The Skolkovo Foundation has presented an interactive map of technological cases in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of an international program “Global Challenge: Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)". 

 
 The map shows the decisions of the 40 finalists of the 2020 stage of the program. These AI-based solutions in healthcare, education, retail and fintech have great potential to fulfill the 2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals, the foundation explains. In the future, the map will be supplemented with the cases of the program participants and may become a link between business, startups and the state, according to the website.

 
 <a href="https://skai.sk.ru/map-of-ai-cases-for-sdgs/#content" target="_blank">View Map of AI cases</a>

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-skolkovo-zapustili-kartu-tekhnologii-dlia-realizatsii-tselei-ustoichivogo-razvitiia-oon/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

Skolkovo

Skolkovo has launched a map of russian AI-based solutions with a potential  to fulfill the UN Sustainable Development Goals

mos.ru

Diagnostic devices of Moscow hospitals and clinics united into a single digital network

<a href="https://yandex.ru/company/researches/2020/podomam" target="_blank">The Self-isolation Index</a>, which was <a href="https://www.vedomosti.ru/media/articles/2020/03/30/826597-yandeks-nachal-otsenivat-uroven-samoizolyatsii" target="_blank">launched</a> by Yandex in early March to assess the level of self-isolation of residents of Russian cities using anonymised data, won the Eurobest Gold Award in the Creative Data nomination. Tonya Samsonova, the head of Yandex Search social services, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/samsonovatonia/posts/1737127023134443" target="_blank">wrote</a> about this on her Facebook page. The company became the only representative of the Russian IT sector in the list of winners.

 
 The EuroBest European Advertising Festival has been held annually since 1988 with the aim of awarding the best creative work in several categories, including Creative Data, Creative eCommerce, Digital, Mobile and others.

 
 <a href="http://d2tlfce4un01ic.cloudfront.net/eurobest/downloads/previous_winners/eurobest_2020_Creative_Data_Winners.pdf" target="_blank">Creative Data Winners 2020</a>

 
 <a href="http://d2tlfce4un01ic.cloudfront.net/eurobest/downloads/previous_winners/eurobest_2020_Creative_Data_Shortlist.pdf" target="_blank">Shortlist of finalists</a>

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 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/indeks-samoizoliatsii-iandeksa-udostoen-zolotoi-premii-festivalia-eurobest/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

Yandex

Self-isolation Index by Yandex won the gold prize of the Eurobest festival

According to the TelecomDaily report, the provider of home broadband access (BBA), ER-Telecom Holding, yielded 1st place to the subsidiary of AFK Sistema.

 
 According to the results of the Q4 2020, MTS surpassed the former leader by about 10 thousand subscribers. By the end of the year, MTS had 3.84 million broadband users, while Er-Telecom Holding had approximately 3.83 million. A quarter earlier, operators served 3.76 million and 3.82 million subscribers, respectively.

 
 Denis Kuskov, CEO of TelecomDaily, draws attention to the fact that MTS's subscriber base is growing much faster than that of ER-Telecom Holding. MTS representative Alexei Merkutov associates the growth of the home Internet user base in 2020 with the increasing popularity of converged tariffs that combine mobile, fixed access and TV, the demand for GPON in Moscow and the Moscow region, as well as marketing campaigns.

 
 For the first time since 2012, Er-Telecom was in second place in Russia in terms of the number of home Internet users among private providers and in third place in the overall standings (the state-owned Rostelecom ranks first with 12.35 million broadband subscribers).

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-stala-krupneishim-chastnym-internet-provaiderom-rossii/">Original (in Russian)</a>

Vedomosti

MTS has become the largest private Internet provider in Russia

Mediascope has published data on the Internet audience in Russia in 2020. According to them, the Internet penetration in Russia among younger people (under 44 years old) exceeded 90%, and among the youngest Russians (12-24 years old) approached 100% in February - November 2020. In the 45-54-year-old population group, 84.2% of Russians used the Internet at least once a month and among those over 55 only half - 49.7% - go online.

 
 In general, during this period, an average of 95.6 million people or 78.1% of the country's population over 12 used the Internet at least once a month. On average 87.1 million people or 71.1% of the Russian population went online per day.

 
 Mobile remains the main device for accessing the Internet among Russians of all ages. In 2020, 86.6 million people or 70.8% of the population used mobile devices to go online at least once a month. The average daily mobile Internet audience was 79.8 million people, or 65.2% of the population of the entire country. 62.2 million people or 50.8% of the total population used the Internet on a desktop at least once a month, the average daily Internet audience on desktop devices was 44.4 million people, or 36.3% of the population of the entire country.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://mediascope.net/news/1250827/">Mediascope research (in Russian)</a>

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/mediascope-dolia-polzovatelei-interneta-v-rossii-sredi-molodezhi-priblizilas-k-100/">Original (in Russian)</a>

Mediascope

Mediascope: the share of Internet users among the youngest population in Russia nearly approached 100% in 2020

According to the IT Department of Moscow Government (DIT of Moscow), the total investments of mobile operators in infrastructure in the Russian capital amounted to about 23 billion rubles (equivalent to $311 million) in 2020, which is almost a third more than in 2019. In particular, telecom companies worked on expanding zoning, space and data transfer rates; new base stations were built on the territory of Moscow and in the Moscow region. In addition, the modernisation of communication networks in the metro was completed. A stable LTE signal has appeared at all metro stations and sections.

 
 The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to the growth in traffic. In 2020, in the capital, the volume of consumed mobile Internet increased by an average of 20%, the load on broadband networks - more than one and a half times. Despite the increase in load the average Internet speed in Moscow by the middle of the year increased for all mobile operators and ranged from 16 to 48.5 Mbit/s while in 2019 it varied from 15.8 to 41.9 Mbit/s.

 
 The subscriber base of mobile operators grew by 8%, mainly due to those who connected to the network new devices for remote work and IoT devices. Also, large telecom operators began to issue virtual SIM cards.

 
 The cost of typical services of cellular communication and home Internet remained practically the same. “Mobile Internet in Moscow is still one of the most accessible megalopolises in the world: its price is 2-4 times lower than in Barcelona, ​​London and Stockholm, and 5-10 times lower than in New York”, - representatives of DIT of Moscow clarified.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-2020-godu-operatory-sviazi-vlozhili-v-razvitie-infrastruktury-v-moskve-okolo-23-mlrd-rub/">Original (in Russian)</a>

Interfax

Telecom operators have invested around $311 million in infrastructure development in Moscow in 2020

The Russian capital moved up three positions&nbsp;and was ranked 44th in the latest&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/SCI_2_Full_Report_2020.12.22_v1.0_57sLNUG.pdf">Smart Centres Index</a>&nbsp;by Z / Yen. Sydney, Bangkok, Melbourne, Milan were placed next to Moscow in the rating, which assesses the approach of megalopolises to innovation and technology implementation. New York, London and Singapore became leaders of the ranking.&nbsp;

 
 As explained by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Economic Policy and Property and Land Relations Vladimir Efimov, the city is actively introducing Smart City formats into life by integrating Internet technologies. Now the Russian capital is developing a "smart transport" system, accessible Internet, more than 370 city services and services are operating online. In terms of digitalisation and technology development, Moscow successfully competes with the world's leading megacities in various international rankings, Efimov said.

 
 Earlier, Moscow's merits in these areas were assessed in the smart cities of the future ranking by&nbsp; fDi, the&nbsp;Tholons Services Globalization Index&nbsp;(TSGI) and the Smart city index prepared by the Swiss business school IMD. The Z / Yen Smart Centers Index was released for the second time in December 2020. 131 cities were analysed, of which 51 were included in the final study, with each receiving at least 10 assessments from experts. The index was calculated on the basis of 126 statistical and index indicators, as well as expert assessments, which were then combined into three categories: innovation support, in which Moscow ranks 45th, development intensity - 42nd place, innovation diffusion - 40th place, Kirill Purtov, Head of the Department for Economic Policy and City Development, the Minister of the Moscow Government added.&nbsp;

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/SCI_2_Full_Report_2020.12.22_v1.0_57sLNUG.pdf">Smart Centres Index&nbsp;Ranking</a>

<hr />
 
 According to the mos.ru portal, in 2020 Moscow <a target="_blank" href="https://www.mos.ru/news/item/84980073/">received</a> several awards in the field of digital development. In particular, the Moscow transport complex received the main award of the Transport Ticketing Global Awards for the best smart ticketing system, Moscow's digital projects to fight the COVID-19 pandemic were awarded the Runet Prize.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/moskva-uluchshila-pozitsii-v-reitinge-umnykh-gorodov/">Original (in Russian)</a>

IKS Media

Moscow improved its position in the global ranking of smart cities

Sberbank is interested in buying one of the leading online retailers in Russia, Citylink, which is part of the Merlion group.

 
 According to the source of the publication, at the end of 2020, Sberbank conducted a presale audit and assessment of one of the country's largest IT distributors, Merlion. Another source in the distribution market clarified that Sberbank is in talks to acquire the company's retail assets. These include the Positronic electronics network, the Citylink electronics retailer (more than 650 stores and order pick-up points) and the Computer Clinic Network of service centers. 

 
 At the end of December, Sberbank and Merlion <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sberbank.com/news-and-media/press-releases/article?newsID=015b963b-fb02-46cf-94b0-32ecc7f88f97&amp;blockID=7&amp;regionID=77&amp;lang=en&amp;type=NEWS">announced</a> a strategic partnership, under which the distributor's capabilities will be "integrated into the emerging e-commerce industry of Sberbank." As previously <a target="_blank" href="https://vc.ru/trade/182323-sber-zapustit-sobstvennyy-marketpleys-v-2021-godu-i-vykupit-kontrol-v-sbermarkete-u-sp-s-mail-ru-group">explained</a> by the deputy chairman of the bank's board Lev Khasis, Sberbank intends to enter the top three in the Russian e-commerce market by 2023. To do this, it is planned to launch a marketplace in 2021 and buy out a majority stake in Sbermarket, which is now part of a joint venture with Mail.ru Group.

 
 After the <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/yandex-announced-the-division-of-assets-with-sberbank/">division</a> of assets with Yandex, Sberbank's interest in the retail assets of Merlion is logical, says Mikhail Burmistrov, CEO of Infoline-Analytics. Last summer, Sberbank was interested in buying a stake in Ozon, and in the fall it began negotiations with M.Video on the joint development of its Goods.ru, the expert noted.

 
 Among the assets of Merlion, the most attractive for Sberbank may be Citylink due to its extensive network of orders, adds Mikhail Burmistrov. According to Data Insight, the sales volume of Citilink in 2019 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/research/reiting-top-100-krupneishikh-internet-magazinov-rossii-v-2019-g/">amounted</a> to 90.4 billion rubles, this is the second result among online retailers in the Russian Federation after Wildberries.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/sberbank-mozhet-kupit-onlain-riteilera-sitilink-iz-gruppy-merlion/">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kommersant

Sberbank may purchase an online retailer Citylink, which is part of the Merlion group

In Russia, a register of domestic microelectronics developers will be created, who will have access to present tax incentives for the IT industry. The corresponding decree was published on the website of the Russian government on January 6.

 
 The register will be kept by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the document itself will be available on the official portal of the department.

All register members, starting from January 1, 2021, will have access to the corresponding tax preferences provided as a set of measures to support the domestic IT industry, including an indefinite reduction in the insurance premium rate from 14% to 7.6% as well as income tax from 20% to 3%.

 
 The new register will include organisations "providing services for the design and development of electronic component base and electronic products," including design centers for microelectronics and radio electronics. Benefits will allow these companies to reduce costs, increase competitiveness in the global market and ultimately eliminate the existing dependence of Russia on imported capital goods and electronic components, the document says.

 
 The law on conducting a "tax maneuver" for IT industry was <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/razrabotchikam-predlozhili-manevr/">signed</a> by the President on July 31, 2020. The maneuver assumes a reduction in the insurance premium in the industry from 14% to 7.6% and the income tax rate from 20% to 3%.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="http://government.ru/docs/41280/">Government decree of December 31, 2020 No. 2392</a>

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-sozdadut-reestr-otechestvennykh-razrabotchikov-mikroelektroniki-dlia-polucheniia-imi-lgot-v-ramkakh-nalogovogo-manevra/">Original (in Russian)</a>

CNews

Russia will create a register of domestic microelectronics developers to receive benefits through the tax maneuver

Most notable events in the field of foreign and Russian AI regulation

ICT.Moscow

Results of 2020: time for detailed regulation of artificial intelligence

On December 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on holding the Year of Science and Technology in Russia in 2021. The corresponding document was published on the official Internet portal of legal information.

 
 "To hold the Year of Science and Technology in the Russian Federation", the decree says.

 
 Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Assistant to the Head of State Andrey Fursenko have been appointed co-chairs of the organising committee for the Year of Science and Technology in Russia. In addition, Putin instructed the government to develop and approve a plan for the main action plan for the Year of Science and Technology.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202012250002">Decree of 25.12.2020 No. 812</a>&nbsp;"On holding the Year of Science and Technology in the Russian Federation"

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/vladimir-putin-podpisal-ukaz-o-provedenii-goda-nauki-i-tekhnologii-v-rf-v-2021-godu/">Original (in Russian)</a>

Izvestia

Vladimir Putin signed a decree on holding the Year of Science and Technology in Russia in 2021

On December 24, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) announced that it had approved the petition of Rostelecom, MegaFon, VimpelCom and MTS to establish a 5G joint venture - New Digital Solutions LLC.

 
 It&nbsp;ordered its members to maintain non-discriminatory access to radio frequencies "for all representatives of the mobile radiotelephone market." The joint venture may also include the Yekaterinburg mobile operator Motiv. The company is ready to take part in joint work with federal operators to deploy a 5G network project in the Russian Federation, its CEO Alexey Artemasov told the publication. Now, according to him, negotiations are underway to provide "equal, non-discriminatory conditions" for entering the joint venture.The operators involved in the deal will need to develop and agree on the terms of infrastructure and frequency sharing.

 
 The creation of the joint venture is provided for by the 5G development concept, which was approved by the Ministry of Finance in December 2019. In accordance with it, the association can receive free of charge from the state frequencies in the 4.4-4.99 GHz range, which is chosen by the government as a priority for 5G in Russia.

 
 The joint venture will not provide communication services, but will deal with the release of frequencies in the ranges of 700 MHz, 3.4-3.8 GHz, 4.4-4.99 GHz and 24.25-29.5 GHz in all regions and negotiations with occupying them law enforcement agencies. An anchor operator will be selected for the development of 5G in each region. The constructed network will be available to other joint venture participants, but they will have to compensate the anchor operator for the construction costs. The state also intends to acquire a stake in the company.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/fas-odobrila-sozdanie-sovmestnogo-predpriiati-dlia-razvitiia-5g/">Original (in Russian)</a>

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has approved the creation of a 5G joint venture by communication operators

Botkin.AI raised $2.1 million for further development and international expansion

The Moscow developer of recognition systems&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=Smart_Engines">Smart Engines</a> &nbsp;summarised the results for 2020.&nbsp;

 
 In particular, this year the company introduced a new generation of Smart Vision Engines recognition systems for automatic data extraction of ID documents, bank cards, barcodes, business, biometric verification and computed tomography of documents. The company's turnover exceeded 247.5 million rubles (equivalent to&nbsp;$3.3.million) which is 2.18 times more than in 2019. The export of AI technologies outside the countries accounted for 26%. The number of recognitions sold was 91.9 million, up 80% last year.

 
 The company's client base has grown by 40% compared to last year. Smart Vision Engines software products are used for user identification, remote service, optimisation of business processes and development of payment services around the world, including the USA, the countries of the European Union, Asia, the Middle East and the CIS.


 
 
In October, the company <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/smart-engines-became-the-first-developer-of-recognition-systems-based-on-ai-to-join-the-un-global-compact/">became</a> the first Russian artificial intelligence developer to join the United Nations (UN) Global Compact.

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 Contacts:
 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/vladimir.arlazarov">Vladimir Arlazarov</a> - CEO of Smart Engines
 </div>

Smart Engines earned $3.3 million on AI in 2020

Sberbank

Sberbank began testing self-driving vehicles on the roads of Moscow

<a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/ozon-travel/">Ozon.Travel</a>, a service for booking hotels and tickets, has launched a B2B business trip service <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ozon.travel/promo/corporate">Ozon.Travel Business Trips</a>. It will automate the coordination of work trips, taking into account the specifics of medium and large businesses. 

 
 Employees will be able to create a shopping cart of services themselves: air and train tickets, hotel, transfers, visas and others. At the same time, the system allows you to define "roles" for different employees by setting spending limits for them.Ozon.Travel already works with small business companies, but Ozon Business Trips takes into account the specifics of large business with the division of roles and features of reporting and workflow, the company notes. 

 
 Similar travel services are also offered by Tutu.ru and Aviasales.

<div class="incut-block incut-block-text-small-size">
 Contacts:
 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/michael.osin.9">Michael Osin</a>, General Director of Ozon.Travel
 </div>
 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/ozon-travel-zapustil-servis-oformleniia-komandirovok-dlia-biznesa/">Original (in Russian)</a>

VC.ru

Ozon.Travel has launched a business trip service

According to RBC, in the first quarter of 2021, Mail.ru Group and Rostelecom intend to launch the Spherum service, a platform for teaching and communication of schoolchildren.

 
 The platform will be tested in 15 regions of Russia. It is assumed that the video service will be available on desktop devices and through a mobile application: it will be possible to conduct group video conferences with up to 100 participants, each of whom will be able to virtually "raise a hand" or turn on the screen sharing.

 
 It will be possible to register in Spherum through the VK Connect account (Mail.ru Group is the owner of the VKontakte social network) or the Gosuslugi portal operated by Rostelecom. At the same time, a separate profile will be used in "Spherum" — teachers and classmates will not be able to see the user's page on "VKontakte". In addition to video conferencing, schools or teachers will be able to create closed communities and chats to invite parents and students to them. The new service will be integrated with the My School platform from the Ministry of Education.

 
 Earlier, Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rossiiskie-platformy-dlia-videokonferentsii-v-shkolakh-planiruiut-zapustit-v-2022-godu/" target="_blank">said</a> that Mail.ru Group and Rostelecom are working on a joint video service for schools, but according to him, Yandex would also participate in the project.

 
 In early December, the government <a href="http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202012090002?index=0&rangeSize=1" target="_blank">published</a> a decree on conducting experiments to introduce a digital educational environment. It will run until December 31, 2022 in some regions of Russia.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rossiiskie-platformy-dlia-videokonferentsii-v-shkolakh-planiruiut-zapustit-v-2022-godu/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

 Rostelecom and Mail.ru Group have developed an analogue of the Zoom video service

The weekly observer of Moscow's tech stories

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 main news about Moscow's projects, developers and technologies

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 <li>Moscow Metro <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/moscow-metro-launched-a-service-for-instant-fare-payment-in-partnership-with-vtb-google-and-mastercard/">launched</a> a service for instant fare payment in partnership with VTB, Google and Mastercard</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Beeline and Nokia will jointly <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/beeline-and-nokia-will-jointly-implement-open-ran-concept-which-will-accelerate-the-deployment-of-5g-networks/">implement</a> Open RAN concept, which will accelerate the deployment of 5G networks</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>VTB and MTS <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/vtb-and-mts-completed-a-deal-to-issue-a-bank-guarantee-through-the-russian-blockchain-platform/">completed</a> a deal to issue a bank guarantee using the Masterchain blockchain platform (Card of <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/masterchain/">Masterchain</a>)</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>YouDrive and Citymobil will <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/youdrive-and-citymobil-will-combine-technologies-and-resources-to-develop-it-infrastructure/">combine</a> technologies and resources to develop IT infrastructure (Cards of <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/youdrive-pool/">Youdrive</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/sitymobil/">Citymobil</a>)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Russian retailer Magnit <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-retailer-magnit-has-launched-its-magnit-pay-payment-service-and-will-create-a-super-app/">has launched</a> its Magnit Pay payment service and will create a super app</li>
</ul>

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 GOV AGENDA
 A list of AI solutions that will be implemented in Russian ministries in 2023-2024 has been <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-ministry-of-digital-development-has-formed-a-list-of-ai-solutions-that-will-be-implemented-in-russian-ministries-in-2023-2024/">formed</a> by The Ministry of Digital Development
 An inventory of IT resources of Russian government agencies will be <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/the-ministry-of-digital-development-will-conduct-an-inventory-of-it-resources-of-government-agencies/">conducted</a> until April 2021
 </div>
 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/">More news&nbsp;→</a>

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 INVESTMENT DEALS<a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a>
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<ul>
 <li>Softline <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/softline-acquires-german-it-company-softline-ag/">acquires</a> 63.38% of the German IT company Softline AG&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>Mamba dating service <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/mamba-dating-service-enters-the-italian-and-german-markets/">enters</a> the Italian and German markets (Card of <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/mamba/">Mamba</a>)<a target="_blank" class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a></li>
 <li>VTB is <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/vtb-will-transfer-50-of-citybike-shares-to-the-moscow-city-free-of-charge/">ready to transfer</a> 50% shares of the capital's bicycle rental operator CityBike to the Moscow city free of charge</li>
</ul>

<hr />
<h2>
 ANALYTICS AND INSIGHTS<a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a>
</h2>

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

<ul>
 <li><a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/russian-enterprise-storage-systems-tracker-market-q3-2020/">IDC</a>: external storage systems for a total amount of $129.72 million were delivered to the Russian market in Q3 2020 →</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li><a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/research/the-story-of-the-year-remote-work/">Kaspersky Lab</a>: more than 1.66 million unique malicious files were detected spread under the guise of messengers and online conference applications during COVID-19 pandemic →</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li><a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/ministry-of-digital-development-mobile-traffic-in-the-first-three-quarters-of-this-year-grew-by-one-and-a-half-times/">Ministry of Digital Development</a>: mobile traffic in the first three quarters of this year grew by one and a half times →</li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li><a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/data-insight-the-volume-of-russian-online-export-will-grow-by-42-by-the-end-of-2020/">eBay and Data Insight</a>: the volume of Russian online export will grow by 42% by the end of 2020&nbsp;→</li>
</ul>

<hr />
<h2>
 DIGITAL SOLUTIONS FROM MOSCOW<a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a>
</h2>

 
 a showcase of some e-payment solutions&nbsp;

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/visa-qiwi-wallet/">QIWI wallet</a>

 
 Electronic payment system

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/yandekskassa/">Yandex.Checkout</a>

 
 Online payment service for business

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/briskly/">Briskly pay</a>

 
 Contactless payment service

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/1c-sim/">1C-SIM</a>

 
 Personal electronic signature tool

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/cards/?tags=electronic_payments">More solutions&nbsp; →</a>

<hr />
<h2>
 KEY ACTORS IN IT<a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a><a class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a>
</h2>

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

 
 Aleksey Sergeev, Deputy Vice President of Mail.ru Group, Head of the B2B direction of Citymobil | <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/sergeev.aleksey">Facebook</a> | <a target="_blank" href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/sergeev">LinkedIn</a>. 

 
 Boris Golikov, Founder of YouDrive | <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/boris.golikov">Facebook</a> | <a target="_blank" href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/boris-golikov-17903311">LinkedIn</a>

 
 Sergey Chernovolenko, CEO of Softline | <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/sergey.chernovolenko.58">Facebook</a> | <a target="_blank" href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/sergey-chernovolenko-70bb41a1">LinkedIn</a>

 
 Andrey Bronetskiy, CEO of Mamba | <a target="_blank" href="https://ru.linkedin.com/in/andrey-bronetskiy-04167712">LinkedIn</a>

<hr />
 
 ❄️❄️❄️

 
 ICT.Moscow team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 
 Next issue of the Tech in Moscow newsletter will be available on January 18th.&nbsp;

 
 ❄️❄️❄️

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

Tech in Moscow #18 (14 - 20 December 2020)

By the end of 2020, the market for online retail export of goods from Russia will grow by 42%, reaching $1.16 billion. This is the conclusion reached by eBay and Data Insight analysts following a joint study. The number of parcels sent abroad from Russia will amount to 27.4 million (an increase of 75% year-on-year). A large share of the volume of export earnings, according to the research, falls on trading platforms with external logistics, and these are mainly international marketplaces, on which in 2020 Russian entrepreneurs will earn $723 million (62%), and the average check per order will be $125.

 
 Online platforms with their own logistics, including the largest Russian marketplaces, will have $437 million in total revenue (38%), with the average shipping cost of $20.

 
 eBay told the publication that their site accounts for 21% of foreign sales of Russian sellers on export marketplaces ($235 million in monetary terms). The largest Russian online retailer Wildberries also confirmed the growth of online exports, but insists that by the end of the year their platform will become the largest export platform, not eBay.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/research/roznichnyi-eksport-tovarov-cherez-internet-2020/">"Online retail export of goods 2020" Report (in Russian)</a>

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/data-insight-obem-rossiiskogo-onlain-eksporta-vyrastet-na-42-po-itogam-goda/">Original in Russian</a>

eBay and Data Insight: the volume of Russian online export will grow by 42% by the end of 2020

Beeline and Nokia signed a partnership agreement to implement the Open RAN concept, which will accelerate the deployment of 5G networks.

 
 The partnership is a continuation and development of a joint research project of the companies in the field of Virtual RAN (virtualisation in the access network), which was implemented several years ago. Now Beeline and Nokia plan to carry out joint pilot projects and test various technical solutions (both individual network components and networks built with their use) based on the Open RAN concept for the Beeline 4G network, and in the future for 5G networks.

 
 The main sites for pilots and tests will be the operator's and Nokia's R&amp;D laboratories in Moscow.

 
 Companies also plan to engage other vendors, including Russian, who support the concept of using open interfaces in radio access networks. Among the tasks of cooperation is the search and study of options for localising individual components of radio equipment for promising mobile communication standards.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/bilain-i-nokia-budut-vmeste-testirovat-resheniia-dlia-5g-v-kontseptsii-open-ran/">Original (in Russian)</a>

Beeline

Beeline and Nokia will jointly implement Open RAN concept, which will accelerate the deployment of 5G networks

According to the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation, the volume of mobile Internet traffic in the first nine months of this year amounted to 16.2 billion GB. Last year, for the same period, the figure was 10.9 billion GB, the department reported earlier. The total amount of used (downloaded and generated) traffic in the first three quarters of this year was 59.9 billion. Therefore, the share of mobile Internet accounts for 27%.

 
 According to analysts, in the future, users will continue to switch to the mobile Internet, abandoning fixed access networks. In addition, an increase in the load on 4G will lead to a decrease in the average speed of mobile Internet, believes Ilya Shatilin, an analyst at TelecomDaily. The expert notes that LTE networks can be developed further, increasing their capacity indoors, where 80% of traffic is generated. But this requires large investments, while the introduction of 5G would significantly increase the capabilities of operators for much less money.

 
 In 2020, the consumption of mobile Internet by Tele2 subscribers increased by more than 50% year-on-year, and call time - by 12% compared to 2019. From January to November 2020, traffic in Megafon's networks grew by almost 30% compared to the same period last year. In 2020, the use of traffic by Beeline subscribers has grown by more than 60%.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/mintsifry-mobilnyi-trafik-za-pervye-tri-kvartala-etogo-goda-vyros-v-poltora-raza/">Original (in Russian)</a>

Ministry of Digital Development: mobile traffic in the first three quarters of this year grew by one and a half times

Moscow Metro (Mosmetro), in partnership with VTB, Google and Mastercard, have launched a new service for instant payment of metro fares.

 
 Owners of mobile devices with the Google Pay payment service and Mastercard can now instantly pay for the entrance to the Moscow Metro and MCC by holding their smartphone to the reader at the turnstiles equipped for accepting bank cards. VTB Bank will conduct the operation. In the near future, the new functionality will also be available to cardholders of other payment systems represented in Google Pay in Russia. To make a payment, you will need to select the Google Pay service as the main payment method in your phone in advance.

 
 It is possible to&nbsp;pay for a metro ride with bank cards from leading payment systems, including Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Huawei Pay, MIR Pay, China Union Pay and others.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/mosmetro-zapustilo-servis-dlia-momentalnoi-oplaty-proezda/">Original (in Russian)</a>

Moscow Metro launched a service for instant fare payment in partnership with VTB, Google and Mastercard

VTB and MTS were the first in Russia to carry out a transaction to issue a bank guarantee using the <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/masterchain/" target="_blank">Masterchain</a> blockchain platform.

 
 The operation was carried out in real time: VTB issued a digital guarantee signed with an enhanced qualified signature, MTS accepted the document, sent a notification to the bank, and clarified it to VTB.

 
 According to Vadim Kulik, Deputy President and Chairman of the VTB Management Board, the issuance of electronic bank guarantees makes it possible to speed up the process and reduce paperwork. In turn, Alexander Smirnov, director of the corporate finance and treasury department of MTS, noted that accounting guarantees in the Masterchain network would allow consolidating information on all issued bank guarantees in favor of the MTS group in a single system. This will significantly speed up the process of their issuance and receipt, reduce operating costs for administration, Smirnov believes.

 
 The Masterchain platform has been developed since 2016 by banks within the Fintech association under the auspices of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. Qiwi, Sberbank, Alfa-Bank, Tinkoff Bank and others also took part in the creation of the platform.

 
 At the end of 2019, Masterchain passed the FSB certification and was put into commercial operation.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/vtb-i-mts-proveli-sdelku-po-vydache-bankovskoi-garantii-cherez-rossiiskuiu-blokchein-platformu/" target="_blank">Original (in Russian)</a>

TASS

VTB and MTS completed a deal to issue a bank guarantee using the Masterchain blockchain platform

The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation has formed a list of AI solutions that will be implemented in Russian ministries in 2023-2024. The list of decisions is presented in a letter sent to the government by the Deputy Minister of Digital Development Oleg Kachanov. It is assumed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Federal Tax Service (FTS), Rosreestr, and the Federal Fund for Mandatory Medical Insurance (FFOMS) will implement them.

 
 Among the solutions:

<ul>
 <li>AI for detecting dangerous situations (fires, floods, road accidents, etc.) via satellite and aerial photographs (MES);<a target="_blank" class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a></li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>face recognition technology to identify and search for criminals, as well as to determine its possible external signs (MIA);<a target="_blank" class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a></li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>service for modeling tariffs for the provision of medical care using neural networks, as well as the use of voice assistants (FFOMS);<a target="_blank" class="ce-block__copy-anchor-btn"></a></li>
</ul>

<ul>
 <li>distribution and analysis of document content using computer vision (Rosreestr).</li>
</ul>

<hr />
 
 Several ministries, including those mentioned in the letter, <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-ministries-presented-ai-projects-implemented-in-the-departments-to-the-government/">presented</a>&nbsp;their AI projects to digital transformation leaders at a strategic session on artificial intelligence&nbsp;in October.

 
 <a target="_blank" href="https://ict.moscow/news/mintsifry-sformirovalo-perechen-ii-reshenii-kotorye-budut-vnedriatsia-v-ministerstvakh-v-2023-2024-gg/">Original (in Russian)</a>

Market in Brief