Belarus’ telecom sector trends in 2021 as seen by Sorainen: Accelerated implementation of 5G technology, social media monitoring by regulatory authorities
<p> MINSK, Mar 19 - PrimePress. Accelerated implementation of 5G technology and social media monitoring by regulatory authorities will be underlying trends in Belarus’ telecommunication sector in 2021, according to the 2021 Telecom Trends Overview prepared by experts of the law firm Sorainen. </p> <p> </p> <p> The technology, media and telecommunication sector will continue stimulating the development of M&A and private equity markets. The sector was one of the most active in 2020 in terms of the number of deals globally. According to Mergermarket statistics, global M&A deals in the telecoms sector grew in value by 56.8% on 2019 to $851.8bn in 2020. In Belarus, significant deals in 2020 were the Moonsoft and Wargaming deal for Melsoft Games, and the Embracer Group acquisition of Easybrain. Despite the current situation, the Hi-Tech Park preferential regime continues to draw the attention of the IT business to Belarus. </p> <p> </p> <p> The telecommunications sector was also in the spotlight: the Turkey Wealth Fund (TWF) applied for permission to acquire control over BeST CJSC (operator life:), part of the Turkcell Group. </p> <p> </p> <p> “Given the sustained global interest in the telecom market and the strength of the Baltic start-up ecosystem, we foresee a positive outlook for the telecom sector in 2021,” says the review. </p> <p> </p> <p> Belarus’ telecom sector expected to see accelerated implementation of 5G technology </p> <p> </p> <p> “The introduction of 5G depends on regulators providing access to a growing spectrum of frequencies, while much of the spectrum remains unused due to Russian interference,” Sorainen said. </p> <p> </p> <p> In 2021, the trend for offline businesses to move to a remote digital format will continue. Some priority areas like e-health, e-commerce, e-government, financial technology may be highlighted as trends in their own right. </p> <p> </p> <p> Sorainen predicts an increase in data breaches, ransomware attacks and attacks on operating technology in 2021. IBM estimates that in 2020 the average total cost of a data breach in the US alone was $3.86 million, while attacks on operating technology increased 200-fold year on year. Digitalisation and remote working are accelerating this trend. </p> <p> </p> <p> An underlying trend of 2021 will be increased regulatory scrutiny of major social media. </p> <p> </p> <p> “Although advertising campaigns by social media influencers have already attracted sufficient attention from regulators and consumer protection authorities, the legal framework for the operation of social media and influencers in advertising is still under development. In particular, additional identification requirements and new social media blocking practices may emerge in Belarus. We expect specific content requirements and penalties for non-compliance to appear in the near future,” the review says. End </p> <p> </p>
2021-03-20
Primepress
Belarus’ telecom sector trends in 2021 as seen by Sorainen: Accelerated implementation of 5G technology, social media monitoring by regulatory authorities
MINSK, Mar 19 - PrimePress. Accelerated implementation of 5G technology and social media monitoring by regulatory authorities will be underlying trends in Belarus’ telecommunication sector in 2021, according to the 2021 Telecom Trends Overview prepared by experts of the law firm Sorainen.
The technology, media and telecommunication sector will continue stimulating the development of M&A and private equity markets. The sector was one of the most active in 2020 in terms of the number of deals globally. According to Mergermarket statistics, global M&A deals in the telecoms sector grew in value by 56.8% on 2019 to $851.8bn in 2020. In Belarus, significant deals in 2020 were the Moonsoft and Wargaming deal for Melsoft Games, and the Embracer Group acquisition of Easybrain. Despite the current situation, the Hi-Tech Park preferential regime continues to draw the attention of the IT business to Belarus.
The telecommunications sector was also in the spotlight: the Turkey Wealth Fund (TWF) applied for permission to acquire control over BeST CJSC (operator life:), part of the Turkcell Group.
“Given the sustained global interest in the telecom market and the strength of the Baltic start-up ecosystem, we foresee a positive outlook for the telecom sector in 2021,” says the review.
Belarus’ telecom sector expected to see accelerated implementation of 5G technology
“The introduction of 5G depends on regulators providing access to a growing spectrum of frequencies, while much of the spectrum remains unused due to Russian interference,” Sorainen said.
In 2021, the trend for offline businesses to move to a remote digital format will continue. Some priority areas like e-health, e-commerce, e-government, financial technology may be highlighted as trends in their own right.
Sorainen predicts an increase in data breaches, ransomware attacks and attacks on operating technology in 2021. IBM estimates that in 2020 the average total cost of a data breach in the US alone was $3.86 million, while attacks on operating technology increased 200-fold year on year. Digitalisation and remote working are accelerating this trend.
An underlying trend of 2021 will be increased regulatory scrutiny of major social media.
“Although advertising campaigns by social media influencers have already attracted sufficient attention from regulators and consumer protection authorities, the legal framework for the operation of social media and influencers in advertising is still under development. In particular, additional identification requirements and new social media blocking practices may emerge in Belarus. We expect specific content requirements and penalties for non-compliance to appear in the near future,” the review says. End