Page 20 - bne_December 2018_20181207

20 I Companies & Markets bne December 2018
in Russia, which will increase capacity and speeds for mobile Internet access.
5G services are also expected to be launched in Azerbaijan, Belar- us, Georgia and Uzbekistan by 2025, according to the report.
There are several ways in, which policy and regulation may be used to accelerate 5G rollout in the region. These include “the timely availability of harmonised spectrum at a suitable price; new approaches to supervise network development; updates to network architecture regulation; and the introduction of legislation covering network neutrality and data collection,” write the GSMA experts.
“The implementation of 5G networks should be considered
by regulators as not just a new technical advancement for the telecoms industry, but as a condition for delivering the digital economy and to drive the transformation of industries. With such a mindset, the regulation of the mobile industry should shift from controlling and supervising the industry to fostering its development,” the report recommends.
Revenues
“Despite ongoing competitive pressures, relatively low smart- phone adoption and relatively low pricing, service revenue trends have been improving in recent quarters, with revenues growing in the low single digits (largely below the level of in action),” notes GSMA.
However, “beyond 2019, growth in real terms is forecast to
remain subdued at a rate of less than 1%. Rapid growth in smartphone adoption over the coming years (reaching around 80% of connections by 2025, up from less than 60% now)
will fuel an explosion in data traffic. Any upside to existing
“The three largest markets – Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan – together account for 80% of the region’s total subscriber base”
revenue forecasts will therefore depend on mobile operators more effectively monetizing this data growth and developing new revenue streams.”
Internet-of-Things
The report expects the number of Internet of Things (IoT) connections in the region will “triple over the next few years, reaching 660mn by 2025.”
“While consumer IoT accounts for the majority of IoT connec- tions (68% in 2017), the biggest increase is expected in indus- trial IoT; it will reach 48% of total IoT connections by 2025. This will be driven by increased interest in smart cities and smart utilities. IoT revenue meanwhile will reach almost $26bn by 2025 (up from $5bn in 2017), driven by applications, platforms and services – the largest source of revenue – growing from 53% of total IoT revenue in 2017 to 62% in 2025.”
Yandex.Taxi continues foreign expansion with Israel
bne IntelliNews
Yandex.Taxi online taxi ordering service of Russian internet major Yandex will launch its operations in Israel under the “Yango” (short for Yandex go) brand, Vedo- mosti reported citing the press service of the company. Earlier the company announced it would expand under the same brand in Finland and Cote d'Ivoire.
Yandex.Taxi is making first steps abroad after having cemented its leading position on the Russian taxi market. After a promis- ing joint venture with Uber, Yandex.Taxi has been consolidat- ing its market share through acquisitions and expanding into the delivery market at home.
Yandex.Taxi was set up in in 2010 and has taken the market by storm, the company told bne IntelliNews in its first exclusive interview with the international press.
www.bne.eu
Yango will first be launched in the Gush Dan area in Israel
(an urban conglomeration around Tel Aviv). Israel is the birthplace of Gett (originally Get Taxi) one of the emerging competitors of Yandex.Taxi in Russia. About 15% of the Israeli population are Russian speakers and are likely to be familiar with Yandex brand.
Earlier this year Yandex.Taxi launched in Serbia, as well as Baltic capitals Tallinn and Riga. Commenting on entering the Finnish market, the company's press service stressed that Russian and foreign apps will be fully compatible.
"Russian and other foreign users that arrive for a weekend in Helsinki will not have to install new applications on their smartphones," the press service said, as cited by Tass.