was the undisputed leader in the semiconductor world, a symbol of American technological prowess. The microprocessors they invented, along with the famous x86 architecture, were the lifeblood of everything from PCs to data centers.
Data protection towards digital isolation?
Two new Ordinances got gazetted on the 6th November creating a single, very heavy data regime together: ● the Personal Data Protection Ordinance (PDPO) governs privacy, rights and security of personal data; ● the National Data Governance Ordinance (NDGO) governs how all data – personal and non-personal – must sit inside a state-managed interoperability and DPI stack (BNDIA, NRDEX, etc.). Let us try to analyse the impact of these two laws on (a) global OTTs and (b) small/local data-handling businesses.
Rethinking the Draft Telecom Ordinance 2025
The draft Bangladesh Telecommunications Ordinance 2025 has been released for public comment with a bold promise: a “modern” telecom regime that recognises the realities of the digital age – from spectrum and submarine cables to OTT, AI and IoT. But when you dive in, three big questions stand out: how independent will the regulator really be, how much can the Ministry realistically supervise, and where exactly does licensing stop and surveillance begin?
Apple silicon
that look good, feel good, and are perfect for the task. Apple has always been cautious about its 'look, feel, and work quality'. However, very few people are aware that Apple itself designs the tiny chips that power the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. In fact, Apple was one of the main winners in the semiconductor world in the 'fabless revolution' that took place around the world under the leadership of TSMC.
How AI will tackle fraud in financial industry in Bangladesh
“Fraud is an uncommon, well-considered, imperceptibly concealed, time-evolving and often carefully organized crime which appears in many types of forms.” – Van Vlasselaer et al
Despite justifiable initiative some important questions still remain
The initiative to introduce the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) system is commendable. My point is: Mobile handsets are now being manufactured in the country. Therefore, the initiative to end the market of handsets smuggled through tax evasion to encourage local production should be viewed with appreciation. But the question is how many times will BTRC take such initiative, and how many times will we appreciate it and be disappointed?
The fabless revolution
There was once a saying in Silicon Valley: "Real Men Have Fabs" - that is, real semiconductor companies are those that have their own fabrication ('fab') plants or factories. But in the late 1980s, this idea changed completely with the help of a new generation. These entrepreneurs used to design chips themselves, but outsource the manufacturing work, whose main partners were companies like TSMC. This newly born business model is called the 'fabless model'.
Intel’s 'innovator’s dilemma'
On the stage of the Macworld Conference in San Francisco, history was about to be made in January, 2006. One after another, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Intel CEO Paul Otellini stepped onto the stage. That day, Jobs made a historic announcement: from now on, all Mac computers would run on Intel processors.
Why port terminals being handed over to foreign companies
It was promised that reforms would take place—reforms that would prioritise the country, its people, democratic institutions and the judiciary; reforms that would ensure no future autocrat could rise again, that would bring balance to power, make the police humane, and make the law, justice and administration citizen-friendly, thereby establishing social justice.