As Mexico prepares for the 5G era, three domestic players have reportedly renewed legacy spectrum rights covering the 5G-suitable 3.5GHz band. According to El Economista, the Federal Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones, IFT) has permitted AT&T Mexico, Axtel and Telmex to renew longstanding 50MHz nationwide WiMAX concessions, each of which will run for 20 years, starting on 1 January 2020. All three players are required to relinquish parts of their current 3.4GHz frequency allocation by year-end, however, to ensure a fairer spectrum distribution. As per the report, Axtel will now operate spectrum in the 3500MHz-3550MHz range and will relinquish frequencies in the 3425MHz-3450MHz and 3525MHz-3550MHz bands. Meanwhile, Telmex has transferred 3550MHz-3575MHz spectrum to AT&T, in exchange for 3475MHz-3500MHz frequencies.   Source：https://www.telegeography.com/

Organisations have been lamenting about the technology skill gap in the country for long. No wonder a whopping 78% companies accepted that further learning and skilling opportunities for employees are instrumental in boosting organisational performance Technology skills such as Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), digital marketing and design thinking will be important to drive the future growth, finds a survey by ed-tech firm Great Learning. The analysis of 307 corporates (ranging from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to large corporate) focussed on finding out top skills that organisations will need to drive future performance and how they may plan to bridge the impending skill deficit among their ranks. As per the survey, 25 per cent of all companies believe AI/ML are the most crucial skills needed to ensure an organisation's future growth. Digital marketing emerged second with 19 per cent finding it most crucial. It was followed by design thinking, which 10 per cent of companies indicated as most important. Besides, skills related to Internet of Things (IoT), robotic process automation (RPA) and natural language processing/generation (NLP/NLG) each garnered around 5 per cent votes. Organisations have been lamenting about the technology skill gap in the country for long. No wonder a whopping 78 per cent companies accepted that further learning and skilling opportunities for employees are instrumental in boosting organisational performance. Over 40 per cent companies said that they were looking to bridge the tech talent gap by upskilling their current workforce, while 37 per cent are using hiring to make up for the demand and supply gap. Interestingly, 22 per cent companies are hoping to beat the talent gap by outsourcing these roles. Hari Krishnan Nair, Co-founder, Great Learning said, "Skilled employees will continue to be the biggest asset for any organisation going ahead and while options like lateral hiring and outsourcing may help in the short-term, from a cost and effectiveness point of view, upskilling is the best way to stay competitive in the long run." In spite of the increased awareness around upskilling, the survey found out that 47 per cent companies do not have assigned budgets for upskilling their workforce. The rest of 53 per cent said that they have done it for tech upskilling.   When it comes to the size of upskilling budgets, close to 30 per cent organisations spend more than Rs 1 lakh per employee per annum on upskilling. In fact, around 14 per cent (43 companies) spend more than Rs 3 lakh per employee per annum for tech upskilling.   Around 50 per cent companies said that their tech upskilling programmes are either entirely or partially driven and funded by the company. Another 22 per cent said that these were driven by employees but either partially or fully reimbursed by the company. However, in 27 per cent of the cases, upskilling programmes were entirely up to the employee to drive and fund.     Source： https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/jobs/ai-digital-marketing-design-thinking-among-top-skills-to-ensure-future-growth-survey/story/386162.html

A study conducted by the consulting firm DuckerFrontier and commissioned by Microsoft Latin America, in a simulation of maximum adoption of Artificial Intelligence technology in the next 10 years, reveals that Mexico could increase its GDP growth rate from current projections of 2.4% average annual growth until 2030, to levels ranging from 4.6% to 6.4%. Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, pointed out that technology can be a force multiplier that helps generate solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing our world today. In terms of professions, highly qualified jobs could increase by 67% over the next decade. In six of the seven largest sectors that were analyzed (Public Sector, Business Services, Commerce, Hospitality and Tourism, Construction, Manufacturing, Mining, Agriculture and Utilities), demand for highly skilled jobs could increase, where business services would require 8.9 million additional highly skilled workers (221% more jobs or the equivalent in working hours); manufacturing, 1.8 million (92%); and construction, 1 million (157%). Some of the benefits of implementing AI in the country are that there will be better jobs, greater growth, and better profits. The jobs that will emerge from this technology are freelance car coaches, new generation architects, facial recreation specialist and data analyst of the Internet of things. However, the challenges that the Mexican market will have to face are some points such as ensuring access to quality education for all, training all workers and ensuring access to cutting-edge technologies by all companies. To define whether Mexico can achieve this additional annual growth by developing AI and maximizing the cascade of effects, DuckerFrontier developed the so-called AI Readiness Index, which is a measure that crosses the AI Development and Dissemination variables, and unites all factors related to implementation and its conditions (e.g., related policies, innovation environment, technology ecosystem and cybersecurity, human capital) with another equally important axis, called IA Benefit Sharing. According to the AI Readiness Index, Mexico is in a strong position to accelerate the adoption of AI and to meet human capital needs. However, it also runs the risk of not making these benefits equitable for all of society because of its relatively weaker position with respect to its ability to guarantee equal access to higher education and new technologies for all population groups, regardless of income, gender or location. Although Mexico has the opportunity to improve in the area of Participation of IA benefits, its position in the area of development and diffusion of IA among Latin American countries indicates that it is the second country best prepared to face the impact of IA on the economy.     Source：https://www.duckerfrontier.com/

The global video management software market size is expected to reach USD 4.79 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 18.8% from 2019 to 2025, according to a new study conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. The growing adoption of video surveillance and monitoring software for applications such as facility protection, traffic management, and cross-border activities is the key driver contributing to the market growth. The software is majorly used for the unified management of multimedia content including collection & storage, playback, and streaming IP-based VMS is anticipated to emerge as the fastest-growing segment over the forecast period owing to the increasing demand for IP-based VMS by the government as well as corporates as part of video surveillance projects The market is anticipated to witness significant growth owing to increasing awareness of the benefits offered by VMS and growing investments in city surveillance as part of the smart city projects. Moreover, the increasing adoption of High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), also known as H.265 video compression standard, coupled with the rising trend of integrating VMS with emerging technologies such as built-in intelligence and deep learning for video analytics is expected to boost the video management software market growth. A unified VMS enables customers to merge analog and IP videos and offers a cost-effective approach to businesses for expanding and improving their surveillance capabilities. VMS can be integrated with multiple digital cameras depending on the requirements of the customer. With the growing adoption of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and Internet Protocol (IP) network cameras in the security and surveillance market, the demand for VMS is also anticipated to witness significant growth over the forecast period. The software enables customers to enhance situational awareness and monitoring capabilities. High resolution videos and imagery can also be used by government law enforcement agencies to identify, track, and arrest criminals. The cloud segment is anticipated to gain traction owing to the increased use of cloud by companies for offering Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) for applications such as recording, flexible storage, and remote access & viewing as well as for enhanced cybersecurity solutions Video analytics is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period due to the increasing deployment of intelligent video surveillance systems by the government and enterprises The government segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2019 to 2025. Numerous smart city initiatives along with multiple infrastructure development projects to support increasing urbanization are anticipated to fuel the demand for VMS market Key players operating in the VMS market include AxxonSoft, Inc.; Qognify Inc.; Milestone Systems; Exacq Technologies, Inc.; Identiv, Inc.; Verint Systems; Magal Security Systems Ltd.; Genetec Inc.; Panasonic Corporation; Salient Systems Corporation; and March Networks.   Source: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/

The government will conclude the main details of Thailand Cyberport development in the next two months before getting the project off the ground by year-end to create a national digital community and one-stop facilitator for startups and entrepreneurs. The announcement comes after the digital economy and society (DE) minister and his team met the chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Co last week. The two parties agreed to drive development of Thailand Cyberport. Hong Kong Cyberport is a digital community whose management company is wholly owned by the Hong Kong government. DE Minister Pichet Durongkaveroj said Thailand Cyberport, through a collaboration with Hong Kong Cyberport, aims to be a national innovative community for multiple sectors and a centre of the startup ecosystem in the region, attracting venture capital firms and global enterprises.  "The existing ecosystem for startup incubation is not enough to drive the government's Thailand 4.0 roadmap, and thus the government needs a more practical driver of digital ecosystem development," he said. Mr Pichet said the existing incubation projects for startups operated by private and state agencies lack the necessary functions for startups from seed-level incubation, connecting them to strategic partners and investors, and driving collaboration with local and international business partners. "Thailand Cyberport will help incubate startups at all levels seeking angel funds, skills management coaching and venture capital," he said, adding that the project will embrace areas as diverse as culture, tourism and agriculture. Thailand Cyberport will be set up in the vicinity of the Digital Park in Chon Buri province under the government's Eastern Economic Corridor scheme. The DE Ministry is working with the Science and Technology Ministry, the Industry Ministry and the Board of Investment to finalise major details of the Thailand Cyberport project, Mr Pichet said Monday on the sidelines of the "Big Change to Big Chance" event celebrating the eighth anniversary of the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA). Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak visited Hong Kong and met the head of Hong Kong Cyberport Management. Mr Somkid initiated the development of Thailand Cyberport along similar lines. Hong Kong Cyberport is a business park consisting of four office buildings, a hotel and a retail entertainment complex. It describes itself as a "creative digital community" with a cluster of technology and digital content tenants. According to a statement on the Hong Kong Cyberport website, the park is the flagship of Hong Kong's digital tech industry, with a committed team of professionals providing value-added services to support the digital community. Mr Pichet said the government through the DE Ministry is pushing several tasks to fulfil the digital transformation of Thailand. One highlight is establishing a test base for 5G wireless broadband at the Digital Park in Chon Buri. The 5G test base was approved Monday by the National Digital Economy and Society Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong.

An Egyptian application titled “7keema” has been named as the best startup in Egypt at the 2018 Seedstars world competition 7keema is a mobile application owned by HealthApp Group that provides safe, instant and high quality services in the field of home care nursing through registered and licensed professional nurses. The app service is provided 24/7, initially in Egypt and planned to reach other MENA countries soon. The competition finalists included five intriguing startups in Egypt (7akeema, Hitchhiker, Odiggio, Vapulus, and Skolera) who successfully presented their companies goals to a jury of local investment and the Regional Manager for MENA at Seedstars. At the end of the pitching round, 7keema startup snatched the prize as the first of its kind in the Middle East. Odiggio, an e-commerce company that sells car parts, ranked second while Hitchhiker, a social media platform connecting users looking to ship items are linked to trusted travelers, grabbed third place. 7keema will represent Egypt at the global Seedstars Summit in Switzerland, held on April 2019. The summit includes a week-long training program which provides an opportunity for app developers and owners to meet with 65 other winners from fast growing economies, along with iconic global investors and mentors. 7keema will also have a chance to win up to $1M in equity investment. The Seedstars world competition is a global startup competition covering more than 65 emerging and developing markets.

“Vkontakte” began testing their payment platform VK Pay and are aiming to become the largest online trading platform in Russia, as is stated in the message by the social network itself. As of today, every VK community will be able to activate a convenient payment solution within the network – the company is beginning their testing of the platform VK Pay. Transfer of funds occurs instantly, as when paying in any store. Gazprombank became a partner of the social network. So far, you can make purchases and pay for services both in the special section "VKontakte" and on the sites of VK Pay partners. Gradually, all users will have access to the service. At the same commission for the input, withdrawal and transfer of funds from either buyers or sellers will not be taken. The launch of VK Pay is an important stage for the final formation of a full-scale e-commerce ecosystem. According to him, the combination of communication and payment functions will make VKontakte the largest site for online trading in Russia. Taking into account the ‘Vkontakte’ demographic and its readiness to make purchases, it is safe to assume a market with a value of no more than 100 billion rubles in the next few years. “Collaborative projects that we are starting to work on aim at introducing an entirely new way of offering services and items for purchase in the digital space, which was dictated by the rapidly changing market of financial services and growing customers’ demand,” – noted Gazprombank. Starting from 2015, over 490 000 communities have activated the service “Market.”

Walmart has announced a new partnership with Waymo, the self-driving car service created by Google.  Walmart and Waymo will launch a pilot project to transport customers to and from a store location to pick up their groceries.  The project is currently being tested out in one Walmart store located in Chandler, Arizona to a group of nearly 400 Waymo daily users. The pilot customers will place an online grocery pickup order on the Walmart website or app. Once the order is complete and fulfilled then, Waymo will transport the customer to and from the pickup. According to Tom Ward, VP of digital operations of Walmart U.S., “while giving customers a unique experience with amazing technology, we’re learning how we can make Walmart Online Grocery Pickup even more convenient. Waymo’s experience, industry leading technology and mission on safety is helping us enter this space in the right way.” Walmart offers online grocery pickup in nearly 1,500 locations and has plans to expand to more stores this year. Walmart and Google have also partnered in the past. Walmart has hundreds of products available for voice shopping via Google Assistant, which is Google's online shopping platform that lives on its smart speaker Google Home and other smart devices.