Mobile operators will combine about 10,000 base stations into a single network to cover federal highways with LTE. This will happen by 2030 as part of the federal project “Providing Internet access through the development of satellite communications”. This information is reported by Kommersant.

 
 According to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitriy Chernyshenko, "any subscriber, and not just the subscriber of the provider that is registered" will be able to connect to the single network. He noted that by 2031 all federal highways and localities with a population of more than 1 thousand people will be covered by LTE. About 5 thousand LTE base stations will be modernized and about 3.5 thousand will be built.

 
 Earlier it was <a href="https://www.interfax.ru/russia/782764" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced </a>that from 2023 operators would not be able to use foreign LTE base stations to create networks. Later it was <a href="https://www.interfax.ru/russia/782975" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported </a>that Ericsson and Nokia had agreed to localize the production of LTE stations in Russia.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rostekh-investiroval-4-5-mlrd-rub-v-proizvodstvo-otechestvennogo-5g-oborudovaniia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kommersant

Telecom Operators to Combine Base Stations into a Single Network to Cover Federal LTE Routes by 2030

Rostec has invested $57.9 million (4.5 billion rubles) in its subsidiary Spektr, which will be engaged in the mass production of telecom equipment for 4G and 5G networks.

 
 Spektr was also provided with a laboratory for the development and testing of equipment for the radio subsystem of 4G and 5G networks and developments in the creation of base stations.

 
 Rostec is also transferring the development team (primarily employees of Sozvezdie concern) to the company’s staff. Among them is Vadim Belyavskiy, ex-deputy CEO of Globalinformservice (GIS, part of Sozvezdie concern). He will become the director of the R&D for the radio subsystem. The team of engineers, which created the first Russian base station, LTE-Advanced R45F (included in the register of the Ministry of Industry and Trade), moved to Spektr with him.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rostekh-investiroval-4-5-mlrd-rub-v-proizvodstvo-otechestvennogo-5g-oborudovaniia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

CNews

Rostec Invests $57.9 Million in the Production of Russian 5G Equipment

IXcellerate, an operator of commercial data centers, raised about $190 million for development. SberInvest and the Russian Direct Investment Fund are among the investors.

 
 The funds will be used to expand North and South campuses in Moscow. The investments will enable IXcellerate to build new facilities, increase power capacity and run one of the largest data center campuses in Europe.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/operator-data-tsentrov-ixcellerate-privlek-okolo-190-mln-na-rasshirenie-kampusov-v-moskve/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Sberbank

Data Сenter Operator IXcellerate Raises $190 Million to Expand DPCs in Moscow

The schedule of the Ministry of Digital Development for providing access, which will be developed before February 1, includes holding strategic sessions, developing standards for AI-powered industry solutions, publishing the results of implementing AI in federal agencies and creating a single repository of datasets and rules for working with them.

 
 According to the information provided by the ministry, 26 datasets were created last year. Data from Rosselkhoznadzor, the Federal Tax Service, Rosstat, the Ministry for the for Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic and Rosreestr will be used by third-party developers for business solutions. The rest will be used for the needs of the federal authorities as part of digital transformation.

 
 One of the priority areas of work - the creation of a state data lake - was <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5154581" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">mentioned </a>in 2021 by the Minister of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/2119/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

AI Developers to Get Access to Departmental Databases with De-Identified Data

Analysts from the Innovation Laboratory of the IT Department of the Moscow Government <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/video-surveillance-and-video-analytics-an-overview-of-international-practices/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">have studied</a> the new practices of using video surveillance and video analytics systems in cities and countries in Asia, the Middle East, the USA, and Europe.

 
 They identified seven main areas where such systems are now used globally: security, education, transport, housing and communal services, healthcare, emergency services, and tourism. Separately, the experts considered new scenarios for using video analytics with drones. More than 30 practices in total, including:

<ul>
 <li>in Cannes, video analytics allows monitoring compliance with the rules for wearing masks and social distance;</li>
 <li>Beijing authorities use a face-scanning system in residential areas to control the separate collection of garbage;</li>
 <li>in Shanghai, such systems make it possible to simplify the procedure for checking passengers entering the salon of public transport;</li>
 <li>in Japan, technology can detect smoke and speed up the elimination of forest fires.</li>
</ul>

 
 The authors of the study have also presented:

<ul>
 <li>an analysis of approaches to the positioning of video surveillance, video analytics and the attitudes of residents in 21 locations, including New York, Chicago, London, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, etc.:</li>
</ul>

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/video-surveillance-and-video-analytics-an-overview-of-international-practices/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/66dde6fd-0850-5a2a-b6a3-99b85d31acad.png">
 </a>
 </div>

<ul>
 <li>a map of information openness of the authorities of the studied locations in the field of video surveillance and video analytics:</li>
</ul>

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/video-surveillance-and-video-analytics-an-overview-of-international-practices/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/c3281153-b553-5cf5-b8c7-678174840ccd.png">
 </a>
 </div>

<ul>
 <li>approaches to regulating the use of these technologies in Portland, Baltimore, New York and Stockholm:</li>
</ul>

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/video-surveillance-and-video-analytics-an-overview-of-international-practices/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/4d0c5698-0173-5acf-b53c-a3b57647e12c.png">
 </a>
 </div>

 
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/video-surveillance-and-video-analytics-an-overview-of-international-practices/" target="_blank">Explore the full version of the study →</a> 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/analitiki-dit-moskvy-na-osnove-mirovogo-opyta-nazvali-osnovnye-stsenarii-primeneniia-videoanalitiki/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

IT Department of Moscow Government

Overview: How Video Surveillance and Video Analytics are Used and Positioned in the World

Sberbank’s e-trading platform and bank-to-bank settlements services were named best in Central and Eastern Europe according to Global Finance magazine.

 
 The jury members mentioned that:

<ul>
 <li>&nbsp;Sberbank's payment services and the Sber FinLine system had facilitated over 350 million ruble transactions worth 5.7 trillion rubles for more than 500 client banks in 45 countries;</li>
 <li>Cash Management products for financial institutions had enabled them to make settlements in Visa, MasterCard, AmEx payment systems;</li>
 <li>SberCIB Terminal electronic trading system supported conversion transactions with major world currencies and currencies of emerging markets, transactions in various settlement modes, deliverable and settlement forward contracts and placement of deposits and minimum balances.</li>
</ul>

 
 Last year Global Finance recognized Sberbank as the best digital bank in Russia for individual and corporate clients.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sber-priznan-luchshim-bankom-po-platezhnym-servisam-dlia-finansovykh-institutov-evropy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

Sberbank Named Best Bank in Europe for its Interbank Payment Services

The demand for smart urban video surveillance and its development

ICT.Moscow

Eyes of Metropolis: How the New Scenarios Appear in Video Analytics

The share of mobile traffic in Russian Internet has reached 83% last year, according to analysts from the SlickJump agency.

 
 In January and May 2021, its share decreased to 77% and 75%, respectively. By December, the figure rose to a record 83% since 2020, when the share of traffic from mobile devices began to grow rapidly.

 
 Experts attribute the increase in the number of mobile users to a change in the content format. According to analysts' forecasts, "the share of mobile traffic will stop at 85-86% by 2025." At the same time, it may increase with an increase in the shortage of components for the production of electronics.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/slickjump-dolia-mobilnogo-trafika-v-runete-v-2021-godu-uvelichilas-do-83/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

IKS Media

Mobile Traffic's Share in Russian Internet is up 83% in 2021

Marketing automation platform Mindbox has acquired website personalization service Popmechanic. As a result of the transaction, the company's valuation amounted to 105 million rubles.

 
 Most Popmechanic employees will move to Mindbox. Popmechanic co-founder Kapiton Smirnov will be responsible for business development and search for companies to develop joint products. Gleb Kovalyov, CTO of Popmechanic, will lead front-end development and redesign Mindbox.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kappy.pappy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kapiton Smirnov</a>, co-founder of Popmechanic

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/zlebnik" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gleb Kovalev</a>, CTO of Popmechanic

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/mindbox/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mindbox</a>

<hr />
 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mindbox-priobrela-servis-popmechanic/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

RB.ru

Mindbox Acquires Popmechanic

The predictive video analytics system Videointellect will help to recognize objects in conditions of high passenger traffic and transfer data about them to the operator.

 
 Software integration into BVMS will also allow real-time identification of objects left in the frame, missing personal protective equipment, movement in the forbidden zone, as well as fights and vandalism.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/videointellect/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Videointellect</a>

<hr />
 
 BVMS has built-in intelligent event and alarm processing functionality. According to the developers, it is capable of scaling up to 200,000 channels.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/2113/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original</a><a href="https://ict.moscow/projects/ai/news/2113/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> (in Russian)</a>

Skolkovo

Bosch Integrates the Solution from  Moscow-Based Video Analytics Developer Videointellect into the BVMS Security System

Mobile operators have begun to offer energy companies solutions for smart electricity metering and remote transmission of meter readings. Izvestia writes about it.

 
 The devices will record the voltage level and frequency, adjust and calculate the consumption of electricity, transmit archival data, reference information and perform other functions, MTS specified. MegaFon has similar solutions.

 
 Earlier it was <a href="https://realty.ria.ru/20220101/schetchiki-1766209903.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported </a>that electricity meters, which will be installed in the homes of Russians from January 1, 2022, should only be "smart". Also in January, the development in Russia of a state standard for smart homes was <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-to-develop-a-national-standard-for-a-smart-homes/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a>.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/operatory-sviazi-vykhodia-na-rynok-umnogo-ucheta-elektroenergii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Izvestia

MTS, MegaFon, Beeline, Tele2 to Enter the Smart Electricity Metering Market

The revenue of Russia's largest food retailer X5 Group's digital businesses in 2021 grew by 140%, reaching RUB 47.9 billion, according to the <a href="https://ict.moscow/static/dd205358-1bf6-578e-9430-f49bf9b2fb15.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">company's financial results</a>. This figure for the fourth quarter of last year amounted to 16.2 billion rubles. At the same time, the company's net retail sales increased by 11.4% over the past year.

 
 The largest growth in the share of the group's digital businesses in consolidated revenue was observed in Moscow and the Moscow region. In the fourth quarter of 2021, the figure reached 4.7%, compared with an average value of 2.4% contribution to X5 Group's consolidated revenue.

 
 In the summer of 2021, X5 Group separated the online business into a separate structure, which included the Perekrestok Vprok online hypermarket, Okolo and express delivery services.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/x5-group-soobshchila-o-roste-vyruchki-tsifrovykh-biznesov-na-140-v-2021-godu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

X5 Group

X5 Group Announces 140% Digital Business Revenue Growth in 2021

The government, together with developers and industry companies, including Yandex and Rostelecom, will develop a standard for smart apartment buildings.

 
 The list of services that will make it possible to call a house or apartment smart will include a platform for monitoring all services, a system for recognizing faces and car numbers, and systems for monitoring housing and communal services infrastructure. The expanded solution package will include a concierge robot, a delivery robot, a cleaning robot, and other digital workers.

 
 According to a Kommersant source, the primary task is "to approve uniform standards for the organization of intelligent systems." In this case, companies will use common data exchange protocols and similar solutions to create a single digital environment. The potential domestic market of smart devices for apartments and houses was estimated at $1.9 billion (150 billion rubles) in year.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-razrabotaiut-gosstandart-dlia-umnogo-doma/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Russia to Develop a National Standard for a Smart Homes

Startup Monq Lab, which develops a platform for IT troubleshooting and automation for enterprises, has raised 1 million euros in the second investment round.

 
 Funds will be used for marketing activities and sales expansion in North America and the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Africa).

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/monq/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Monq Lab</a>

<hr />
 
 The first round was in the summer of 2021. Then the startup <a href="https://rb.ru/news/monqlab-deal/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">raised</a> $350,000. At the end of 2020, Monq Lab's revenue amounted to $262,276 (20.3 million rubles), while net profit reached $105,944 (8.2 million rubles).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/startap-monq-lab-privlek-1-mln-evro-na-razvitie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Startup Monq Lab Raises 1 million euros for Development 

Yandex will acquire a service specializing in marketing services for musicians, BandLink. The terms of the deal are not disclosed.

 
 As a result of the agreement, the service will be merged with Yandex.Music, employees will move there and develop new analytics tools for artists.

 
 BandLink allows you to create microsites dedicated to new releases or concerts. It can also be used to generate personalized links for social networks and analyze the behavior of listeners.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandex-music/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex.Music</a>

<hr />
 
 The service was launched in 2018. According to BandLink's own data, over 120,000 artists and podcasters use it. In 2020, the revenue of the managing director of BandLink, Bandtrack LLC, amounted to $23,202 (1.8 million rubles), while net profit was $3,000 (233,000 rubles).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/iandeks-vykupit-servis-bandlink/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Yandex Plans to Buy BandLink Service

Fura, a service for organizing transportation for truckers, raised $7.6 million (600 million rubles) from the Fort Ross Ventures fund and a group of investors. The cost of the company after the transaction is not disclosed.

 
 The raised funds are planned to be directed to the development of "business in the United States: hiring a team, including scaling the development team, marketing and, as a result, attracting new customers."

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/fura/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fura</a>

<hr />
 
 Previously, the service has already <a href="https://rb.ru/news/fura-investicii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">attracted </a>160 million rubles. from a group of investors. The service entered the US market in September 2021. According to Fura's own data, the turnover in 2021 in the US and Russia amounted to $45 million.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/servis-fura-privlek-600-mln-rub-investitsii-na-razvitie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Fura Service Attracts $7.6 Million in Investment 

Rosatom State Corporation plans to launch its own virtual operator. According to Kommersant's sources, this is an MVNO project that will use the infrastructure, radio frequencies and Tele2 (Mobile Virtual Network Enabler) numbers.

 
 Mobile services will be provided by Greenatom, a subsidiary of Rosatom, which has already received the appropriate license from Roskomnadzor for five years. It will take effect from September 2023.

 
 According to experts, Rosatom can use its own virtual operator for new IoT projects, including for a smart city. In this case, you will not have to give partners the processing of data received from smart devices. Instead, Rosatom will be able to transfer them to its own data centers.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/mobile-virtual-network-enabler/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mobile Virtual Network Enabler</a>

<hr />
 
 Earlier it was <a href="http://tmt-consulting.ru/napravleniya/telekommunikacii/sotovaya-svyaz/tmt-rejting-rossijskij-rynok-mvno-itogi-2020-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported </a>that at the end of 2020, the total number of MVNO subscribers in Russia reached 12 million, the annual growth was 15%. At the same time, in 2021 and subsequent periods, analysts predicted that the outstripping growth of the Russian MVNO market would continue.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rosatom-planiruet-zapustit-virtualnogo-operatora/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Rosatom Plans to Launch a Virtual Operator

The Pyaterochka retail chain (part of the X5 Group) is testing a system for planning the display of goods in augmented reality in a number of stores. The ARgument application is used to view the current layout scheme. With it, you need to scan a special marker placed on the shelf. After that, the color scheme of the product display is displayed on the smartphone screen. Each marker visually symbolizes one or another product category.

 
 As a result of replacing printed layouts with AR layouts, store turnover increased by 2.8%. As X5 Group explained to ICT.Moscow, the results of piloting the technology in 30 stores in Kazan are now being summed up. The decision on scaling will be made later.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/argument/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ARgument</a>

<hr />
 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/x5-group-testiruet-reshenie-argument-dlia-planirovaniia-vykladki-tovarov-v-dopolnennoi-realnosti/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

X5 Group to Test the ARgument Solution for Planning the Display of Goods 

Top tech stories from Moscow (December 13 — January 14) 

<hr />
<h2>
 MARKET IN BRIEF
</h2>

 
 Main news about Moscow's projects, developers, technologies

 
 5G Test Site Launched on the Basis of Botkin Hospital in Moscow 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/5g-test-site-launched-on-the-basis-of-botkin-hospital-in-moscow/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
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 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source:&nbsp;Mos.ru
 

 
 

 
 The first 5G industrial test site began operating on the basis of the Botkin Hospital in Moscow. Its infrastructure is deployed in the millimeter wavelength range. The project includes healthcare technologies and services for which high speed of collection, processing and transmission of large amounts of data is important.

 
 “We are interested in the possibilities of using augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies in surgery, ensuring fast transfer of volumetric files obtained during instrumental studies between organizations and other areas that can improve the quality of medical care in the city,” explained Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow r Social Development.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/5g-test-site-launched-on-the-basis-of-botkin-hospital-in-moscow/" target="_blank">Read more →</a>

<hr />
 
 

 
 What Awards Did Moscow Receive in 2021 in the Field of Technology and Digitalization?

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/what-awards-did-moscow-receive-in-2021-in-the-field-of-technology-and-digitalization/">
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 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source: Mos.ru


 

 
 In 2021, Moscow has received several awards in the field of technology and digitalization. So, at the end of 2021, the capital received the Runet Prize. Among the laureates are the digital ecosystem of Moscow and the Russpass travel service.

 
 In November, Moscow took first place in the ESG Governance category of the European Cities of the Future: ESG Innovation Index. The compilers of the rating assessed the city's higher education system, the introduction of innovations in various spheres of life and acceleration programs for startups in Moscow.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/what-awards-did-moscow-receive-in-2021-in-the-field-of-technology-and-digitalization/" target="_blank">Read more →</a>

<hr />
 
 Other stories:

<ul>
 <li>Testing of Driverless Cars in Moscow <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/testing-of-driverless-cars-in-moscow-may-start-in-february/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">May Start</a> in February 2022</li>
 <li>MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-announces-conducted-uplink-aggregation-tests-on-5g-virtual-infrastructure/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Announces</a> Conducted Uplink Aggregation Tests on 5G Virtual Infrastructure</li>
 <li>Telegram <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/telegram-bypasses-whatsapp-in-terms-of-mobile-traffic-growth-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bypasses</a> WhatsApp in Terms of Mobile Traffic Growth in Moscow</li>
 <li>CODD <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/codd-digitizes-more-than-6-thousand-km-of-moscow-streets/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Digitizes </a>More than 6 Thousand km of Moscow Streets</li>
 <li>Technopolis Moscow <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/technopolis-moscow-tops-the-national-rating-of-sez-investment-attractiveness/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tops </a>the National Rating of SEZ Investment Attractiveness</li>
 <li>Moscow <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-tests-multitransport-service/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tests</a> MultiTransport Service</li>
 <li>Moscow to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-to-lainch-a-pilot-project-for-purchases-using-facepay/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Launch </a>a Pilot Project for Purchases Using FacePay</li>
 <li>University Quantum Network <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/university-quantum-network-launched-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Launched </a>in Moscow</li>
 <li>Ericsson <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/ericsson-considers-opening-its-own-plant-of-5g-base-stations-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Considers </a>Opening its own Plant of 5G Base Stations in Russia</li>
 <li>Sberbank and AIRI <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-and-airi-win-internaional-contest-nethack-challenge-for-ai-training-project/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Win </a>International Contest NetHack Challenge for AI Training Project</li>
 <li>Foreign Сompanies <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/foreign-sompanies-invest-over-15-billion-in-russian-technology-parks/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Invest</a> over $15 billion in Russian Technology Parks</li>
 <li>Russia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-takes-11th-place-by-the-number-of-technology-patents-in-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Named </a>World's 11th Country by the Number of Technology Patents in 2021</li>
</ul>

 
 

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 GOV AGENDA
 State Duma <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-state-duma-adopts-a-bill-on-biometric-data/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adopts </a>a Bill on Biometric Data
 Russian Regulator to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-regulator-to-expand-the-range-for-5g-networks-in-million-plus-cities/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Expand </a>the Range for 5G Networks in Million-Plus Cities
 FAS to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/fas-to-assess-marketplaces-regarding-fair-access/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Assess </a>Marketplaces Regarding Fair Access
 Russia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/ministry-of-digital-development-announces-russias-plans-to-enter-the-global-market-of-quantum-technologies-by-2030/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Plans </a>to Enter Global Market of Quantum Technologies by 2030
 Real Estate Digital Services to be <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/real-estate-digital-services-to-be-connected-to-the-state-rental-accounting-platform/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Connected </a>to the State Rental Accounting Platform
 </div>
 
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/" style="" target="_blank">More news →</a>

<hr />
<h2>
 VC, IPO AND OTHER DEALS&nbsp;
</h2>

<ul>
 <li>Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-closes-the-deal-to-buy-a-share-of-uber-in-its-services/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Closes</a> the Deal to Buy a Share of Uber in its Services</li>
 <li>Kismet Capital Group <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/kismet-capital-group-acquires-100-of-russian-towers/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Acquires </a>100% of Russian Towers</li>
 <li>Rostec and ER-Telecom <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/rostec-and-er-telecom-buy-out-a-controlling-stake-in-akado/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buy </a>out a Controlling Stake in Akado</li>
 <li>Online School Kodland <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/online-school-kodland-raises-9-million-in-investment/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raises </a>$9 Million in Investment</li>
 <li>Softline <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/softline-acquires-85-of-it-academy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Acquires </a>85% of IT Academy</li>
 <li>NUTSon Service <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/nutson-service-raises-6-million-for-international-development/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raises </a>$6 Million for International Development</li>
 <li>CarMoney <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/carmoney-heads-to-ipo-in-2022/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Heads </a>to IPO in 2022</li>
 <li>MTS to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-to-acquire-facial-recognition-system-developer-visionlabs/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Acquire </a>Facial Recognition System Developer VisionLabs</li>
 <li>Sberbank to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-to-sell-part-of-its-ecosystem-within-two-years/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sell </a>Part of its Ecosystem within Two Years</li>
 <li>Positive Technologies <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/positive-technologies-enters-the-moscow-exchange/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Enters </a>the Moscow Exchange</li>
</ul>

 
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/" target="_blank">More news →</a>

 
 

<hr />
<h2>
 LONGREAD
</h2>

 
 Innovation Explained: a View on Current Innovative Processes 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/what-is-innovation/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/0ad5933d-d62b-5787-9267-d61447c613c1.jpeg">
 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source: Unsplash
 

 
 

 
 Recent years have shown how important the role of innovation is becoming. Large corporations are rebuilding their businesses, and the world's megacities are actively testing and implementing new technologies in order to significantly improve the quality of life for people and open up new opportunities for them.

 
 Metaverses, which should become the next platforms of the future both for companies and for actively developing cities, are among the hottest topics today. However, whether they will become a part of the global innovative process or a short-term trend is still an open question.

 
 However, there is still no common understanding of what innovation is. Could a technology or its implementation be an innovation? What environment is favorable for innovative activity and what does it depend on?

 
 ICT.Moscow discussed these issues with those who are engaged in innovations today and tried to figure out what defines innovative activity in the industry, how the COVID-19 pandemic affected it, and what direction it will develop further.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/what-is-innovation/" target="_blank">Read the full article →</a>

<hr />
<h2>
 ANALYTICS AND INSIGHTS
</h2>

 
 researches, monitorings, reports and other analytics of Moscow and Russian IT market

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/global-innovation-index-2021/" target="_blank">WIPO: Global Innovation Index 2021 →</a></li>
</ul>

 
 The World Intellectual Property Organization has released a global innovation index containing the results of a comparative analysis of the innovation systems of 132 countries and their ranking by the level of innovative development.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/smart-centres-index-3/" target="_blank">Z/YEN: Smart Centres Index 3 →</a></li>
</ul>

 
 The SCI focuses on centres in relation to their approach to and delivery of innovation and technology, including Science, Energy Systems, Machine Learning, Distributed Ledgers, and Fintech, along with other applications.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/vulnerabilities-in-log4j-2/" target="_blank">DR. WEB: Vulnerabilities in Log4j 2 →</a></li>
</ul>

 
 Doctor Web is drawing users’ attention to the need to observe protective measures. The library is used for logging in Java projects and is part of the Apache Logging Project. Vulnerabilities allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the system and cause a Denial of Service or disclose confidential information.

<hr />
<h2>
 DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FROM MOSCOW
</h2>

 
 a showcase of some Moscow-based smart city and GovTech solutions from <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/" target="_blank">Smart City Moscow</a> special project. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/case/city-video-surveillance-system/" target="_blank">City Video Surveillance System</a></li>
</ul>

 
 An effective control tool in housing and communal services and landscaping, which ensures security in the city.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/case/moscow-e-government-business-services/" target="_blank">Moscow E-government Business Services</a></li>
</ul>

 
 200 electronic services for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs are available on the official portal of the Moscow Mayor and Moscow Government.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/smartcitymoscow/case/mymoscowapp/" target="_blank">My Moscow</a></li>
</ul>

 
 The mobile app is a new dimension of comfort in edge-cutting technologies accelerating access to the public services enabling live consultations with city authorities.

 
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/" target="_blank">More solutions →</a>

 
 

<hr />
 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/?filterCategory=Tech-in-Moscow">Previous Tech in Moscow newsletters</a>

Top tech stories from Moscow  (December 13 — January 14) 

Tech in Moscow #36

Alumni of the <a href="https://ma.innoagency.ru/biomedtech/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Moscow Accelerator</a> have raised more than $12.9 million (1 billion rubles) in private investment.

 
 One of the most successful in the accelerator was a company developing an augmented and mixed reality platform for the construction industry. The financing of the project amounted to $2 million (160 million rubles). Another service in the field of personalization of advertising campaigns received $1.5 million (120 million rubles) for development. A project developing software for working with 3D models in virtual reality attracted $155,582 (12 million rubles).

 
 Over the two years of the accelerator's operation, 13 developing industry tracks have been held. Among the areas are smart manufacturing, transport, marketing, engineering, banking, finance and others. In total, 330 startups took part in the accelerator. There are more than 40 corporations in the organization of the tracks.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/vypuskniki-moskovskogo-akseleratora-privlekli-svyshe-1-mlrd-rub-investitsii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

mos.ru

Moscow Accelerator's Alumni Raise over $12.9 Million

Mobile Internet traffic in Moscow at the beginning of January 2022 grew by 48.8% compared to the same period last year. At the same time, voice traffic decreased by 7.7%. The consumption of mobile traffic in the country as a whole increased by 35% year-on-year, according to Beeline's data.

 
 As MTS told ICT.Moscow, residents of the Moscow region during the New Year holidays of this year downloaded 33,457 TB of data from the company's network. This is 33% more than last year. In addition, MTS subscribers from the Moscow region for the first time downloaded more than Muscovites - 17,712 TB, or more than 55% of the total data volume.

 
 At the same time, video content remains the main driver of data transfer growth. Thus, the number of calls to video resources increased four times over the New Year holidays. The traffic in social networks increased by 13%, specified in MTS.

 
 According to Yota, on New Year's Eve, the traffic volume of Viber and WhatsApp messengers among the operator's users increased by more than 50% compared to December 24-25. Traffic growth was also recorded in streaming services, including MEGOGO, Okko, Amediateka and Netflix.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/operatory-otmetili-rost-mobilnogo-internet-trafika-v-moskve-v-nachale-ianvaria-2022-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

PRIME

Operators Note Growth of Mobile Internet Traffic in Moscow at the Beginning of January, 2022

Service for finding work and hiring IT specialists Geecko raised $ 1 million from the Internet Initiatives Development Fund and a group of private investors. It is reported by Rusbase.

 
 The proceeds will be used to support the company's growth and develop sales in the US market.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/geecko/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Geecko</a>

<hr />
 
 Geecko services are used by large businesses, including Sberbank, Electrolux, Luxoft and Cisco. According to the service, in 2021, the startup quadrupled in revenue year-on-year.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/hr-servis-geecko-privlek-1mln-na-razvitie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

HR Service Geecko Raises $1 Million for Development

Moscow-based company developing AR/VR solutions LikeVR has become a partner of the <a href="https://nftmoon.space/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250);">NFT MOON</a> metaverse project. The company announced this on its Facebook page. 

 
 The teams are currently working on the details of the “product and creative concepts”. The next stage will be the implementation of the platform, where the spatial part of the project will be located.

 
 According to the developers, this is a highly loaded service and web application that allows a large number of users to work with three-dimensional graphics online. At the same time, the service will be available both in desktop and mobile modes, with “tokenomics based on blockchain based on polygon and BSC.”

 
 It is also planned to develop “an architecture to support edge computing (edge ​​render streaming) and support for AR and VR modes,” LikeVR notes.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/hse-vr-simulator/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HSE VR Simulator </a>

<hr />
 
 The NFT MOON project team, including entrepreneurs Aleksei Zhukevich and Sergei Shcheretskii, is creating a blockchain metaverse. NFT MOON is a unique certificate (token) of virtual land plots that allows you to create states, cities, NFT items.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/startap-likevr-prisoedinilsia-k-proektu-metavselennoi-nft-moon/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

LikeVR

Startup LikeVR Joins NFT MOON Project

Temporary employee search service Ventra Go! raised $9.14 million (700 million rubles) from the VTB Capital Investments fund.

 
 The funds will be used to develop the platform and scale the service in the regions. As a result of the transaction, the fund portfolio includes a stake of 23.33%, 49.3% belong to co-founder Alex Freedland, 27.33% belong to the top managers.

 
 According to investors, the idea of ​​automating the recruitment of line personnel can change the recruitment market, as Uber and Yandex changed the taxi segment. The spokesperson of Ventra Go! clarified that at the end of last year the revenue of the service amounted to 265 million rubles.

<hr />
 
 Connect with 

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100034890907523" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexander Friedland</a>, co-founder of Ventra Go!

 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/ventra-go/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">VentraGo!</a>

<hr />
 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/servis-ventra-go-privlek-700-mln-rub-na-razvitie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Market in Brief