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February 2021 www.intellinews.com I Page 18
6,291 clinics and its number of patients had reached 865,000.
Bulutklinik is integrated with the health ministry’s system, namely SaglikNet.
Kazakhstan to provide 3G/LTE networks to nearly 300 villages with less than 250 residents
Kazakhstan's digital minister, Bagdat Musin, has confirmed the government’s plans to invest in the telecommunications infrastructure, Profit.kz reported.
Within the next two years, the authorities plan to provide 3G/LTE networks to 286 villages across the country along with replacing satellite infrastructure to fibre-optic internet infrastructure in 224 villages, Musin said. Mobile broadband services will become available in 242 villages with less than 250 residents.
Last year, global provider of connectivity and internet services VEON announced that KaR-Tel, VEON’s Kazakhstan-based operating company providing mobile services under the Beeline brand, had entered into a network sharing partnership with two mobile telecom providers in the Central Asian nation to deliver high-speed internet to rural communities.
The agreement brings together Beeline, Kcell and Tele2 as part of Kazakhstan’s 250+ project aimed at extending high-speed internet to all Kazakh rural settlements with a population of 250 people and above. The project seeks to offer 3G and 4G connections to 1,000 villages with a combined population of 600,000. The 250+ initiative will allow rural residents to select service providers of their own choice, while granting all three providers equal access to the shared network.
Russian mobile Veon teams up with Mastercard globally
Russian mobile major Veon (former Vimpelcom) has announced a strategic partnership with Mastercard in Russia, Pakistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Bangladesh.
The partnership is aimed at supporting the development of digital financial services in Veon’s key markets and is an expansion of the previous co-operation of the companies in Pakistan since May 2020.
"We see the news as marginally positive for VEON, as it should solidify the carrier's position in the digital financial services space," Sova Capital commented on February 4.
The partnership is also in line with VEON's strategy to supplement its core connectivity business with new services in its main markets, the analysts note. "However, it remains to be seen whether the partnership gains enough traction to have a considerable effect on VEON’s financials," Sova warns.
Sova Capital has a Hold recommendation on Veon shares and estimates that those are trading at 2021 estimated Enterprise Value/Ebitda of 3.5x.
"The partnership confirms Veon’s focus on fintech – together with a reputable partner," BCS Global Markets notes. The key focus is on what services Veon will provide based on this partnership and
if they appear visibly accretive for its revenue and Ebitda, including in Russia, the analysts suggest, while affirming a Hold call on Veon's shares.
Russia to revise rules for foreign IT players amid protests
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his administration and the government to come up with additional requirements for IT companies operating in Russia, setting a deadline of August 1, 2021, Vedomosti daily reports on February 1 citing the December 2020 meeting of the Human Rights Council with the president.
Reportedly, the rules will concern specifically the opening of headquarters and local branches in Russia.