Beeline plans to enter the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO)market. This was reported by Vedomosti with reference to the statement of employees of two communication companies. The project will be a new separate business area and will be similar to the MVNO factory that has been operating in Tele2 since 2016.

 
 Beeline's official representative did not deny the plans for the development of the MVNO business. He noted that the company is ready to consider interesting partnership proposals in this area. Market participants associate Beeline's interest in MVNO with an attempt to stabilize and expand the dwindling subscriber base. 

 
 Currently, more than 20 virtual operators operate on the Tele2 network, serving 2.8 million subscribers by the end of 2020.

 
 According to TMT Consulting estimates, in 2020 the total number of MVNO users in Russia exceeded 11 million, which is about 4% of the total number of mobile users.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/bilain-vykhodit-na-rynok-uslug-dlia-virtualnykh-operatorov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Vedomosti

Beeline enters the mobile virtual network operator market

The State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GRFC) plans to allocate additional frequencies in the ranges 301.125-305.825 MHz, 337.125-341.825 MHz, 343-344 MHz and 390-394 MHz for the Internet of Things. This is stated in the materials for the GRFC meeting. 

 
 According to Izvestia, the frequency resource is allocated for 10 years to an indefinite circle of people. However, only those who will deploy IoT networks on equipment of domestic origin, included in the unified register of Russian radio-electronic products, will be able to use it. 

 
 The explanatory note to the materials of the GRFC notes that today there is a tendency to deploy mobile radio communication networks in the lower radio frequency bands (LTE-450 / LTE-420 / LTE-350 networks), therefore it is advisable to consider the possibility of allocating a radio frequency resource in the 300-400 MHz band and networks the Internet of Things. 

 
 The Ministry of Digital Development confirmed to Izvestia the information about the intention to consider this issue at the next meeting of the GRFC. 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/goskomissiia-po-radiochastotam-vydelit-dopolnitelnye-chastoty-dlia-interneta-veshchei/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Izvestia

State Commission on Radio Frequencies will allocate additional frequencies for the Internet of Things

As part of the second package of measures to support the IT industry, the government proposes to oblige companies to switch only to Russian Internet of Things (IoT) equipment for collecting data on housing and communal services, fire and environmental safety. 

 
 The corresponding bill and government decree should be developed by the Ministry of Digital Development with the participation of the Ministry of Economic Development by September. It is also proposed to prepare a legislative basis for the creation of Russian state information systems (GIS) for monitoring the weather, the environmental situation at especially hazardous facilities, as well as controlling the consumption of utilities by budgetary organizations. These solutions should also be based only on Russian IoT technologies. 

 
 According to the deputy prime minister's representative, the main argument for including the proposal in the support package was the high degree of readiness of the domestic market of IoT solutions manufacturers.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/pravitelstvo-predlozhilo-dlia-sbora-dannykh-v-zhkkh-ispolzovat-tolko-otechestvennoe-iot-oborudovanie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kommersant

The government proposed to use only domestic IoT equipment to collect data on housing and communal services

The Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) invests 5 million rubles (equivalent to $67 thousand) in <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/flomly/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Flomly</a>, developer of a sales management service in unorganized retail for distributors and manufacturers . The startup will use the funds received to promote the service in the Russian regions.

 
 Flomly was founded in 2019. The startup uses its own text analysis algorithm to work with big data and works on a subscription basis. Clients of the service, according to the company's own data, are 10 major manufacturers and distributors, including Unilever, Valio and Splat. 

 
 Contacts:

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alex.gr1n" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexey Grinenko</a>, IIDF Investment Manager

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/frii-investiruet-5-mln-rub-v-servis-upravleniia-prodazhami-v-nesetevoi-roznitse-flomly/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian</a>)

CNews

IIDF invests $67 thousand in non-network retail sales management service Flomly

Beeline is negotiating the purchase of the Moscow OTM group, which owns a technology platform for the automation and planning of online advertising purchases. This was reported by Vedomosti with reference to a source in the media agency working with the platform. 

 
 OTM confirmed to the publication that the deal is in its final stage, Beeline is interested in acquiring "more than 51%" in the company. According to the source of Vedomosti, the head structure of the operator - Veon - has already applied to the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia (FAS) for approval of the transaction.&nbsp; 

 
 The OTM platform allows programmatic advertising on mobile devices and stationary computers. To target ads, OTM uses big data tools collected from various sources.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/bilain-planiruet-priobresti-reklamno-tekhnologicheskuiu-platformu-otm/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Beeline plans to acquire OTM advertising and technology platform

Cybersecurity company Positive Technologies plans to place about 10% of its shares on the Moscow Stock Exchange, which may correspond to $200-300 million, if by the end of 2021 the company's value is $2-4 billion, Kommersant reports citing a market source.

 
 According to Kommersant, the company is counting on the active participation of individuals in the IPO. Positive Technologies primarily considers investors from the IT sector as its target audience. Such investors have already shown interest in the company when, in July 2020, it issued bonds on the Moscow Exchange for 500 million rubles with a circulation period of three years. Now their yield, according to the source, is about 9.5%.

 
 Positive Technologies is also looking for a public relations specialist whose tasks will include "participation in a project to prepare a company for an IPO." However, the company itself does not comment on the upcoming placement, the newspaper writes.

 
 At the end of 2020, Positive Technologies' revenue <a href="https://www.ptsecurity.com/ru-ru/about/news/vyruchka-positive-technologies-po-itogam-2020-goda-vyrosla-na-55/?sphrase_id=84117" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">amounted</a> to 5.6 billion rubles, which is 55% higher than a year earlier.

 
 Contacts:

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004451013618" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Maxim Filippov</a>, director of business development at Positive Technologies in Russia

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/positive-technologies-planiruet-provesti-ipo-na-moskovskoi-birzhe/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Positive Technologies plans to hold an IPO on the Moscow Exchange

The Russian government has identified the first seven projects for which an experimental digital innovation legal regime can be used. The corresponding bill was submitted to the State Duma on the evening of March 15.

 
 Exceptions to the legislation are proposed to be introduced for the following projects:

<ul>
 <li>provision of medical care using telemedicine (MTS)</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>remote conclusion of contracts for the provision of communication services using biometric technologies (MTS)</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>commercial use of unmanned ground vehicles (Yandex)</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>service of cargo transportation using unmanned aerial vehicles, providing delivery of goods from 0.1 kg to 500 kg (fpi.gov.ru);</li>
 <li>introduction of medical decision support systems using artificial intelligence technologies (National Medical Knowledge Base association);&nbsp;</li>
 <li>service for small and medium-sized businesses for the selection of optimal areas and places of activity based on big data (Big Data Association);&nbsp;</li>
 <li>research of routine clinical practice based on anonymized data from electronic medical records (Data Matrix LLC)&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

 
 The Experimental Digital Innovation Legal Regimes Act <a href="https://www.economy.gov.ru/material/directions/gosudarstvennoe_upravlenie/normativnoe_regulirovanie_cifrovoy_sredy/eksperimentalnye_pravovye_rezhimy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">entered into force</a> on January 28. It involves testing a range of IT technologies in different industries.

 
 <a href="https://sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/1129501-7" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Draft Federal Law No. 1129501-7</a>

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/pravitelstvo-predstavilo-sem-proektov-dlia-reguliatornykh-pesochnits/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

duma.gov.ru

Russian government has presented seven projects for regulatory sandboxes

The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation plans to provide AI developers in the healthcare sector (companies that develop solutions based on artificial intelligence for diagnosing diseases, predicting their course, as well as the epidemiological situation) with access to anonymized medical data of citizens.&nbsp; 

 
 It is planned to collect medical data of Russians in a unified state information system in the field of health care, supervised by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. According to the passport of the federal project, by the end of 2020, 82% of medical organisations in the country should have already been connected to this system. For developers to access anonymized data of citizens, a special repository of medical images and electronic medical records will be created. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexey.vyskrebentsev" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexey Vyskrebentsev</a>, head of Foresight's presale practice, notes that this initiative may run into problems, since many private clinics are not connected to GIS and cannot ship patients' medical data.

The initiative is currently being considered in the office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko. It will be discussed among the support measures for the IT industry at a meeting to be held this Thursday.  

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mintsifry-planiruet-otkryt-ii-razrabotchikam-dostup-k-obezlichennym-meditsinskim-dannym-grazhdan/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

The Ministry of Digital Development plans to open access to anonymized medical data of citizens for AI developers

First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Belousov approved a set of measures developed by the Ministry of Transport of Russia for testing and phased commissioning of highly automated vehicles (HAVs) on public roads without the presence of a test engineer in the cabin. The instruction to develop such a document was given by the President of Russia. 

 
 The set of measures provides for the pilot commercial operation of the fully unmanned vehices in individual constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The implementation of the measures will allow, in the period from 2021 to 2024, to create the necessary legal conditions for the introduction of&nbsp;HAVs in the transport complex. A prerequisite is ensuring the safety of road users and compliance with established rules and regulations. 

 
 When preparing the document, the positions of the federal executive authorities were taken into account - the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Federal Security Service, the Federal Security Service, the Bank of Russia, and Rosstandart. The set of measures was coordinated with industry expert associations - the Digital Transport and Logistics Association, the Russian Union of Auto Insurers, as well as organizations of the scientific and technological business community - Yandex, KAMAZ, Sberbank, GAZ Group, Gazprom Neft. 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-v-2021-godu-nachnetsia-testirovanie-bespilotnikov-bez-inzhenerov-ispytatelei-v-salone/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Testing of unmanned vehicles without test engineers in the cabin will begin in Russia in 2021

American Narwell LLC invested in BINO, service for ordering mystery shoppers and retail auditors. In total, the startup raised about $1 million, excluding the last round, <a href="https://t.me/rusven/2904" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according to</a> the Russian Venture Telegram channel. 

 
 As project co-founder <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ivan.terekhin" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ivan Terekhin</a> noted, Narwell not only invests, but also provides resources for the deployment of a sales and marketing system. For a time, the American company "will gain almost complete control over the company." In turn, the BINO startup will take over the technical development of the product and support the implementation of the platform for American clients. 

 
 The BINO service was launched in 2016. In 2017, the startup passed the Starta acceleration program in New York, and in 2018 - the joint <a href="https://vc.ru/finance/51788-sberbank-i-500-startups-vybrali-pervye-30-rossiyskih-startapov-dlya-sovmestnogo-akseleratora" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">accelerator</a> Sberbank &amp; 500 Startups. 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/moskovskii-startap-bino-privlek-investitsii-ot-amerikanskoi-narwell-llc/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Moscow startup BINO attracted investments from American Narwell LLC

Home Internet provider ER-Telecom and Nokia have signed an agreement to test 5G in the 4.8-4.9 GHz and 27 GHz bands to provide wireless broadband access services to corporate customers. 

 
 Base stations from the Airscale line will be used for the pilot project. The project will run until March 31, 2021. 

 
 <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4729375" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">According to</a> Kommersant, testing will be carried out in more than 50 experimental zones, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. The provider wants to use 5G to provide services in those territories of the country where it is impossible to lay a cable. The company also plans to create an “operator for operators" infrastructure. According to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/turedeo" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kirill Pischalnikov</a>, Technical Infrastructure Director of ER-Telecom, cellular companies will be able to connect base stations to a fiber-optic network, reducing the cost of building their own infrastructure.

 
 ER-Telecom <a href="https://iz.ru/904446/valerii-kodachigov/5g-na-provode-seti-piatogo-pokoleniia-protestiruet-novyi-igrok" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">received</a> frequencies in the ranges of 4.8-4.99 GHz and 27 GHz for testing 5G in July 2019 by the decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies. 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/er-telekom-protestiruet-5g-v-moskve-na-oborudovanii-nokia/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

ER-Telecom

ER-Telecom plans to test 5G in Moscow using Nokia equipment

MTS has launched international data roaming in the 5G standard in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp; Company's PR team told that @ICT_Moscow.

 
 High-speed mobile Internet and data transmission services in the n78 range (3.4-3.8 GHz) are available to the company's subscribers in the networks of Telia (Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark), Vodafone (Netherlands) and Etisalat (UAE). The list of countries with 5G roaming services will constantly expand, representatives of MTS promised.

 
 A week earlier, MTS, using Huawei equipment, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-launched-first-pilot-5g-network-for-consumers-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">launched</a> the country's first 5G pilot network for consumers in the 4.9 GHz band in 14 locations in Moscow.

 
 In August 2020, Tele2 launched international 5G roaming in the Sunrise network in Switzerland. Megafon offered its subscribers a similar service back in February last year, now it is available in 17 countries.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-zapustila-5g-rouming-s-semiu-stranami/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTS launches 5G roaming with seven countries

The Bank of Russia expects to present a prototype platform for the digital ruble by the end of 2021 and start testing a new form of currency in 2022,&nbsp;after finalising the solution. This was reported by the Prime agency with reference to the deputy chairman of the regulator Alexei Zabotkin.

 
 According to him, the prototype will be a technological platform, "within which it will not be possible to make real transactions yet."

 
 The Central Bank <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/tsb-izuchaet-vozmozhnost-vypuska-tsifrovogo-rublia" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">presented</a> the concept of the digital ruble in October 2020. It is assumed that this will be an additional form of the national currency, which will be issued by the Central Bank in digital form and will combine the properties of cash and non-cash rubles. 

 
 In early February, it <a href="https://iz.ru/1119685/natalia-ilina/pravlenyi-podkhod-tcifrovoi-rubl-trebuet-redaktcii-chetyrekh-zakonov-i-gk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">became known</a> that the preparation of amendments to the legislation for the introduction of the digital ruble is planned to begin in the second half of 2021.

 
 After that, telecom operators <a href="https://iz.ru/1124100/natalia-ilina/koshelek-ili-sviaz-tcifrovye-rubli-predlozhili-khranit-na-smartfonakh" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> their interest in introducing wallets for digital rubles on smart devices and in creating additional services for the third form of the national currency.

 
 <a href="https://www.cbr.ru/StaticHtml/File/112957/Consultation_Paper_201013.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Digital Ruble report by Bank of Russia (in Russian)</a>

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/tsb-planiruet-zapustit-testirovanie-tsifrovogo-rublia-v-2022-godu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

PRIME

The Central Bank plans to start testing the digital ruble in 2022

The European technology news portal Seedtable has compiled a list of the top 93 Moscow companies to watch for in 2021. The complete list is published on the website of the publication. Some of the companies included in the list: 

 
 Medicine

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/docdoc/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DocDoc</a> telemedicine service (SberHealth since 2020)</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Telemedicine platform and social network for doctors Doktor na rabote</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/botkinai/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Botkin.AI,</a> platform for diagnostics and analysis of the risks of developing diseases using AI</li>
</ul>

 
 Education

<ul>
 <li>Educational platform for the study and practice of a foreign language Lingualeo</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Skyeng Online English School</li>
</ul>

 
 FinTech

<ul>
 <li>Financial management service in the <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/talkbank/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TalkBank</a> messenger</li>
</ul>

 
 Delivery and e-commerce

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/dostavista/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dostavista</a> express courier delivery service</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Personalization platform for online stores <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/personalizaciya-sajta-retailrocket/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Retail Rocket</a></li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Online trucking service <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/groozgo/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GroozGo</a></li>
</ul>

 
 Transport

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/autospot/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AutoSpot</a>, service for finding new cars</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/alfred/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alfred</a>, cars repair and maintenance service</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li><a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/carprice/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">CarPrice</a> service for the sale of used cars through the online auction.</li>
</ul>

 
 The list also includes the leaders of the IT market, including <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Yandex" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yandex</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Tinkoff_Bank" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tinkoff Bank</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/citymobil/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Citymobil</a> and others.

 
 In mid-February, the European edition of Sifted <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/eu-startups-has-named-ifarm-as-one-of-the-10-most-promising-startups-in-finland-for-the-second-year-in-a-row/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">included</a> iFarm's automated vertical green farming project in its list of startups to watch for in 2021.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/evropeiskii-portal-seedtable-sostavil-top-93-moskovskikh-kompanii-za-kotorymi-stoit-sledit-v-2021-godu/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Seedtable

European portal Seedtable compiled the best 93 Moscow companies to follow in 2021

The State Commission for Radio Frequencies (GRFC) will consider the application of Freshtel, a subsidiary of Rostelecom, to allocate 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies for testing 5G operation in the Moscow and Kazan metro stations. This was reported by Vedomosti with reference to materials for the March meeting of the commission. The application was also confirmed by the company. 

 
 The&nbsp;3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies range is considered optimal for fifth generation networks. Rostelecom may remain the only operator that will have access to it. The decision to admit the company to testing has not yet been agreed. The conclusion of the key members of the commission for the subsequent adoption of a decision by the GRFC was not received.

 
 According to the representative of Rostelecom <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010602767878" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Valery Kostarev</a>, now the Russian business is under the threat of loss of competitiveness, since all over the world 5G networks are already being launched into commercial operation, and in Russia they are not expected until 2024. Kostarev explained that polygons and experimental zones are needed in places where interference with other communication networks is impossible, for example, in the metro. 

 
 On March 5, MTS, using Huawei equipment, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-launched-first-pilot-5g-network-for-consumers-in-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">launched</a> the first in Russia 5G pilot network for consumers in the 4.9 GHz band in 14 locations in Moscow.

 
 Today it was <a href="https://www.vedomosti.ru/technology/articles/2021/03/08/860613-mts-sotovie" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that MTS may move its cell towers to a separate company. According to experts, in connection with the preparations for 5G, the emergence of inter-operator alliances and the creation of joint ventures to use the communications infrastructure is not excluded.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rostelekom-mozhet-poluchit-chastoty-3-4-3-8-ggts-dlia-testirovaniia-5g-v-metro-moskvy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Rostelecom may receive 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies for 5G testing in the Moscow metro

MTS, using Huawei equipment, has launched the country's first 5G user pilot network in the 4.9 GHz band in 14 locations in Moscow. The company's subscribers using 5G-compatible smartphones will be able to connect to 5G Internet at speeds up to 1.5 Gbps, according to company's press release.&nbsp;

 
 However, independent connection to pilot zones is not yet available for a wide range of users. MTS clarifies that the selection of participants in the pilot project using smartphones with support for the n79 range will be carried out automatically based on an impersonal analysis of data on their movement, proximity to pilot locations, service consumption profile and Internet traffic. Such subscribers will receive an SMS with an invitation to connect to the pilot network. The use of data traffic in the pilot network will not be charged and limited in volume and speed. 

 
 Representatives of MTS said that the number of 5G zones and coverage will increase over time, but the terms of expansion are not specified.

 
 The 5G pilot network is currently available in the following locations:

<ul>
 <li>Nikolsky passage, Vetoshny lane;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Lubyanskaya square, Bolshaya Lubyanka street, Central Children's Store;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Nikolskaya street, St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya hotel;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Bolshaya Dmitrovka street, Teatralny proezd, Kuznetsky Most, Central Department Store, Petrovsky Passage;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Moskvoretskaya embankment, Bolshoi Moskvoretsky bridge, Zaryadye Park, Raushskaya embankment;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Novopushkinsky Square, Tverskoy Boulevard, Moscow Art Theater;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Gorky part,&nbsp; Muzeon park of arts, Crimean bridge, Frunzenskaya and Prechistenskaya embankments;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Presnenskaya and Krasnopresnenskaya embankments near Moscow-City, T. Shevchenko embankment and Kutuzovsky prospect near the Bagration bridge;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>University square near the building of Moscow State University;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Observation deck on Sparrow Hills, Trinity Church, Skypark attractions;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Khodynsky Boulevard, Khodynskoye Pole park;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Dream Island entertainment center;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Main alley and skating rink of VDNH;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Skolkovo innovation center near Malevich street.</li>
</ul>

 
 <a href="https://5g.mts.ru/karta" target="_blank">Map of pilot zones</a>

 
 At the end of February, MTS, together with Skoltech, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mts-and-skoltech-deployed-a-5g-pilot-zone-for-the-international-medical-cluster/" target="_blank">expanded</a> the 5G coverage in Skolkovo, deploying a pilot network for the International Medical Cluster (MMK). At the first stage, a round-the-clock HD video surveillance service for construction work using video cameras will be implemented over 5G network. After that, indoor 5G coverage will be deployed in the premises of the MMK for the implementation of various services and cases in the field of telemedicine.

 
 Contacts:

 
 <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100036820224268" target="_blank">Alexey Kornya</a>, President of MTS 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-zapustila-v-moskve-pervuiu-pilotnuiu-polzovatelskuiu-set-5g/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTS launched first pilot 5G network for consumers in Moscow

Russian engineers from ID East, together with doctors from City Clinical Hospital No. 40 (infectious diseases hospital in Kommunarka), have developed <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/respiro/" target="_blank">Respiro</a> acoustic screening system for respiratory diseases, which uses AI and machine learning to identify COVID-19 infection by the patient’s coughing.

 
 The coughing is recorded on the microphone of a smartphone or a computer, after which the neural network analyzes the sound from the spectrogram and gives the result. Unlike the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which gives a false negative result in 30-40% of cases, Respiro’s accuracy is more than 90% and the system is effective even in asymptomatic cases, the developers say. AI algorithms have been trained on audio recordings of coughing of more than 10,000 patients infected with COVID-19.

 
 According to the chief physician of the medical institution <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006679967481" target="_blank">Denis Protsenko</a>, Respiro has to determine the disease and identify the need for hospitalization of the patient in the inpatient facility. Since the hospitalization itself is carried out without indications, there is a risk of nosocomial infection for patients. To date, a web service and a mobile application have been developed, they are currently in open testing. The solution will be launched in the second quarter of this year.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskve-razrabotali-skrining-zabolevanii-sposobnyi-opredeliat-covid-19-pri-pomoshchi-ii/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

VC.ru

Disease screening system for detecting COVID-19 using AI has been developed in Moscow

Russia was
ranked 38th in the annual Euler Hermes Enabling Digitalization Index (EDI) among
115 countries in 2020. Compared to 2019, Russia has lost one position.

 
 Countries were
assessed in five aspects: business regulatory environment, knowledge ecosystem,
connection quality, infrastructure and market size. The three leaders in 2020
were the United States, Germany and Denmark.

 
 The press
service of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development told ComNews that this
rating was the opinion of a private company, “which in general does not
contradict the situation in the world”. However, in terms of digitalization,
Russia is guided by the E-government development index, which is calculated by
the UN.

 
 <a href="https://www.eulerhermes.com/en_global/news-insights/economic-insights/Digital-enabling-countries-proved-more-resilient-to-the-Covid-19-economic-shock.html" target="_blank">Enabling
Digitalization Index (EDI)</a>

<div>
 <img alt="" data-openpopup="0"
 src="https://ict.moscow/static/1200x/39621fe0-7007-5584-b2ae-b5dcce3fc604.jpeg">
</div>

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rossiia-zaniala-38-e-mesto-v-reitinge-stran-euler-hermes-po-indeksu-vozmozhnostei-dlia-tsifrovizatsii/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

ComNews

Russia ranked 38th in the Euler Hermes Enabling Digitalization Index

FacePay, a
fare payment system using face recognition technology, will be implemented at
all Moscow metro stations by the end of 2021. This was reported by Interfax
with reference to the Deputy Head of the Moscow Metro <a href="https://www.facebook.com/andrey.kichigin" target="_blank">Andrey Kichigin</a>.

 
 The system
will be installed at turnstiles and at cash desks. Currently, as part of the
Face Pay testing, test participants passed through the turnstiles 2,000 times.
At the same time, the implementation of this payment system at the metro ticket
offices is further developed.

 
 In December
2020, the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport Maxim Liksutov <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-subway-to-deploy-facial-recognition-payment-system/" target="_blank">announced</a> that
the use of the Face ID fare payment function in the Moscow metro would start in
2021.

 
 In January
2021, Liksutov <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/fare-payment-system-based-on-facial-recognition-face-pay-will-be-implemented-at-the-ticket-offices-of-the-moscow-metro/" target="_blank">spoke</a> about plans to introduce Face Pay not only at the
turnstiles of the Moscow metro, but also at cash desks. Turnstiles with the
face payment function will appear at all metro stations in the spring of 2021,
the deputy mayor says.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sistemu-oplaty-proezda-facepay-v-metro-moskvy-vvedut-do-kontsa-2021-goda/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

Interfax

FacePay fare payment system will be introduced by the end of 2021 in the Moscow metro

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/natalysergunina" target="_blank">Natalya
Sergunina</a>, Deputy Mayor of Moscow, says that the amount of financial support
for technology companies in 2020 grew nine-fold and was estimated at almost 1.2
billion rubles.

 
 The most
active users of financial aid were the residents of the Moscow’s technoparks
and members of the Moscow Innovation Cluster (the Skolkovo Foundation, the
Kurchatov Institute research center, Rusnano, the Strogino and Slava
technoparks, etc.). Last year, payments reimbursing part of the cost of
leasing, loans or purchase of equipment, as well as payments repaying interest
on loans for the development of activities totaling 434 mln rubles were
approved for them.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/moskva-uvelichila-obem-podderzhki-tekhnologicheskogo-biznesa-v-2020-godu-v-deviat-raz/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

mos.ru

Moscow support for technology business increased nine-fold in 2020

The European edition of EU-Startups has included&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/ifarm/">iFarm</a>, a project to create automated vertical farms for growing greenery, in the list of 10 most promising start-ups in Finland for the second year in a row.&nbsp;

 
 A startup from Russia opened its showroom in Finland in January 2020, becoming a platform for European clients interested in vertical farming technologies. 

 
 The list of promising startups also includes: IQM, Surrogate.tv, Cooler Future, Bob W, Leadoo, Glue, Silo.AI, Happeo, Sensible.

 
 Earlier, in mid-February, another European publication Sifted <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/european-startup-media-site-sifted-names-ifarm-in-the-list-of-startups-to-watch-in-2021/">included</a> iFarm as one of the startups to watch for in 2021.

 
 Contacts:

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/chizhov.maksim">Maxim Chizhov</a>, Co-founder and CEO of iFarm&nbsp;

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/izdanie-eu-startups-vtoroi-god-podriad-vkliuchilo-ifarm-v-spisok-10-samykh-perspektivnykh-startapov-finliandii/">Original (in Russian)</a>

iFarm

EU-Startups has named iFarm as one of the 10 most promising startups in Finland for the second year in a row

DocClub, a developer of online training platform for doctors, attracted investments from the Winter Capital fund

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/aaanischenko" target="_blank">Andrey Anishchenko</a>, co-founder of <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/skillbox/" target="_blank">Skillbox</a> and the Brazilian educational startup EBAC, launched the <a href="https://devjbs.com/" target="_blank">DevJBS</a> recruiting project, which specializes in remotely hiring IT specialists from Russia and Eastern Europe to work in companies in the US and UK.

 
 The co-founder of the recruiting company AlexStaff Agency <a href="https://www.facebook.com/asuhorukov" target="_blank">Alexei Sukhorukov</a> became the second founder of the project. DevJBS focuses on in-demand positions with salary levels ranging from $50K to $150K per year, such as Data Scientist, Full Stack Developer, Data Engineer, Cloud and Devops Engineer. The project commission will be 15% of the employee's annual income or 1% per month for 2 years.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/soosnovatel-skillbox-andrei-anishchenko-sozdal-proekt-po-mezhdunarodnomu-podboru-it-spetsialistov/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

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