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Re: [kictanet] .Ke domains cross the 100,000 Mark (Reminder to Team KeNIC to make good on their promise during last year’s AGM on transparency and improving on Corporate Governance. The silence is worrying)
by Ali Hussein 10 Jun '20

10 Jun '20

Barrack As we celebrate the 100k milestone we need to take cognisant of the issues raised in the last AGM. We still await a comprehensive follow-through by KeNIC. I suspect with better corporate governance the next milestone of 100k names will be much easier to reach. Regards Ali Hussein Tel: +254 713 601113 Twitter: @AliHKassim Skype: abu-jomo LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with. > On Wed, Apr 1, 2020 at 11:21 PM Barrack Otieno via kictanet <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: > Listers, > > Finally we have over 100,000 .Ke names, what a milestone. Next should be the 1 Million Mark. > > Kudos to the KeNIC team. > > Regards > > -- > Barrack O. Otieno > +254721325277 > +254733206359 > Skype: barrack.otieno > PGP ID: 0x2611D86A > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet > Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ > > Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/info%40alyhussein.com > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.

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Draft VAT Digital Supply Regulations
by tevin mwenda 09 Jun '20

09 Jun '20

Dear Listers, Please find attached the proposed Draft VAT Regulations on Digital Market Places published by KRA for public participation. The deadline for submitting your comments through a memorandum is 15th June 2020. https://www.kra.go.ke/en/media-center/public-notices/842-draft-value-added-… Thank you Kind Regards Tevin Mwenda Gitonga

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Business Plan
by Maina Samson 08 Jun '20

08 Jun '20

Dear ListersKindly side chat if you can support with developing (or have done) a business plan for a CSP Regards, Samson

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Re: [kictanet] INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ONLINE BRANDING AND SECURITY WEBINAR
by Barrack Otieno 08 Jun '20

08 Jun '20

Dear Listers , I hope this finds you well, i would like to share the invite below from the Kenya Network Information Centre As we navigate through this period of uncertainty, how can businesses augment their digital presence while protecting their brands in the era of the new normal? Join us for a webinar on *June 9th, 2020* at *02:30 PM* (*EAT*) as we discuss *Online Branding and Security.* Please register. Click here <https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwlcuCtrT8oG9JaXSvjPmO4y_b9Eiku_roG> Thank you. -- Regards, Admin KENYA NETWORK INFORMATION CENTRE WWW.KENIC.OR.KE | WERARE.CO.KE CA COMPLEX - WAIYAKI WAY. NAIROBI KENYA -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Today 3pm : DIGITAL TAX Webinar by KRA, Lawyers Hub and Qhala
by Linda Bonyo 08 Jun '20

08 Jun '20

Join Qhala and the Lawyers Hub for an online discussion today afternoon (June 8th 2020, 3pm) *Theme: Taxing the Digital Economy* On June 1st, the Kenyan Revenue Authority officially announced the taxing of the digital economy. Kenya being one of Africa's leading Tech hubs is booming with innovative digital services that are slowly transforming various industries. Compliance with the 1.5% digital tax to be levied on gross transaction values, for instance, will come with increased costs of services among other implications. Various questions still linger. Join us on Monday 3PM EAT as we host an online discussion on this matter with Mr. Maurice Oray, the Deputy Commissioner for Tax Policy; Rosemary Chemo Kimwatu, Legal Policy Specialist; Eunice Kavere, Lawyer and Wilfred Olambo, a Tax Expert with KPMG. *Sign up here* : bit.ly/DigitalTaxKenya See you then and warm regards from the Lawyers Hub. *__________________________________________________________________* *Linda Bonyo* (Ms.) | CEO, *Lawyers Hub * *Tech for Justice* Web <http://www.lawyershub.org> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawyers-hub-kenya-1bb021161/> | Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/lawyershubkenya> | Calendar <http://www.calendly.com/bonyo> | *_**__________________________________________________________* *DISCLAIMER: The information contained in or accompanying this e-mail is intended for the use of the stated recipient only. It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Lawyers Hub.*

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AT&T Will Zero-Rate HBO Max, Undermining Competition
by Adam Lane 04 Jun '20

04 Jun '20

Worth noting this as online streaming takes off around the world, as there are more and more vertical partnerships/mergers between telcos and content and its impact on net neutrality/competition.... https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/06/03/att-will-zero-rate-hbo-max-underm… AT&T Will Zero-Rate HBO Max, Undermining Competition Net neutrality advocates won't be happy about this. [Evan Niu] Evan Niu, CFA<https://www.fool.com/author/1922/> (TMFNewCow) Jun 3, 2020 at 10:00AM Author Bio With the streaming wars intensifying this year, every service provider is looking for any advantage it can get in order to earn a piece of your monthly entertainment budget. Many years ago, telecommunications giants dreamed up the idea of sponsored data, where a company offering some online service could pay for the underlying data used to access that service. The practice is also called zero-rating<https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/12/15/t-mobile-undermines-atts-zero-rat…>, and it has garnered considerable criticism over the years for undermining net neutrality and competition more broadly. That's exactly what AT&T (NYSE:T<https://www.fool.com/quote/nyse/att-inc/t/>) is planning to do with HBO Max, the successor to HBO Now that launched last week. [AT&T headquarters] AT&T WILL PAY ITSELF FOR SPONSORED DATA USAGE. IMAGE SOURCE: AT&T. >From one pocket to another The Verge<https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/2/21277402/hbo-max-att-data-caps-netflix-di…> has confirmed that AT&T will effectively exempt HBO Max data usage from counting toward mobile data caps under the guise of sponsored data. AT&T subsidiary WarnerMedia will pay AT&T subsidiary AT&T Mobility so that HBO Max subscribers don't have to worry about using up their data. But since AT&T owns both companies, it is simply shifting money from one pocket to another and paying itself. The media outlet had originally asked AT&T streaming chief Tony Goncalves about the practice in an interview, and the exec initially said HBO Max would not get preferential treatment while noting that data plans are purportedly unlimited. But unlimited data plans have long been a misnomer, as carriers typically throttle speeds for heavy data users at a certain threshold, so data usage still matters. For AT&T, that threshold is 22GB. Zero-rating has been broadly criticized for years by net neutrality advocates, as giving any service preferential treatment tilts the competitive scales. For example, AT&T customers watching a third-party video streaming service from Netflix, Disney, Comcast or Apple, among many other contenders, will have that usage count against their data caps, encouraging them to instead watch the service that AT&T owns. It's worth noting that AT&T's DIRECTV service is also zero-rated, although Ma Bell has been hemorrhaging DIRECTV subscribers because of ongoing cord-cutting. The Trump administration repealed the Federal Communication Commission's net neutrality rules in 2018, allowing internet service providers to give preferential treatment and paid prioritization to certain services and content. While some larger companies may be able to afford to pay sponsored data fees to level the playing field, those fees could be framed as AT&T essentially imposing a tax on competitors. None have chosen to participate in those programs thus far. Perhaps more importantly, smaller service providers simply may not be able to pay and sponsored data could arguably be considered a barrier to entry for new entrants.

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Fwd: [At-Large] senior and postdoc fellowships on global internet governance 2021
by Barrack Otieno 03 Jun '20

03 Jun '20

Listers, Might be of interest. Regards ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Joanna Kulesza <jkuleszaicann(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, Jun 3, 2020 at 3:26 PM Subject: [At-Large] senior and postdoc fellowships on global internet governance 2021 To: <at-large(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org> Dear all, please kindly see below and attached. The deadline for applications has been extended to July 1st. Do feel free to contact hosts directly with any questions or queries. Thanks and best, Joanna Kulesza ----------------------- Research Fellowships 2021/2022 Open Call for Applications Postdoctoral and Senior Researchers The Käte Hamburger Kolleg/Centre for Global Cooperation Research (KHK/GCR21) invites applications for Research Fellowships with duration of 12 months starting between February and September 2021. Proposals are especially welcome regarding: (1) critique, justification and legitimacy in global cooperation; and (2) global cooperation and competing conceptions of world order. The fully funded fellowships are available to both senior and postdoctoral researchers across the humanities and social sciences. Deadline for applications is 1st June 2020. We are aware that this call comes at a time of high uncertainty around COVID-19. We are monitoring closely the evolving situation and hope that circumstances will allow the advertised fellowships to start as planned from February 2021 onwards. We therefore urge you to apply if you are interested but still uncertain about the practicability of the fellowship! The KHK/GCR21 The Centre for Global Cooperation Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen is one of ten Käte Hamburger Kollegs sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Established in 2012, the Centre is an interdisciplinary and international learning community that seeks to enhance understanding of the possibilities and limits of global cooperation and to explore new options for global public policy. The working language at the Centre is English. In its second funding period (2018-2023), the Centre’s research and fellowships are organized around four broad themes: pathways and mechanisms of global cooperation; global cooperation and polycentric governance; critique, justification and legitimacy in global cooperation; and global cooperation and competing conceptions of world order. Empirical research on these themes focuses especially on the governance of climate change, the internet, migration, and peacebuilding. The Centre will issue thematic calls for application on an annual basis. Fellowships 2021-2022 For next year we invite fellowship applications from across the humanities and social sciences (including also psychology, law and economics) in relation to the second two main themes, as detailed below. We particularly encourage female researchers and scholars from the Global South to apply. Applications from scholars at risk are welcome. Benefits to Fellows  An intellectually stimulating and vibrant interdisciplinary learning community  Excellent infrastructure with fully equipped offices, library facilities, and administrative support (also with finding accommodation)  Funds to organize workshops (subject to approval, with preference especially to workshops that emerge from an interdisciplinary exchange with other researchers at the Centre)  Either a monthly stipend commensurate with experience or financing of a teaching replacement at the home institution Expectations from Fellows  A completed PhD  Personal research and publication in the Centre’s thematic areas  A contribution to the Centre’s own publications  Regular active participation in seminars and other Centre events  Collaboration with other fellows in interdisciplinary exchange  Work in residence at the Centre in Duisburg, Germany Themes 2021-2022 The Centre’s work in the period of 2021-2022 will focus on the themes ‘Critique, Justification and Legitimacy in Global Cooperation’ and ‘Global Cooperation and Competing Conceptions of World Order’. We especially invite fellowship applications that address these themes, as described below. In addition, preference will be given to applications with an empirical focus on the governance of climate change, the internet, migration, and peacebuilding. Critique, Justification and Legitimacy in Global Cooperation Legitimacy – and its contestation – is a vital question for global cooperation. Legitimacy refers to the belief and perception that a governing force has rightful authority and exercises it appropriately. Legitimacy can be both normative (i.e. determined by moral judgement) and sociological (i.e. observed in political behaviour). Scholarship from various disciplines has usually examined legitimacy in relation to the state, but more recent scholarship understands legitimacy as a fragile, politicized, and contested phenomenon that involves a wider range of political forces, including multilateral institutions, private global governance, and transnational social movements. This processual notion of legitimacy – the interplay between critique and justification – leads to many conceptual, theoretical, and methodological challenges. It implies considering politicization processes and power relations across scales (at local, national and transnational levels), a broad spectrum of political actors in their complex relationships, and new forms of resistance against formal authorities (e.g. by whistleblowers, young climate activists, right-wing networks). Sites of resistance include – but are not limited to – civil society associations, social movements, and everyday practices of ordinary citizens. De-legitimation can come from ‘left-wing’ and ‘right-wing’ angles, from communitarians as well as cosmopolitans. If legitimacy is also created by civil society actors, new protest movements, and ‘ordinary citizens’, research questions emerge on how to conceptualize and study contested ‘legitimation work’ (Raymond Geuss) around multiple sites of global cooperation. We welcome projects that help us gain a better understanding of global cooperation and ‘politics of (de)legitimation’. Proposals are welcomed across a range of issue-areas, especially – though not limited to – climate change, Internet, migration, and peacebuilding. Questions for this research stream may include, though are not limited to:  Who are the protagonists who cooperate in legitimation and de-legitimation (or resistance) struggles (e.g. civil society organizations, social movements, indigenous groups)? How and why do these struggles emerge and develop? How does the global rise of populism play into such practices of cooperation?  What forms of trans-scalar cooperation can we distinguish in politics of (de-)legitimation (e.g. shared textual and visual narratives, performances, academic schools of thought)? For example, do young climate activists cooperate differently than right-wing networks?  How can we best study new protagonists and complex new forms of resistance against formal authorities, for instance as exercised/practiced by whistleblowers, feminist activists, artists, sportspeople and critical comedians?  How do certain concerns gain legitimacy as a “global” problem in need of “cooperation” (e.g. peace, climate change)? Global Cooperation and Competing Conceptions of World Order The broad question concerning competing conceptions of world order is a very traditional issue of global politics, which has operated on the basis of both systemic assumptions and more actor-focused concepts. Yet, under current polycentric conditions, these issues have taken many different forms and can be studied from a variety of perspectives, particularly with regard to their impact on global cooperation. Research projects in this stream are invited to explore the commonalities and differences between various conceptions of world order, as well as relationships between them in practices of global cooperation and non-cooperation. We welcome projects that help us to gain a better understanding of how different and often contested conceptions of world order shape, change or obstruct global cooperation. This includes abstract considerations about epistemological and anthropological foundations of world-order conceptions, as well as a focus on material conditions and repercussions. Also welcome are proposals that deepen understanding of populism and anti-global protest, the fight for global equality or the self-legitimation of organizations. Themes we are particularly interested in for the coming fellowship period include: How can we understand geopolitics (i.e. the strategic struggle for spheres of influence), beyond its form as classic theme of international politics? Can it result in new constellations of global cooperation? Or will we see a return of interstate conflict that seemed to have become obsolete? We invite research on perceptions, narratives and discourses to explore grand geopolitical/economic schemes in their conception in different regions or circles and also address new conflicting/cooperative areas. Can conceptions of world order based on the unity of humankind be imagined without relying on essentialist and simplifying anthropologies; and what are the implications of such ‘new cosmopolitanisms’ for global cooperation? What can be expected of approaches which substitute the focus on human rationality with the emphasis on other human capacities, such as empathy or awareness of common vulnerability? What is the role of different conceptions of time and historical directionality? How have conflicts between largely irreconcilable conceptions of world orders (and political agendas) impacted on global cooperation? For instance, while economic growth is seen as instrumental for improving the lives of people particularly in the Global South, a contrary position would hold that sustainable human life is only possible under conditions of reduced growth and consumption, respect for nature, clean energies etc. Can such guiding principles or even ideologies also pave the way for new ways in global cooperation, such as new alliances and forms or will these competing views generate future conflicts? How to Apply Applications (in English only) should include:  cover letter  concise research proposal (3-5 pages)  CV  list of publications  text of one relevant publication Please submit applications at http://www.gcr21.org/en/fellows/how-to-become-a-fellow/fellowships/. Deadline for receipt of applications is 1st June 2020. Please indicate in the cover letter your preferred start and end date of the fellowship. If you have any questions, please contact Matthias Schuler at <schuler(a)gcr21.uni-due.de>. _______________________________________________ At-Large mailing list At-Large(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org https://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/at-large At-Large Official Site: http://atlarge.icann.org _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos) You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on. -- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A

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Fw: Facebook Web Conference for Non-profits Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis
by Grace Githaiga 03 Jun '20

03 Jun '20

Listers This might be of interest to some of you. Rgds. Subject: Facebook Web Conference for Non-profits Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis We are excited to announce an online conference presented by non- profits, experts, and Facebook on how to drive engagement and fundraising growth during this moment of crisis. We will be looking at some of the key challenges that non-profits are currently facing and how the shift to digital and leveraging platforms like Facebook and Instagram can present a host of opportunities to engage with your supporters. Key topics that will be covered include: * How to drive fundraising growth and pivot strategically to digital * The importance of creativity and innovation during a crisis * How to tell your organization’s story and effectively communicate on digital platforms * New opportunities and growth hacks on Facebook and Instagram using ads, donation tools and more. Date: May 28 at 9:30am BST/10:30am CET.

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Facebook employees hold virtual walkout over Mark Zuckerberg's refusal to act against Trump
by Grace Githaiga 03 Jun '20

03 Jun '20

Good morning Listers I hope you are all keeping well despite the challenging times. This article might be of interest to some of you. Rgds. Facebook employees are staging a rebellion over Mark Zuckerberg’s refusal to act against Donald Trump, expressing their dissatisfaction with their boss on social media in a rare public display of dissent and, in some cases, staging a “virtual” walkout. Disagreement came from employees at all levels of the company, including some senior staff. Particular criticism was levelled at Zuckerberg’s personal decision to leave up <https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/may/29/facebook-trump-twitter-s…> the Facebook version of a tweet sent by Trump in which the president appeared to encourage police to shoot rioters. By contrast, Twitter hid the message behind a warning <https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/may/29/twitter-hides-donald-tru…> . https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jun/01/facebook-workers-rebel-m…

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What the Pandemic Means for Technology Acceleration
by Adam Lane 03 Jun '20

03 Jun '20

In case this may be of interest or useful.. https://blog.huawei.com/2020/06/03/what-the-pandemic-means-for-technology-a… What the Pandemic Means for Technology Acceleration ByAdam Lane June 3, 2020 As countries start to come out of lockdowns, or loosen other restrictions, what might the world look like and how might technology play a role? Education It looks like around the world some students will be going back to school earlier than others whilst some will be taking it in turns in order to ensure classrooms are not so crowded. Whether this is a rotation on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly or other basis, it has important implications for the use of technology for teaching. Some students will be studying online at home, some may not have access to technology to do so (or not have the caregivers available to support this), and others may be at school. Each of these groups will have different experiences, and technology will need to adjust to try to keep each at the same pace as the others. This means that just watching recorded videos or doing online worksheets will not be enough. Those at home need to be getting the same experience as those in class. This requires live teaching using video conference software and interactive whiteboards in schools. In the short-term this might be possible just using tablets or PCs, but in the medium-term, professional interactive whiteboards with video conference functions would be preferable, and probably with one camera at the back of the classroom looking towards the teacher as well. In much of the world, if schools are not already online, they can get online fairly easily using a CPE<https://consumer.huawei.com/en/routers/5g-cpe-pro/> (or a modem with a SIM card), particularly the outdoor type, and use a 4G or 5G signal. In the long-term, schools can benefit from the deployment of fiber or use microwave connections . In emerging economies where some schools may not have internet coverage, the live teaching will have to be from schools or other government buildings that do have coverage, whilst expanding connectivity over time to other locations, for example through a low-cost base station such as the Rural Star. After COVID passes, those interactive whiteboards and internet connections will continue to be useful, enabling access to the Internet in class and use of videos and other content, accelerating the transition to blended learning<https://blog.huawei.com/2018/10/04/is-education-today-delivering-the-skills…> that is already underway. Meanwhile a whole generation of children will have become accustomed to online learning, and there will be a huge library of content that will have been created that can be used. Read more: How school moved to cloud this semester<https://www.huawei.com/en/about-huawei/publications/winwin-magazine/36/clou…> Health * [https://blog.huawei.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/shutterstock_1644744847.…] As countries around the world explore the use of different apps to trace contacts, these apps can also be linked into public health hotlines for voice or video consultations and telemedicine - not just for COVID-related issues, but for any health issues. If many residents download these apps, it will dramatically speed-up what was already becoming a trend pre-COVID. Countries are hiring armies of contact tracers, supercharging community health workers, and arming them all with smartphones and apps to manage their contact tracing as well as providing online training materials and communication tools for peer discussion and engagement with central ministries. There has been at least a decade's efforts in the developing world to digitalize the health workforce, but it has been a struggle. No longer. Now the urgency of the effort during the pandemic will require digitalization. From a fairly limited remit, it will be possible to expand the application and roles of the digital tools from just a response to COVID-19 to the whole gamut of health data collection and community information-sharing, from nutrition to STDs, vaccines and non-communicable diseases. Hospitals and their labs, especially in the developing world which was mostly paper-based, are being upgraded to ensure the rapid collection of medical data to quickly diagnose and flag potential COVID cases, as well as transmit test results, and even use AI and machine learning tools to predict the spread of the virus. These systems may be fairly limited now, but they can be upgraded and expanded to be more comprehensive. Video conference facilities are being installed, and health workers are becoming more used to using them for training. There has been a huge boon in private telemedicine and e-pharmacy services around the world, partly helped by governments issuing temporary or emergency legislation such as accepting e-prescriptions, or managing liability for online consultations allowing such services where before there was hesitation. It will be hard to remove these even after everything eventually returns to normal, when citizens have become accustomed to them, and regulators realize their previous reservations have been overcome. These must become permanent to enable dramatic increases in access to healthcare. Read more: How telemedicine can help combat the pandemic<https://www.huawei.com/en/about-huawei/publications/winwin-magazine/36/tele…> Politics For centuries politicians have had to physically be present inside buildings to hold debates and to vote. For various reasons, they have been slow to adapt to technology until COVID-19 arrived and forced change. These changes are likely to continue, with politicians using video-conference facilities and online voting software. It may help open up politics further to younger generations. Will politicians have to keep travelling so frequently between constituencies and parliaments? And what about all those international trips for conferences, especially considering climate change? Media The media industry has been turned upside down, with traditional approaches of mostly having guests come to studios being replaced by guests recording from home. New forms of concerts, music, and theatre are being developed, with participants performing remotely and synching together, something that is much easier now with 5G and fast fiber. As latencies reduce further, and speeds increase, this will become more common and not just for domestic, but also international media events. [https://blog.huawei.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/shutterstock_1252038760.…] Will there be a return to cinemas in the future? Will everyone who has signed up to streaming services keep their subscriptions? These questions were already being asked pre-COVID, and will certainly come to the fore in the next few months. Agriculture Agricultural systems have become quite resilient, and technology has helped ensure that delivery and supply chains have remained generally intact during COVID-19. Social distancing has supercharged e-commerce, forcing more retailers online, as well as wholesalers and distributers. Supply chains have become more diverse and technology will help manage this more in the future, with data analytics and IoT helping track products and commodities, as well as predicting and managing risks. [https://blog.huawei.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/shutterstock_1129777829.…] Tourism Tourism has taken a massive hit, and the paths to slowly opening up may require carefully planned trips, with frequent testing, with fairly limited movement in case of spreading or picking up the virus. It is likely that a number of IoT products will be developed to help track tourists (with geofencing functions as well as the ability to trace contacts), who will happily temporarily consent to these in order to have a vacation. [https://blog.huawei.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/shutterstock_1172512777.…] Meanwhile, tourism destinations may look to enhance their offerings using AR and VR when there may be limited contacts with locals or limits on certain destinations. Such tools will be crucial in marketing efforts, and - in conjunction with the increasing maturity of cloud VR powered by 10G PON and gigabit broadband - will lead to the growth of the consumer VR industry. Read more: China Telecom Sichuan powers cloud VR with dual-gigabit services<https://www.huawei.com/en/about-huawei/publications/communicate/88/china-te…> Huawei Global Industry Vision 2025: Super Vision<https://www.huawei.com/minisite/giv/cn/predictions.html?id=2> [https://blog.huawei.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/giv.png] Retail Retail has of course been moving online rapidly in many countries. During COVID-19 new products that people rarely bought online are now being tried out and then bought online, even products such as furniture or entire houses. Real estate agencies that had not used VR, 360 or 3D technologies to showcase their properties will have to develop those rapidly, and they may become the norm in the future - at least a bare minimum before someone physically visits a house. For products like furniture or furnishings, there may not be a return to physical retail outlets, especially with new AR capabilities on smartphones that will help place items in homes virtually first. Where people do return to the high street it may be driven a lot more by experiences than by shopping, though even some of those may be moving online. Activities such as Escape Rooms may take place virtually sooner than we think. Gaming Online gaming had been growing significantly, especially in countries without high-end PCs, thanks to the growing capabilities of fairly cheap smartphones and tablets. Large industry players have already developed advanced online platforms for gaming which have been in great demand so far. It is likely that this will continue in the future as social distancing continues and continue to be a big growth industry, particularly with the advent of platforms that don't require downloading games first now that Internet speeds and latencies, especially with 5G rollout, are good enough to stream directly from cloud. [https://blog.huawei.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/shutterstock_1146784925.…] Read more: Thailand's 3BB wins gamer market with smart home broadband<https://www.huawei.com/en/about-huawei/publications/communicate/88/thailand…> There is no doubt that all the lives lost, the jobs lost, and the disruption to lives of almost every person on this planet in the last 6 months have been awful. But it is also clear that the availability and ability of technology has helped mitigate some of these affects. Many people may not know the term "digital economy" but during recent months of social distancing, almost everyone has now become a part of the digital economy. As we look to the future, tentatively and cautiously, since there is still no sign that we will go back to normal anytime soon, we have a choice as to how we will take advantage of technology to return our economies to growth, and by accelerating already existing trends, kick-start vital industries that are the source of jobs. We need to analyze each industry in our local economy and think how technology can contribute to re-establishing them and creating a base for expansion in the future of the digital economy. The investment in ICT infrastructure in the last decade or two has held up well. Now is the time to accelerate that investment, applications that bring economic, social and environmental benefits, and the digital skills to take part in the digital economy.

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