Rostelecom has submitted two applications to the State Commission for Radio Frequencies (GRFC) for the allocation of frequencies for testing 5G in the metro.

 
 To test the technology at underground metro stations in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan, the company asks for a range of 3.3-3.4 GHz and 3.8-4.1 GHz. For testing at underground metro stations of the same cities (in Moscow, an experiment is planned to be carried out on the Circle Line), Rostelecom wants to use the 3.4–3.8 GHz band.

 
 The Ministry of Digital Development, which oversees the work of the GRFC, clarifies that the application will be considered at the next meeting of the state commission. The company itself says that they are ready to test all radio frequency resources suitable for use in fifth-generation networks - testing in the metro cannot interfere with ground-based electronic equipment.

 
 Experts note that the band, which can be summarized as 3.6 GHz, is optimal for 5G deployment. And the appeal of Rostelecom to the SCRF indicates that the issue of using 3.6 GHz by 5G operators is not closed.

 
 In 2021, Freshtel, a subsidiary of Rostelecom, has already <a href="https://digital.gov.ru/ru/documents/7973/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">applied</a> for 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies to test 5G in the Moscow and Kazan metros. However, then the company was denied.

 
 Last May, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sergei-sobyanin-5g-will-be-tested-in-the-moscow-metro/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> the start of testing 5G in the metro, but the details of the project were not disclosed then. In December, the head of the capital <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/5g-to-be-launched-in-moscow-in-2022/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> that the creation of a fifth-generation network in the capital could begin in 2022.

 
 In June 2021, Tele2 (a subsidiary of Rostelecom), together with Nokia, <a href="https://www.interfax.ru/russia/771477" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">launched</a> a test zone for 5G in the millimeter band (24.25-29.5 GHz) in the Kazan metro.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rostelekom-planiruet-protestirovat-5g-v-metro-moskvy-sankt-peterburga-i-kazani/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Izvestia

Rostelecom to Test 5G in the Metro of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan

The number of access points to city Wi-Fi in Moscow exceeded 22 thousand. Of these, more than three thousand appeared last year.

 
 About 2.4 thousand hot spots were installed in new places, 675 points were installed to improve the signal where the network was available.

 
 Among the most popular places for using free Wi-Fi are Tverskaya Street, Manezhnaya and Pushkinskaya Squares, Arbat, as well as Sokolniki and Muzeon parks.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/bolee-22-tys-tochek-dostupa-k-gorodskomu-wi-fi-rabotaet-v-moskve/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

mos.ru

More than 22 Thousand Access Points to City Wi-Fi Operate in Moscow

Experts from MTS Electronics (a subsidiary of MTS) tested uplink aggregation in a pilot 5G network built on the basis of virtualization of network functions in a vRAN radio access network.

 
 The tests demonstrated the operation of 5G radio equipment in low (<3 GHz) and medium (<6 GHz) frequency bands (UL CA 5G FDD + TDD) on a fully virtual infrastructure and commercial RAN equipment.

 
 According to Alexey Maslyankin, the Director of the MTS Radio Access Network Department, the company “managed to remove one of the main technological barriers to the commercialization of vRAN - the lack of spectrum aggregation functionality, which in this configuration was demonstrated for the first time in the world.”

 
 Testing took place in the Open RAN laboratory on the territory of the MTS 5G Center at VDNKh in Moscow. VRAN solutions will be widely used in fifth-generation networks and in the Open RAN architecture, the company said in a press release.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexey.maslyankin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexey Maslyankin</a>, the Director of the Radio Access Network Department of MTS

<hr />
 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-soobshchila-o-provedennykh-testakh-agregatsii-uplink-na-virtualnoi-infrastrukture-5g/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTS Announces Conducted Uplink Aggregation Tests on 5G Virtual Infrastructure

Kismet Capital Group acquired a full share (100%) of the infrastructure operator Russian Towers. The termsof the deal have not been disclosed.

 
 As a result of the deal, Russian Towers will enter into the merged company New Towers, which will be created on the basis of another tower company, Vertical and First Tower Company. The number of new tower facilities of the merged company will exceed 30 thousand.

 
 According to Ivan Tavrin, the owner of Kismet Capital Group, the company is ready for an IPO. There are also plans to enter new markets.

 
 It was <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/kismet-capital-group-negotiating-the-acquisition-of-russian-towers/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced </a>in November that Kismet Capital Group is negotiating the acquisition of Russian Towers. At the same time, at the end of October, it was <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/megafon-transferres-its-tower-assets-to-an-independent-operator/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported </a>that MegaFon and Kismet Capital Group had agreed to create an independent federal tower operator.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/kismet-capital-group-priobrela-100-russkikh-bashen/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Interfax

Kismet Capital Group Acquires 100% of Russian Towers

In 2021, more than 100 startups applied for participation in the programs of 5G centers of MTS (MTS Startup Hub). As the company told ICT.Moscow, based on the results of selection and revision, six projects were selected for piloting and implementation in MTS and client companies, including private 5G networks.

 
 These are projects:

<ul>
 <li>robotic systems for routine logistics tasks from RoboCV;</li>
 <li>a platform for training employees in VR Courz VR from Helmeton;</li>
 <li>systems for digitizing physical assets of enterprises from Moeco;</li>
 <li>cloud gaming platform from Proxy42;</li>
 <li>monitoring systems for industrial equipment using vibroacoustic technologies from Fourdigit (4digit);</li>
 <li>charging station services for electric vehicles from Touch.</li>
</ul>

 
 Presentations on the benefits of 5G solutions from Helmeton and RoboCV are available here and here.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/robocv-x-motion-ng-1/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">RoboCV</a>

<hr />
 
 In 2022, MTS Startup Hub plans to strengthen its work with mature companies and focus on building products based on already sold industry solutions with a connection to Cloud and Connectivity solutions.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/shest-startapov-iz-5g-tsentrov-mts-vybrany-dlia-testirovaniia-ili-vnedreniia-reshenii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Six Startups from MTS 5G Сenters Selected for Testing or Implementing Solutions

Rostelecom acquired a full share (100%) of TVE-Telecom, a provider of an MVNE platform that allows creating virtual mobile operators, as well as managing their products and services. The deal amounted to $23 million (1.7 billion rubles).

 
 Rostelecom clarified that the deal will increase the growth rate of MVNO business "by creating a single circuit on the basis of TVE-Telecom for the development of a virtual environment managed by Tele2 (owned by Rostelecom), regardless of third-party solutions and third parties."

 
 TVE-Telecom will become part of Rostelecom as a subsidiary. It will become a competence center for the development and launch of new MVNO projects.

 
 Earlier it was <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/tele2-and-plintron-to-launch-virtual-operators-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that Tele2 plans to develop a segment of virtual operators in Russia together with the Plintron MVNA platform. The first agreements on the start of new projects in Moscow and St. Petersburg have already been concluded.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rostelekom-priobrel-provaidera-mvne-platformy-tve-telekom/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Rostelecom Acquires MVNE Platform Provider TVE-Telecom

Equipment manufacturer Ericsson is thinking about localizing the production of 5G base stations in Russia. The company is considering the possibility of launching its own plant in the Russian Federation and is also conducting a technological audit of the GS Group site in Kaliningrad.

 
 Ericsson has neither confirmed nor denied this information. They clarified that the company "is in constant dialogue with the authorities of many countries, including Russia, to realize the potential of 5G and other technologies."

 
 Earlier Nokia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/nokia-may-sign-an-agreement-on-the-localization-of-lte-base-stations-production-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced </a>its plans to localize production in Russia. At the end of November, the company signed a preliminary agreement of intent on the localization of LTE base stations with the Ministry of Digital Industry.

 
 In turn, Huawei cannot decide on a localization partner among the players on the Russian market. The situation is similar for ZTE. Now the manufacturer collects information on the potential market size of localized 5G base stations in the horizon of 5-10 years.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/ericsson-zadumalsia-ob-otkrytii-sobstvennogo-zavoda-bazovykh-stantsii-5g-v-rossii/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kommersant

Ericsson Considers Opening its Own Plant of 5G Base Stations in Russia

In Moscow, over the year, the average speed of mobile Internet increased by 4 Mbit/s, up to 40 Mbit/s. This is 1.8 times higher than in the country. In general, in Russia, this figure was 21.7 Mbit/s, according to a <a href="https://ict.moscow/research/skorost-mobilnogo-interneta-v-moskve-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">study </a>by Telecom Daily.

 
 In terms of the speed of transferring mobile data to the subscriber in the capital, MegaFon is in the lead with 56.1 Mbps, MTS is in second place with 43.1 Mbps, and Beeline is in third place with 40.2 Mbit/s. Tele2 is the fourth with 25 Mbit/s.

 
 Earlier it was <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5129336" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that the average Internet speed in the Moscow metro at the end of 2021 decreased by 4.5 Mbit/s, to 31.6 Mbit/s. At the same time, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/dmtel-compares-the-service-quality-of-telecom-operators-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to the assessment of the quality of communication services of the "Big Four" operators in the capital, Beeline takes the first position in the rating. MegaFon and MTS are in second and third places, respectively, Tele2 is in fourth place.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/research/skorost-mobilnogo-interneta-v-moskve-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

TelecomDaily

Average Speed of Mobile Internet in Moscow Increased to 40 Mbit/s in 2021

The revenue of large Russian telecom operators in 2021 may increase by 5-6% due to going beyond traditional cellular services and developing ecosystems, according to Moody’s data.

 
 The new solutions by operators will give a boost to the market while there is no massive 5G penetration in Russia, analysts say. The expansion of the range of services will allow cellular companies to achieve annual stable growth of 3% in 2022–2023.

 
 Almost all leading operators develop their ecosystem. MTS explains that they are creating an ecosystem based on their own products and partnerships. In addition to telecom services, Beeline provides services in the areas of fintech, AdTech, medical AI, education, etc. MegaFon adheres to the “balancing ecosystem model”, while Tele2 focuses on the main telecom business, which is developed through relevant partnerships.

 
 The volume of the Russian telecom market in 2020 <a href="http://tmt-consulting.ru/napravleniya/telekommunikacii/tmt-rejting-rossijskij-rynok-telekommunikacij-2020/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reached</a> $24.4 billion (1.73 trillion rubles), which is 0.7% less than in 2019.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/issledovanie-operatory-mogut-uvelichit-vyruchku-na-6-za-god-za-schet-razvitiia-ekosistem/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Telecom Operators Could Increase Revenues by 6% with Ecosystems

Telecom-company DMTEL has compiled a <a href="https://dmtel.ru/reports/moscow-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">rating</a> of the quality of communication services of the "Big Four" operators in Moscow. For this, from October 11 to November 2, it carried out measurements on a route with a length of about 3892 km and used for comparison the ratings of operators, calculated on the basis of integral assessments of the quality of services.

 
 Operators were assessed in the “mobile Internet” and “voice communications” categories on a 1000-point scale. According to the final estimates, the places were distributed as follows:

<ul>
 <li>first place - Beeline (811 points);</li>
 <li>second place - MegaFon (783 points);</li>
 <li>third place - MTS (777 points);</li>
 <li>fourth place - Tele2 (655 points).</li>
</ul>

 
 The authors of the rating note that Beeline has the best quality of telephone communications and the Internet. MegaFon is slightly behind the leader in the quality of voice services. In turn, MTS is less than other of the presented operators inferior to Beeline in terms of the quality of the Internet. Tele2, in the opinion of DMTEL analysts, "is noticeably inferior to competitors in every category of services."

 
 According to TelecomDaily, the average Internet speed in the Moscow metro at the end of 2021 <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5129336" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">decreased</a> by 4.5 Mbit/s, to 31.6 Mbit/s. It was also <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-invests-218-million-in-2021-for-network-renovation-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that MTS traffic in the Moscow metro grew by 70% and as of December 1 it reached 100 TB.

 
 <a href="https://t.me/ICT_Moscow/5309" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

DMTEL

DMTEL Compares the Service Quality of Telecom Operators in Moscow

The companies of the Moscow IT telecom industry have transferred about $1.7 billion (129.4 billion rubles) to the budget of the capital as the main tax payments. This is 20% more than last year, said Kirill Purtov, the Head of the Moscow Department of Economic Policy and Development.

 
 “IT-telecom accounts for about seven percent of the total volume of corresponding tax revenues to the Moscow budget,” he explained.

 
 He specified that over 15 thousand companies and individual entrepreneurs work in the IT sector of Moscow. In total, more than 6% of the total employed in the capital work in this sector.

 
 Earlier it was <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/foreign-sompanies-invest-over-15-billion-in-russian-technology-parks/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that the volume of foreign investments in the development of infrastructure of industrial parks and technology parks in Russia over the past 10-11 years amounted to $15 billion.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/postupleniia-nalogov-v-biudzhet-moskvy-ot-it-telekoma-vyrosli-na-20-za-deviat-mesiatsev-2021-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Tax Receipts to the Moscow Budget from IT Telecom Companies Increases by 20% in 2021

MTS investments in the renovation of networks in Moscow in 2021 amounted to RUB 16 billion. This is double the number in 2020. Replacing the networks in the Moscow Region will cost the company 14 billion rubles.

 
 According to Inessa Galaktionova, Vice President for Telecommunications Business of MTS, the company has exceeded its plan to replace equipment in Moscow with Huawei base stations. 

 
 It is also noted that the traffic in the Moscow metro has grown by 70%. On December 1, it reached 100 TB. At the same time, the consumption of video content alone has quadrupled over the year. Now the volume of traffic is comparable to the indicators in Kaliningrad or Yakutsk.

 
 According to Galaktionova, MTS may enter into a joint venture with other participants in the telecom market for the development of 5G, but at the moment the company "does not converge with other operators in the conditions."

 
 In February 2021, it <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-will-install-5g-ready-huawei-equipment-instead-of-nokia-base-stations-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was reported</a> that the total capital expenditures of MTS in the Moscow region this year will reach 16 billion rubles, and the number of base stations planned for installation will be 6.5 thousand.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-v-2021-godu-vlozhila-16-mlrd-rub-v-obnovlenie-seti-v-moskve/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

FINAM

MTS Invests $218 Million in 2021 for Network Renovation in Moscow

Tele2 plans to develop the segment of virtual operators in Russia in conjunction with the Plintron MVNA platform, the solutions of which are used by over 140 MVNOs around the world). The first agreements on the start of new projects in Moscow and St. Petersburg have already been concluded, they are being implemented in the Tele2 network.

 
 Tele2 currently serves over 20 virtual operators. At the end of 2020, the number of its customers increased by 28% compared to 2019 and exceeded 4.8 million. Sergey Volkov, Director for Development of the Segment of Virtual Operators and Partnerships at Tele2, suggested that “by 2025, MVNO customers will account for 15% of the mobile communication ".

<hr />
 
 Product cards

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

<hr />
 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/tele2-i-plintron-zapustiat-virtualnykh-operatorov-v-moskve/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

ComNews

Tele2 and Plintron to Launch Virtual Operators in Moscow

Rostelecom and VEB Ventures (part of VEB.RF) created a joint venture Atlas to build a new backbone fiber optic communication line TEA NEXT (New Generation Europe–Asia Transit). Its design capacity is 96 dark fibers, the warranty period for the cable is up to 2045, according to the representatives of Rostelecom’s press office.

 
 The fiber-optic communication line will connect the western and eastern borders of Russia with links to the largest cities and outlets to the Russia– Mongolia and Russia– China borders. Rostelecom experts say that the new communication line “will provide transit system capabilities that are not available in any of the existing landlines of this scale and quality.”

 
 Construction of the main segment of the line will begin in 2022. By 2025, Atlas plans to launch a set of services to lease physical backbone infrastructure. VEB Ventures believes that due to the creation of new infrastructure by 2030, about 30-35% of global Europe - Asia traffic will be able to go through Russia, <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5118592" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according</a> to Kommersant newspaper.

 
 The total investments will amount to approximately $650 million (about RUB 47.9 billion) by the end of 2025. Part of the funds will be provided by the authorized capital of the joint venture. Initially, each of the founders of Atlas will invest six billion rubles. Also, negotiations are underway to attract external investors, including foreign ones.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rostelekom-i-veb-rf-sozdali-sovmestnoe-predpriiatie-dlia-postroiki-v-rossii-magistralnoi-linii-sviazi-novogo-pokoleniia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Rostelecom

Rostelecom and VEB.RF Set up JV Atlas to Build a High-Speed Communication Line in Russia

Around half of all Russian pilot projects of 5G practices were implemented in Moscow and the Moscow region. During the year, a 5G Demo Center began its work in the capital, while agreements on the opening of new industrial 5G polygons were signed here.

 
 The most notable Moscow-based 5G testing practices include the testing of innovative services and technologies in a fifth-generation communication network based on the city's 5G Demo Center. They were started by the Moscow Department of Information Technologies at the end of 2020. As of November 2021, several projects were tested, including a solution that allows visualizing and working with a BIM project in real time on a construction site.

 
 A project to create a multifunctional complex for drones based on computer vision algorithms and a wireless optical communication solution using FSO (Free Space Optics) technology, where a laser is used instead of radio frequencies for data transmission was also tested in Moscow.

 
 In September 2021, an agreement was signed on the creation of a 5G medical training ground on the basis of Botkin Hospital.

 
 Aleksander Grobadko, the Deputy Head of the Moscow Department of Information Technologies says:

 
 “5G is one of the priorities for technological development in Moscow. Existing pilot projects show how 5G can help Muscovites make traffic safer, solve complex production problems and conduct remote medical consultations. But before introducing such solutions on a metropolitan scale, you need to make sure of their effectiveness. Therefore, since 2019, around 30 pilot sites for 5G testing have been opened in Moscow, 5 Demo centers are operating and industrial 5G test sites are being created, the first of which is being deployed on the basis of Botkin Hospital."

<div>
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/b1a424e7-85c2-53f1-b743-b59de637b0c6.png">
</div>

Half of Russian 5G Projects are Being Tested in the Moscow Region

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) satisfied the request of the Infrastructure Integrator (controlled by Kismet Capital Group) to acquire the independent tower operator Russian Towers (controlled by UFG Private Equity). The parties agreed on key parameters, details will be announced after the transaction is closed.

 
 KCG's plans to acquire Russian Towers became known in early November. Then the deal was estimated at $342,7 million (25 billion rubles). At the same time, in October, KCG and MegaFon agreed to create an independent tower infrastructure operator based on the Tower One Company (a subsidiary of MegaFon) and the operator Vertikal (controlled by KCG). It is planned to close the deal by the end of this year. Taking into account all the agreements, KCG can unite 29 thousand objects.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072735932622" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vyacheslav Nikolaev</a>, President of MTS

<hr />
 
 MTS also intends to sell its tower asset. According to the president of the company Vyacheslav Nikolaev, "active negotiations" are already underway. Potential buyers have not been named, but according to Kommersant, there are two main contenders for this asset: Service-Telecom and Kismet Capital Group.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/fas-odobrila-sdelku-kismet-po-priobreteniiu-russkikh-bashen/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

FAS Approves Kismet's Acquisition of Russian Towers

According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the creation of a 5G network in the capital will begin in 2022.

 
 “The comfort on the streets of Moscow is not limited to the physical environment. In parallel, we have deployed an extensive free Wi-Fi network and starting next year, the city will begin to build a 5G network together with cellular operators, which opens up fundamentally new opportunities for the provision of digital services," the Mayor said at the "Russia Forum: Driving the Future" as part of Expo-2020 in Dubai.

 
 At the end of May, the mayor of the capital <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sergei-sobyanin-5g-will-be-tested-in-the-moscow-metro/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> the start of testing the fifth-generation communication technology in the Moscow metro. The details of the project were not disclosed at that time.

 
 In July, the State Commission for Radio Frequencies <a href="https://digital.gov.ru/ru/documents/7973/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">rejected</a> the application of the Rostelecom for obtaining frequencies of 3.4-3.8 GHz for testing 5G in the metro. However, in October, Forbes <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-telecoms-may-get-4-3-8-ghz-frequencies-for-5g-used-by-the-military/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that the government was discussing the issue of transferring the 3.4-3.8 GHz range for the deployment of 5G networks by cellular operators in Moscow.

 
 

<div>
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/4ee380e1-bf42-56e5-8934-d71fa596f930.jpeg">
</div>
 
 Press Service of the Mayor and the Moscow Government
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sergei-sobianin-sozdanie-seti-5g-v-moskve-nachnetsia-v-2022-godu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Moscow 24

Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin: 5G to be Launched in the City in 2022

The Veon holding (the parent company of Beeline) announced the closure of the deal for the sale of antenna mast structures in Russia to the Service-Telecom Group.

 
 Under the terms of the deal, which amounted to 70.65 billion rubles, Service-Telecom received 100% of the shares of National Tower Company JSC and about 15.4 thousand towers.

 
 The companies also entered into a long-term agreement under which the operator will lease towers from Service-Telecom for eight years. In addition, the parties entered the build-to-suit program, which provides for the construction of 5 thousand towers by 2029.

 
 Veon <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/veon-sells-tower-assets-in-russia-to-service-telecom-for-1-billion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced </a>the sale of its tower assets in Russia in September 2021.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/veon-zakryl-sdelku-po-prodazhe-vyshek-v-rossii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Beeline

Veon Closes the Deal for the Sale of Towers in Russia

The State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GRFC) at a meeting on November 29 added separate frequency bands in the 4.4-4.8 GHz range for 5G networks (previously, the 4.8-4.99 GHz range was identified by the commission as promising), according to the state body's <a href="https://digital.gov.ru/ru/documents/8069/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">decision</a> from November 29.

 
 In particular, New Digital Solutions company (a joint venture between Beeline, MegaFon and Rostelecom to develop 5G) received 4400-4555 MHz and 4630-4990 MHz frequencies for two years to study fifth-generation communication networks.

 
 At the same time, the company was denied in the radio frequency band 4555-4630 MHz and 4990-5000 MHz, as well as in 4800-4990 MHz for “conducting research work on the application, coordination and registration in the International Telecommunication Union of frequency assignments for radio-electronic means of communication networks of the 5G standard/IMT2020 on the territory of the Russian Federation ".

 
 In addition, according to the decision of the GRFC, the Radio Research Institute received from July 2022 to June 2023 the frequencies 6425-6825 MHz for studying 5G New Radio. The draft program for the conversion of the "millimeter" radio frequency band 24.45-27.50 GHz was also adopted.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/gkrch-planiruet-rasshirit-diapazon-dlia-setei-5g-v-gorodakh-millionnikakh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Ministry of Digital Development

Russian Regulator to Expand the Range for 5G Networks in Million-Plus Cities

The voice traffic in Moscow metro grew by 21% from November 2020 to November 2021, while the average call duration increased by a quarter.

 
 The overwhelming majority of calls were made within the Russian service area. In addition to Moscow, the calls in the metro most often were made in Krasnodar region, St. Petersburg and Dagestan, with 7% of them to CIS countries and 3% of calls to non-CIS countries.

 
 The average duration of calls from the metro within the Russian Federation was one and a half minutes and 35 seconds to foreign countries. Most often, metro passengers call abroad from the center of Moscow, at the Teatralnaya, Biblioeka Lenina and Tretyakovskaya stations.

 
 The data was obtained on the basis of an analysis of aggregated anonymized data on calls made by MTS subscribers in the Moscow metro.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/golosovoi-trafik-v-moskovskom-metro-za-god-vyros-na-21/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

BFM.ru

Voice Traffic in Moscow Metro Grows by 21% over the Year

Equipment manufacturer Nokia and Russian storage systems manufacturer <a href="https://yadro.com/en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yadro</a> (part of X-Holding) intend to create a joint venture for the production of 4G and 5G base stations.

 
 The controlling stake (51%) in the JV will be owned by Yadro, while the remaining 49% will go to Nokia. The agreement implies transferring production processes to the local capacities of a domestic manufacturer, transferring licenses for Nokia's software, as well as creating an R&D center for the preparation of 4G and 5G equipment lines and the construction of corporate networks.

 
 A Yadro's spokesman confirmed the signing of an agreement of intent to establish a JV. Nokia said that the partnership is aimed, among other things, at joint work "on the regulatory framework in the field of localization." Production will be opened at the Yadro plant under construction in Dubna (Moscow region). Construction work will begin in December 2021.

 
 The Ministry of Industry and Trade has estimated the domestic market of telecommunications equipment for public procurement at $2.2 billion (168 billion rubles), of which Russian manufacturers account for 21%, the total market volume being more than $5.3 billion (400 billion rubles).

 
 Earlier it <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/nokia-may-sign-an-agreement-on-the-localization-of-lte-base-stations-production-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was reported</a> that foreign vendors Huawei, Ericsson and ZTE are also interested in localizing production in Russia. This is due to the decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies, which obliges Russian operators to build networks on domestic equipment from 2023.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/yadro-i-nokia-planiruiut-sozdat-sovmestnoe-predpriiatie-dlia-proizvodstva-bazovykh-stantsii-4g-i-5g/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Yadro and Nokia to Set up a Joint Venture for the Production of 4G and 5G Base Stations

In November 2021, Nokia may sign an agreement with the Ministry of Digital Development on the localization of the production of base stations of the LTE standard in Russia. According to Interfax, negotiations on localization are also underway with Ericsson and Huawei. The ministry declined to comment.

 
 In mid-September, Kommersant newspaper <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4988071" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> that IKS Holding could become Nokia's partner in localizing production. The possibility of transferring closed development licenses to the Russian side was also considered. In addition, ZTE is considering localization, but it is not yet clear who the company sees as a Russian partner.

 
 In August, the Ministry of Digital Development <a href="https://tass.ru/ekonomika/12067657" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> an agreement on the localization of base stations with two manufacturers of network equipment at once, but no specific companies were named. Rostec and AFK Sistema were considered as Russian partners. The ban on the use of foreign LTE base stations in the Russian Federation will enter into force in 2023. After that, operators will be required to build networks using domestic equipment.

 
 On November 19, it <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5080226" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was reported</a> that the heads of MTS, MegaFon, Beeline, Tele2 and Rostelecom appealed to the Ministry of Digital Industry with a request to create a working group to coordinate the implementation of Russian stations.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/nokia-v-noiabre-mozhet-podpisat-soglashenie-o-lokalizatsii-proizvodstva-bazovykh-stantsii-lte-v-rossii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Nokia May Sign an Agreement on the Localization of LTE Base Stations Production in Russia

Rostelecom will spin off the tower infrastructure into a separate company. At the same time, a quick sale of the asset is not planned.

 
 The restructuring will also affect the company's other branches: data center and cloud services, information security, streaming services, cyber-gaming business and intelligent telecom services. In the future, an IPO is planned for some of them, but the exact dates have not been named.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-berov-2a795576/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ivan Berov</a>, the Director of Digital Identity at <a href="https://www.company.rt.ru/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rostelecom</a> 

<hr />
 
 In October 2021, MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-spins-off-from-its-tower-infrastructure-company-and-mts-web-services/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">has spun off</a> its Tower Infrastructure Company. Earlier, the decision to sell its tower assets <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/veon-sells-tower-assets-in-russia-to-service-telecom-for-1-billion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was made</a> by Beeline, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/megafon-transferres-its-tower-assets-to-an-independent-operator/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">followed</a> by Megafon's deal to separate its tower assets.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rostelekom-nameren-vydelit-bashennyi-biznes-v-otdelnuiu-kompaniiu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

TASS

Rostelecom to Spin off its Tower Business into a Separate Company

Russia's largest telecom operator MTS intends to sell its tower business to an independent operator. "Active negotiations" are already underway, the closing of the deal is expected in the first half of 2022, said the president of MTS Vyacheslav Nikolaev.

 
 Now the allocation of the relevant infrastructure in a separate company, Tower Infrastructure Company, continues.

 
 “We have been doing this business for a long time as a telecommunications legacy. Once it made sense and worked well. Now we have other priorities,” Nikolayev explained.

 
 MTS does not disclose potential buyers, but, according to Kommersant's sources, there are two main contenders for this asset: Service-Telecom and Kismet Capital Group.

 
 MTS plans to conduct an auction among buyers this year. The operator's tower portfolio is estimated at $1.2-1.3 billion (90-100 billion rubles). According to Nikolayev, now the MTS portfolio includes around 23 thousand antenna mast structures, being largest on the market.

<hr />
 
 Connect with

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072735932622" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vyacheslav Nikolaev</a>, President of MTS

<hr />
 
 In October 2021, MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-spins-off-from-its-tower-infrastructure-company-and-mts-web-services/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">has spun off</a> its Tower Infrastructure Company. Earlier, the decision to sell its tower assets <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/veon-sells-tower-assets-in-russia-to-service-telecom-for-1-billion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was made</a> by Beeline, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/megafon-transferres-its-tower-assets-to-an-independent-operator/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">followed</a> by Megafon's deal to separate its tower assets.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-vedet-peregovory-o-prodazhe-bashennogo-biznesa/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>

MTS to Sell its Tower Business

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Tech in Moscow

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Digest about AI in Russia

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ICT.Moscow  — Market in Brief

Top tech stories from Moscow from September 20 to October 1

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

 
 Main news about Moscow's projects, developers, technologies

 
 Moscow Hosts ICPC World Championship 2021 Finals 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/online-conference-for-the-opening-of-the-icpc-international-programming-championship-held-in-moscow/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/306db4a8-e2f5-5bbd-b495-cbc9980f04e4.png">
 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source:&nbsp;ICPC
 

 
 

 
 From October 1 to October 6, 2021, for the first time, Moscow holds the finals of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC).

 
 More than 60,000 student programmers from more than 3,000 universities from up to 115 countries participate in qualifying rounds each year, and only the best of them reach the finals.

 
 The upcoming final will feature 100 teams with 15 from Russian teams, including five from Moscow. These are students of MIPT, Lomonosov Moscow State University, HSE, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, and Moscow Aviation Institute.

 
 The current champion is the Moscow team, which won two consecutive years. Last year, due to the pandemic, the final was not held, and in 2019 it was held in Porto (Portugal), 10 Russian teams took part in it, including three from Moscow.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/online-conference-for-the-opening-of-the-icpc-international-programming-championship-held-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Read more →</a>

<hr />
 
 Other stories:

<ul>
 <li>Face Pay <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/face-pay-launched-on-all-moscow-metro-stations/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Implemented</a> on All Moscow Metro Stations</li>
 <li>Skoltech <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/skoltech-joins-the-international-consortium-3gpp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joins</a> the International Consortium 3GPP</li>
 <li>Research Institute of Radio to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/research-institute-of-radio-to-conduct-a-study-of-5g-and-6g-implementaion-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Conduct</a> a Study of 5G and 6G Implementation in Russia</li>
 <li>Yandex to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-to-invest-30-million-in-its-cloud-service-in-germany/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Enter</a> German Market with Cloud Service</li>
 <li>BelkaCar <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/belkacar-heads-for-business-expansion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Heads</a> for Business Expansion</li>
 <li>NTI to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/nti-to-test-computer-vision-system-for-autonomous-vehicles-by-the-end-of-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Test</a> Computer Vision System for Autonomous Vehicles by the End of 2021</li>
 <li>Tinkoff Bank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/tinkoff-bank-tests-neural-network-on-customer-behavior-using-smartphone/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tests</a> Neural Network on Customer Behavior Using  Smartphones</li>
 <li>Russian Post to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-post-to-use-blockchain-for-logistics/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Use</a> Blockchain for Logistics</li>
 <li>Moscow-Based Fintech TalkBank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-based-fintech-talkbank-included-in-top-100-companies-using-ai/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Included</a> in World’s Top 100 Companies Using AI</li>
</ul>

 
 

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 GOV AGENDA
 Ministry of Transport <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-ministry-of-transport-presents-a-bill-defining-the-legal-obligations-of-taxi-aggregators/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Presents</a> a Bill Defining the Legal Obligations of Taxi Aggregators
 Telecoms and the Ministry of Digital Development <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/telecoms-and-the-ministry-of-digital-development-developing-a-standard-for-smart-homes/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Developing</a> a Standard for Smart Homes
 The Central Bank Binds Banks to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/central-bank-binds-banks-to-implement-fps-for-individual-payments-with-qr-codes/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Implement</a> FPS for Individual Payments with QR Codes
 Ministry of Economic Development <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/ministry-of-economic-development-names-the-key-criteria-for-the-development-of-ecosystems/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Names</a> the Key Criteria for the Development of Ecosystems
 </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>Mail.ru Group <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mail-ru-group-sees-aliexpress-russia-going-public-in-2022/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sees</a> AliExpress Russia Going Public in 2022</li>
 <li>Sberbank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-announces-a-possible-ipo-of-samokat-and-delivery-club-in-2022-2023/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Announces</a> a Possible IPO of Samokat and Delivery Club in 2022–2023</li>
 <li>Softline to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/softline-to-conduct-a-double-listing-to-raise-500-million/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Conduct</a> a Double Listing to Raise $500 Million</li>
 <li>Startup Brandquad <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/startup-brandquad-raises-2-5-million-euros-for-r-d-center/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raises</a> 2.5 Million Euros for R&amp;D Center</li>
 <li>Mail.ru Group <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mail-ru-group-invests-over-82-million-in-game-development-in-four-years/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Invests</a> Over $82 Million in Game Development in Four Years and <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mail-ru-group-buys-controlling-stake-at-belarusian-gaming-company-mamboo-games/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buys</a> Mamboo Games</li>
</ul>

 
 

<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/conversational-ai-market-in-russia-2020-2025/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">JUST AI</a>: Conversational AI market in Russia 2020-2025 →</li>
</ul>

 
 Comprehensive research and a forecast of Russian conversational AI market through 2025. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/attitude-of-russians-to-biometric-authentication-methods/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NAFI</a>: Attitude of Russians to biometric authentication methods →</li>
</ul>

 
 The awareness and perception of authentication using biometric data. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/the-russian-market-for-legal-online-video-services-first-half-of-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TELECOMDAILY</a>: Russian market for legal online video services. The first half of 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 Financial results of Russian video streaming services. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/russian-e-commerce-ecosystem-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DATA INSIGHT</a>: Russian e-commerce ecosystem 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 The study presents an ecosystem of more than 1300 services. 

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

<hr />
<h2>
 KEY ACTORS
</h2>

 
 discover people who stand behind the innovative companies and projects in Moscow

 
 Vladimir Urbansky, Director for Digital Products of the Russian Post | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vurbanskiy" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook </a>

 
 Dmitry Lakontsev, Head of NTI Center of Excellence in Wireless and IoT в Skoltech | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dmitry.lakontsev" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook </a>

 
 Elena Muradova, Managing Partner at BelkaCar| <a href="https://www.facebook.com/elena.muradova.9" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>

 
 Philipp Denisov, Co-Founder and CEO of Brandquad | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/philipp.denisov" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>

 
 Mikhail Popov, Founder and CEO of TalkBank | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/popovmb/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>

<hr />
<h2>
 MORE
</h2>

 
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moNDlIoGXrU" style="" target="_blank">Video</a> from the Opening Ceremony of the International Collegiate Programming Contest In Moscow held on October 1-6, 2021. 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moNDlIoGXrU">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/78e86b62-ae6b-5454-b9bd-c0ce2bec0514.png">
 </a>
 </div>

 
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moNDlIoGXrU" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Watch video →</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 from September 20 to October 1

ICT.Moscow

Tech in Moscow #30

Top tech stories from Moscow from September 6 – 17

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

 
 Main news about Moscow's projects, developers, technologies

 
 The first 5G Polygon in Russia to Appear on the Basis of Botkin Hospital in Moscow 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-first-5g-polygon-in-russia-to-appear-on-the-basis-of-botkin-hospital-in-moscow/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/5f6e991f-310c-5514-917d-5e92b90730c0.png">
 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source:&nbsp;Press Service of the Moscow Government
 

 
 

 
 Starting from September 15, Moscow city authorities plan to double the number of Moscow Metro stations with Face Pay system and by October 15 the system should work on all stations.

 
 As for the beginning of September, 15 thousand people have already submitted their biometric data. The system allows writing off funds from a bank card account, as well as from the Troika electronic card. The turnstiles that support the new technology are marked with a round black sticker on the floor.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-first-5g-polygon-in-russia-to-appear-on-the-basis-of-botkin-hospital-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Read more →</a>

<hr />
 
 Other stories:

<ul>
 <li>Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-repels-the-largest-ddos-attack-in-history/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Repels</a> the Largest DDoS Attack in History</li>
 <li>Sberbank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-starts-building-a-55-thousand-sq-m-data-processing-center/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Starts</a> Building a 55 Thousand sq.m. Data Processing Center</li>
 <li>Sensors for Solid Waste Control <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sensors-for-solid-waste-control-installed-on-trash-bins-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Installed </a>on Trash Bins in Moscow</li>
 <li>Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-launches-the-first-driverless-taxis-in-south-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Launch</a> the First Driverless Taxis in South Moscow as part of the Pilot Project by the Ministry of Economic Development</li>
 <li>A Technology Park for Healthcare Startups <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/a-technology-park-for-healthcare-startups-created-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Created</a> in Moscow</li>
 <li>Moscow <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-names-top-ai-services-used-in-the-citys-healthcare-system/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Names</a> Top AI Services Used in the City's Healthcare System</li>
 <li>Startup BaseTrack <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/startup-basetrack-plans-to-launch-commercial-driverless-cargo-transportation-in-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Plans </a>to Launch Commercial Driverless Cargo Transportation in 2021</li>
</ul>

 
 

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 GOV AGENDA
 Russian Citizens<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-citizens-to-get-mortgages-through-blockchain-based-platform/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> to Get</a> Mortgages through Blockchain-based Platform 
 Bank of Russia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/bank-of-russia-to-test-digital-ruble-from-january-2022/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Test </a>Digital Ruble from January 2022
 Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-ministry-of-finance-and-the-central-bank-present-strategy-for-financial-market-development-through-2030/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Present </a>Strategy for Financial Market Development through 2030
 Russia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-approves-a-standard-in-the-field-of-digital-twins/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Approves </a>a Standard in the Field of Digital Twins
 IT Companies<a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-it-companies-to-develop-an-open-source-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> to Develop</a> An Open Source Strategy
 </div>
 
 

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

<hr />
<h2>
 INVESTMENT DEALS&nbsp;
</h2>

<ul>
 <li>CIAN <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/cian-heads-for-an-ipo-this-fall/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Heads </a>for an IPO this Fall</li>
 <li>MTS <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-buys-out-sistema-capital-management-company/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buys</a> Out Sistema Capital Management Company</li>
 <li>Delivery Service Chefmarket <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/delivery-service-chefmarket-attracted-investments-from-hellofresh/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raises </a>Investments from HelloFresh</li>
 <li>Softline <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/softline-buys-squalios-licensing-business" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buys </a>Squalio's Licensing Business</li>
 <li>Veon <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/veon-sells-tower-assets-in-russia-to-service-telecom-for-1-billion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sells </a>Tower Assets in Russia to Service-Telecom for $1 Billion</li>
</ul>

 
 

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

 
 ML with a Human Face: Can Interfaces Make Machine Learning Accessible? 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mlgui/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/4e71c327-fde7-566f-91be-5fdae8abefcd.png">
 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source: Unsplash
 

 
 

 
 Recently, the popularity and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into various business processes has been actively growing. However, the use of AI in business processes is accompanied by a rather significant stop factor: in order to effectively use ML algorithms to solve problems, you need to be a specialist in ML and AI.

 
 Is the field of AI on the verge of a tipping point, when, thanks to such specialized interfaces, ML will in fact become a publicly available tool that does not require deep specialized knowledge? ICT.Moscow discussed this issue with the lead author of a scientific article on transfer learning from Cornell University Swati Mishra, with Russian ML-developers from Yandex, Sberbank, consulting company GlowByte, among others.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mlgui/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">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/overview-of-virus-activity-in-july-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DR.WEB</a>: Overview of virus activity in July 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 In Q2 of 2021, after a prolonged decline, the share of spam in global mail traffic started to grow again and averaged 46.56%. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/russian-online-cinema-market-results-of-the-first-half-of-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TMT CONSULTING</a>: Russian online cinema market. The first half of 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 A study of the Russian VoD market 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/top-15-digital-industrial-technologies/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HSE</a>: Top 15 digital industrial technologies  →</li>
</ul>

 
 Based on big data analyses, researchers identified the most significant digital technologies that are already used in Russian and global manufacturing industry. 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/deeptech-outlook-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">PSYTECH VENTURES</a>: DeepTech Outlook 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 Top 10 sectors for investment in deeptech 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/attitudes-of-russians-towards-ai-in-medicine/" style="" target="_blank">SUPERJOB:</a> Attitudes of Russians towards AI in medicine →</li>
</ul>

 
 According to the recent study, 44% of Russians don’t trust AI in medical diagnosis and treatment 

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

<hr />
<h2>
 KEY ACTORS
</h2>

 
 discover people who stand behind the innovative companies and projects in Moscow

 
 Evgeny Novikov, Adviser to the Deputy Head of Moscow Department of Information Technologies | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/evgeny.novikov.142" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook </a>

 
 Vyacheslav Shulenin, CEO of ANO "Moscow Center for Innovative Technologies in Health Care" | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/vvshulenin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook </a>

 
 Andrey Vavilin, CEO of BaseTrack | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrey-vavilin-8228ab7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn </a>

 
 

<hr />
<h2>
 MORE
</h2>

 
 <a href="https://www.mobileworldlive.com/mobile360eurasia" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Video</a> from the GSMA’s International conference Mobile 360 Eurasia, held on September 14-15, 2021. Eurasia’s brightest thinkers to explore the region’s most pressing challenges across FinTech, Value Creation, 5G, and Digital Resilience. Below is the video recording of the live stream, where lead experts discuss such topics as data-driven society, AI, UrbanTech, and others.

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://www.mobileworldlive.com/mobile360eurasia">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/6dee4dc5-0874-5adb-80cf-24a866eb0f2d.png">
 </a>
 </div>

 
 <a href="https://www.mobileworldlive.com/mobile360eurasia" style="" target="_blank">Watch video →</a>

 
 

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

Tech in Moscow #29

ML developers on the role of machine learning interfaces in technology accessibility to non-specialists

ML with a Human Face: Can Interfaces Make Machine Learning Accessible?

Top tech stories from August 23 – September 3

 
 

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

 
 Main news about Moscow's projects, developers, technologies

 
 

 
 Face Pay to be Implemented on all Moscow Metro Stations on October 15 

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-citizens-can-submit-their-biometric-data-directly-via-app-from-october-1/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/1c0bac15-894f-5d2b-81c2-9474db9c94b2.png">
 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source: Moscow Transport Department&nbsp;
 

 
 

 
 Starting from September 15, Moscow city authorities plan to double the number of Moscow Metro stations with Face Pay system and by October 15 the system should work on all stations.

 
 As for the beginning of September, 15 thousand people have already submitted their biometric data. The system allows writing off funds from a bank card account, as well as from the Troika electronic card. The turnstiles that support the new technology are marked with a round black sticker on the floor.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-citizens-can-submit-their-biometric-data-directly-via-app-from-october-1/" target="_blank">Read more →</a>

<hr />
 
 Other stories:

<ul>
 <li>NtechLab’s Facial Recognition System <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-facial-recognition-system-launched-on-indian-railways/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Launched </a>on Indian Railways</li>
 <li>Moscow Biometric System Face Pay <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-face-pay-biometric-system-reaches-techfest-finals/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Reaches </a>TechFest Finals</li>
 <li>Avant Space <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/avant-space-to-launch-a-solution-for-adverising-from-satellites/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Launch</a> a Solution for Advertising from Satellites</li>
 <li>MTUCI <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mtuci-to-launch-a-research-project-on-implementing-6g-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Preparing </a>a Research Project on Implementing 6G in Russia</li>
 <li>Moscow <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-department-of-transport-introduces-samsung-pay-to-troika/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Integrates </a>Samsung Pay with Troika Virtual Fare Card</li>
</ul>

 
 

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 GOV AGENDA
 Russia <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-to-create-a-unified-digital-platform-for-science/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Create</a> a Unified Digital Platform for Science
 Market Players <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/market-players-speak-on-the-upcoming-roadmap-for-digital-platforms-and-ecosystems-regulation/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Speak </a>on the Upcoming Regulatory Document for Digital Platforms and Ecosystems
 Government <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/government-approves-a-roadmap-for-electric-transport-development-in-russia-through-2030/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Presents </a>a Roadmap for the Development of Electric Transport and End-to-End Technologies
 </div>
 
 

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

<hr />
<h2>
 INVESTMENT DEALS&nbsp;
</h2>

<ul>
 <li>Yandex <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-to-acquire-ubers-interest-in-foodtech-delivery-and-self-driving-businesses/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">to Acquire</a> Uber’s Interest in FoodTech, Delivery and Self-Driving Businesses</li>
 <li>Sberbank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-might-bring-part-of-its-ecosystem-to-ipo-in-2023/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Might Bring</a> Part of its Ecosystem to IPO in 2023</li>
 <li>Delivery Service Dostavista <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/delivery-service-dostavista-raises-35-million-rebrands-to-borzo/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raises </a>$35 Million, Rebrands to Borzo</li>
 <li>MegaFon <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/megafon-estimates-its-share-in-aliexpress-at-1-6-billion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Estimates </a>its Share in AliExpress Russia at $1.6 Billion</li>
</ul>

 
 

<hr />
<h2>
 OPINION
</h2>

 
 What Russian AI industry has to offer the world?

 <div>
 <a class="image_link" target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/what-russian-ai-industry-has-to-offer-the-world/">
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/8a027778-682c-5d0f-92a4-c9ac4a7500cb.png">
 </a>
 </div>
 
 Source: Yandex
 

 
 

 
 Despite the industry’s heavy reliance on government support, Russian AI-based companies manage to come up with some of the leading solutions on a global scale. The problem is, oftentimes those solutions are not visible on the world AI map.

 
 ICT.Moscow discussed the specifics of the industry with a lead expert, a chief analyst at the MIPT Center for Artificial Intelligence Igor Pivovarov. He shared some of his insights on how foreign actors view AI in Russia, talked about the problems of the industry, the impact of the pandemic on the demand for technologies, and Russia’s entry into international markets. 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/what-russian-ai-industry-has-to-offer-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">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/spam-and-phishing-in-q2-of-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">KASPERSKY LAB</a>: Spam and phishing in Q2 of 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 in Q2 of 2021, after a prolonged decline, the share of spam in global mail traffic started to grow again and averaged 46.56%.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/the-largest-integrators-of-industrial-robots-in-russia-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TADVISER</a>: The largest integrators of industrial robots in Russia 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 Data from 72 Russian integrators were obtained and assessed for the survey of the largest Russian integrators of industrial robots.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/map-of-the-russian-arttech-market/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">RUSBASE</a>: Map of the Russian ArtTech-market →</li>
</ul>

 
 Based on big data analyses, researchers identified the most significant digital technologies that are already used in Russian and global manufacturing industry.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/russian-public-opinion-research-center-vtsiom-popularity-of-online-medicine-purchases-in-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">VCIOM</a>: Online medicine purchases in Russia →</li>
</ul>

 
 The study is designed to analyze transport systems in 25 cities of the world and to benchmark critical aspects of their performance that have the most effect on city residents’ transport needs and quality of life.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/ranking-of-edtech-companies-in-russia-at-the-end-of-q2-of-2021/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SMART RANKING</a>: Top EdTech companies in Russia at the end of Q2 of 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 Smart Ranking has compiled a ranking of the largest EdTech companies in Russia.

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

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

 
 a showcase of some AI-based solutions using biometric data 

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/face-pay/" target="_blank">Face Pay</a></li>
</ul>

 
 Metro fare payment service.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/luna-platform/" target="_blank">LUNA Platform</a></li>
</ul>

 
 System of data management and person verification and indentification.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/findface-multi/" target="_blank">FindFace Multi</a></li>
</ul>

 
 A multi-object video analytics platform that allows recognizing faces and silhouettes of people, cars, and license plates in the video stream.

 
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/search/?searchText=blockchain&category=card" target="_blank">More solutions →</a>

<hr />
<h2>
 KEY ACTORS
</h2>

 
 discover people who stand behind the innovative companies and projects in Moscow

 
 Igor Pivovarov, chief analyst at the MIPT Center for Artificial Intelligence | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/igorpivovarov/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>

 
 Daniil Shuleyko, head of E-Commerce and Ridetech group of Yandex | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniil-syleiko-b183b254/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>

 
 Mike Alexandrovski, founder and CEO of Borzo (fromer Dostavista) | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-alexandrovski-ab37551/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>

 
 Alexander Malinin, Technical Director of Avant Space | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005029988267" target="_blank">Facebook</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 August 23 – September 3

Tech in Moscow #28

In May, the American organization CNA (Center For Naval Analyses) <a href="https://www.cna.org/CNA_files/centers/CNA/sppp/rsp/russia-ai/Russia-Artificial-Intelligence-Autonomy-Putin-Military.pdf" target="_blank">published </a>a report "Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy in Russia", which provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of civilian and military artificial intelligence in Russia.

 
 ICT.Moscow discussed the report and the specifics of the industry with a lead expert <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/igorpivovarov" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Igor Pivovarov</a>, chief analyst at the MIPT Center for Artificial Intelligence, creator of analytical report "<a href="https://aireport.ru/en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Almanac Artificial Intelligence</a>", organizer of the OpenTalks.AI conference, researcher and entrepreneur. He shared his insight on how foreign actors view AI in Russia, talked about the problems of this industry and possible ways to overcome them, the impact of the pandemic on the demand for technologies and the entry of Russian AI into foreign markets. Full interview in Russian is <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/interview-pivovarov/" target="_blank">available </a>at ICT.Moscow.

 
 

 
 WHAT THE CNA REPORT OVERLOOKED

 
 The study more or less clearly and accurately describes the state of affairs in Russia. Among the essential factors, the authors point out insufficient funding. They also note that in Russia the state is a major actor in the field of AI. I disagree with this point in particular, but they are right that some state-owned companies play a big role. Globally, the market is a driving force for AI technologies, because it is a matter of competition between companies, as well as their survival and business profitability. In Russia, the market is much less competitive.

 
 On the other hand, they did not write at all about Yandex, which in my opinion is the number one company in AI, a trendsetter and a global leader in certain technological areas. The authors conclude that the main dynamics and vectors of development in AI are set by large state-owned companies, primarily Sberbank. Yes, Sberbank is a key driver in AI regulation, but we also have a lot of private companies that are engaged in and apply these technologies. All that was largely overlooked. AI EDUCATION IN RUSSIA

 
 Another roadblock that the report touches upon is the brain drain. Russia holds high standards for education, but we don't know how to keep specialists from leaving the country. I was involved in the development of the national AI strategy and If I were to decide where to spend all the money, I would spend everything on education. I realized that education is Russia's key strategic advantage, but its potential hasn’t been achieved yet.

 
 In Russia, we have a fundamentally different educational system as compared to those in the West. Ours was built this way because of the state-planned economy we had in the past, which distributed a specific number of physicists, engineers, nuclear scientists, etc., annually. It turns out that we are initially stronger in fundamental education, but we lose in terms of the speed of adjusting today's educational programs to present-day needs

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 According to the new<a href="https://pages.coursera-for-business.org/rs/748-MIV-116/images/coursera-global-skills-report-2021.pdf" target="_blank"> Global Skills Report 2021</a> made by the educational online platform Coursera, Russia ranks 9th in the world in terms of competencies in business, technology and data science. Russian specialists demonstrate exceptionally high results in the field of computer programming, working with databases and web development. Last year, Russia was the country with the highest level of technology skills.  
 </div>
 
 

<div>
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/35bc769e-fd3b-5627-bfb9-bab89b29b6aa.png">
</div>
 
 Coursera
 

 
 

 
 RUSSIA ON THE AI WORLD MAP

 
 I'm afraid there are two reasons why Russian AI startups aren't considerably visible abroad. First of all, objectively, Russia isn’t up front in this field. The AI ​​market here in 2019 was estimated at 291.5 billion rubles ($3.8 billion), which is approximately 2% of the world market. There are around 500 companies on the Russian AI map, and about 250 of them are startups, compared to about 5,000 AI startups in the world.

 
 There is one more thing. Historically, Russian science mostly dealt with fundamental things, which often don’t even have any applied value. One of the most cited Russians in AI is Dmitry Vetrov. His <a href="https://bayesgroup.ru/about/" target="_blank">team </a>is engaged in deep mathematics in the field of neural networks. They make Bayesian ensembles, and they are broadly cited in academia. The media won’t cover their accomplishments, because they are doing something that lies much deeper than practical application. In the future, based on their results, developers will make neural networks with practical applications. In this sense, I have high hopes for our businesses. Yandex can offer a lot of great things for the media to write about.

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 AI Venture Labs 2020 map with AI solutions against COVID-19 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/top-100-ai-startups-companies-at-war-against-covid-19/" target="_blank">shows </a>three startups out of 100 having Russian roots.  
 </div>
<div>
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/4d2ac114-acff-5e6a-88d2-b5bd0b67d3ca.png">
</div>
 
 AI Venture Labs
 

 
 

 
 WHAT CHANGED AFTER THE PANDEMIC

 
 We have not yet published the data on the growth of the AI market in 2020, but over the year the market has grown significantly, both in Russia and abroad, precisely because of COVID-19. The pandemic has pushed mainly online services, and AI was a key factor. It has had an impact on healthcare, diagnostics as machine learning helps to classify images and react to them faster, predict what will happen next and shape the situation. In this sense, AI turned out to be in great demand, although it seems to me that it still has difficulties finding its way into healthcare. The medical community is too cautious and has very tough regulators.

 
 

 
 AI IN HEALTHCARE 

 
 There are three big problems with AI in healthcare in Russia. One of them is data, which is complex, unstructured, erroneous, and personal. Everything is complicated there. Another big problem is certification. It is not very clear how to certify something that does not have a clear order of action or an algorithm. In Covid times, everyone simply had to close their eyes on this in order to get the result. In peacetime, the problem takes years to be solved.

 
 The third problem is specific to Russia and generally very complex, which most of our companies have not even reached yet, but will soon: the payment problem. In this country, as in the rest of the world, everything is paid for through healthcare insurance, or compulsory medical insurance, in particular. The introduction of a new product for healthcare payment is always a difficult thing. The rest of the world at least knows how to deal with it, but in Russia, no one really knows. In this regard, I would say that the market is, in fact, too dependent on state policies. Something needs to be done to enable private companies to develop, while the state should become a transparent, fast and reliable buyer of services.

 
 

 
 GLOBAL THINKING

 
 Many Russian companies understand the need to become international, but selling abroad is not easy. To do this, you need to make a product that is competitive internationally, and for this, you need a general understanding of how to make such products. Overall, we have cases, we know that it’s possible. For example, we have the Prisma app that became quite popular globally. So, Russians are able to make good world-class products.

 
 There’s also a certain psychological factor, not only in Russia but all over the world. The Chinese look at China first, the Americans look at America. Only rare countries such as Israel understand that there is no one to sell to domestically. In Russia, people look at the Russian market primarily.

 
 

 
 MAKING RUSSIAN STARTUPS VISIBLE

 
 I do not see any particular difficulties for Russian companies to enter the international market. On the other hand, today's world is highly politicized, and, conventionally, when Huawei sells its cloud all over the world, people view it politically. I know for a fact that some of the biggest, high-profile international companies use Russian solutions, but they don't really want to be public about it, since, apparently, this carries certain political risks for them. It’s quite possible that there are much more of such cases than we know of.

 
 Grigory Sapunov's company Intento is a good example of an international company. It’s an American startup made by Russians, an aggregator of cloud APIs. It offers customers its API and internally mounts it on the API of different clouds. Intento shows exceptional growth in America, and its service is popular among big companies. So we can see positive cases and let's hope there will be more of them every year.

<hr />
 
 See ICT.Moscow's special project <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/projects/ai/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AI IN RUSSIA</a> to get more information on the topic: cases of implementation, market overview, open datasets.

An interview with a lead AI expert in Russia Igor Pivovarov 

What Russian AI industry has to offer the world?

Past week’s top tech stories from Moscow

 
 

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

<div>
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/bfee9cae-9018-5505-93cf-2552fbc5d0d6.png">
</div>
 
 Source:&nbsp;Wikipedia
 

 
 

<ul>
 <li>McKinsey <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mckinsey-names-moscows-transport-system-worlds-most-efficient/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Names </a>Moscow’s Transport System World’s Most Efficient</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Moscow Metro App to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-transport-app-to-add-payment-with-facial-recognition/" target="_blank">Add</a> Payment with Facial Recognition</li>
 <li>Goldman Sachs <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/goldman-sachs-values-sberbanks-non-financial-ecosystem-at-17-6-billion/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Values </a>Sberbank’s Non-Financial Ecosystem at $17.6 billion</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Russian Radio Research Institute (NIIR) to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russia-to-test-5g-on-6-7-6-8-ghz-band/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Test</a> 5G on 6.7-6.8 GHz Band</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>T1 Group, VTB and Huawei to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/t1-group-vtb-and-huawei-to-launch-a-fintech-jv-in-moscow/" target="_blank">Launch</a> a FinTech JV in Moscow</li>
 <li>New IT Platform for Telemedicine to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/new-it-platform-for-telemedicine-to-launch-in-moscow/" target="_blank">Launch</a> in Moscow </li>
</ul>

 
 

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 GOV AGENDA
 Russian Regulator <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-regulator-proposes-collecting-biometric-data-from-taxi-drivers-and-car-sharing-users/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Proposes </a>Collecting Biometric Data from Taxi Drivers and Car-Sharing Users
 Russian Supplier Portal <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-supplier-portal-added-to-g20s-list-of-innovative-procurement-practices/" target="_blank">Added</a> to G20’s List of Innovative Procurement Practices
 </div>
 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/" target="_blank">More news →</a>

<hr />
<h2>
 INVESTMENT DEALS&nbsp;
</h2>

<ul>
 <li>15 Moscow Startups <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/15-moscow-startups-raise-7-9-ml-for-scaling/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raise</a> $7.9 ml for Scaling</li>
 <li>Mail.ru Group to <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mail-ru-group-to-invest-60-ml-in-aliexpress-russia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Invest</a> $60 ml in AliExpress Russia</li>
 <li>Sberbank <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/sberbank-buys-jivo-communication-platform/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Buys </a>Customer Service Platform Jivo</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>AI Startup ZeBrains <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/ai-startup-zebrains-raises-1-ml/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Raises </a>$1 ml</li>
</ul>

<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/voice-ai-in-russia-2020-2025/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">JUST AI</a>: Voice AI in Russia 2020-2025 →</li>
</ul>

 
 An overview of voice AI market in Russia, which is expected to reach $120 million in 2021.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/top-russian-federation-predictive-analytics-startups/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">STARTUP PILL</a>: Russia’s 11 Best Predictive Analytics Startups of 2021 →</li>
</ul>

 
 Best startups that take a variety of approaches to innovating the Predictive Analytics industry.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/top-15-digital-solutions-in-manufacturing-industry/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HSE</a>: Top 15 Digital Solutions in Manufacturing Industry →</li>
</ul>

 
 Based on big data analyses, researchers identified the most significant digital technologies that are already used in Russian and global manufacturing industry.

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/urban-transportation-systems-of-25-global-cities/" target="_blank">MCKINSEY: Urban transportation systems of 25 global cities →</a></li>
</ul>

 
 The study is designed to analyze transport systems in 25 cities of the world and to benchmark critical aspects of their performance that have the most effect on city residents’ transport needs and quality of life.

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

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

 
 a showcase of some Moscow-based emerging startups 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/intelligent-university/" target="_blank">Intelligent University</a>

 
 Online learning platform for up-to-date fields of study: environment, new media, entrepreneurship, soft skills, science and technology, art and culture

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/icowork/" target="_blank">ICowork</a>

 
 An online service that allows to choose, book and pay for the rental of a workplace in Moscow

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/saleschain/" target="_blank">SalesChain</a>

 
 A cryptocurrency platform for working with banks and leasing companies

 
 

 
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/search/?searchText=blockchain&category=card" target="_blank">More solutions →</a>

<hr />
<h2>
 MOSCOW IT: KEY ACTORS
</h2>

 
 discover people who stand behind the innovative companies and projects in Moscow

 
 Sergey Solovyov, CEO of T1 Group | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergey-solovyev-67146b1b/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>

 
 Ruslan Fazlyev, founder and CEO of Ecwid | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aznakai" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>

 
 Timur Valishev, CEO of Jivo | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/timur.valishev" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>

 
 Denis Shvetsov, CEO of Doctor Ryadom | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/denis.shvetsov.56/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>

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

The weekly observer of Moscow's tech stories

Tech in Moscow #27 (9 August - 13 August 2021)

According to McKinsey’s “Urban Transportation Systems of 25 Global Cities” report, Moscow is ranked first for its transport efficiency, with Shenzhen, and Singapore behind. Russia’s capital city has high public-transport efficiency, ranking first in the subcategory as well.

 
 Analysts highly regarded the level of electronic transport services in Moscow, including the development of transport mobile applications and the availability of Wi-Fi. According to this indicator, the Russian capital ranks third, behind only Madrid and Hong Kong.

 
 The Russian capital has secured a top ranking in improvement in several subgroups, including rail transport (where it ranks fifth), shared transport (sixth), and external connectivity (first). In addition, the city was ranked sixth in transport availability index and the second among the leading cities with top improvements in transport availability.

 
 Since 2018, Moscow has implemented several large-scale projects designed to upgrade its airport infrastructure. For example, Domodedovo has become Russia’s first airport to deploy baggage storage robotization systems and automated turnstiles; the air haven is currently testing a face recognition system.

 
 McKinsey’s “Urban Transportation Systems of 25 global cities” selected 25 cities for global ranking using five separate metrics: "availability", "affordability", "efficiency", "convenience", as well as "safety and sustainable development". In order to be included in the report, the population of the city must exceed five million people, with GRP per capita more than $10,000 and the number of cars more than 150 per 1,000 people.

<hr />
 
 Read McKinsey’s “<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/operations/our%20insights/building%20a%20transport%20system%20that%20works%20new%20charts%20five%20insights%20from%20our%2025%20city%20report%20new/elements-of-success-urban-transportation-systems-of-25-global-cities-july-2021.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Urban Transportation Systems of 25 Global Cities</a>” report online

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 In November 2020, Moscow authorities <a href="https://transport.mos.ru/en/news/104216" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> plans to launch a MaaS-platform (Mobility-as-a-Service) in the city. It will combine all city and several private transport services. To learn more, read ICT.Moscow's <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/maas-in-global/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">insight</a> on the prospects of MaaS in global cities.

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 McKinsey&nbsp;
 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/ru/news/mckinsey-nazvala-transportnuiu-sistemu-moskvy-samoi-effektivnoi-v-mire" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian) </a>