5 MWC must reads for your weekend

We keep our ear to the ground for the interesting stats, insights and discussion points you need to feel in the know from MWC Barcelona 2023.?

1. Can racing?ever be sustainable??

From the freezing ice sheets of the Arctic to the sweltering heat of the Saudi Arabian desert, Extreme-E is bringing electric racing to some of the most remote corners of the planet. As an all-electric, gender-equal, off-road motorsport series, they are helping to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption while raising awareness of the impact of climate change. For Andy Baldwin, EY Global Managing Partner, “Extreme E is a great example of how sustainability can be a key driver of innovation in virtually any context,” and when it comes to sustainability as a driver of innovation: “collaboration is key,” he says. So how are EY and Extreme E collaborating? EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services practice supports Extreme E with its sustainability strategy and disclosures. But it doesn’t stop there - it has also developed an assessment framework that helps the motorsport series understand the environmental and social impacts of its races around the world. This week, Andy shared the stage with Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E at MWC.?

Motor racing that helps society and the environment? Extreme E is a case study for why sustainability must drive innovation?

2.?Player one, are you ready??

In the last five years, the video gaming industry has grown rapidly and it’s on the verge of a major transformation. But why? In short, because of the metaverse -?a shared, persistent, three-dimensional (3D) virtual realm where users interact with objects, the environment and each other through digital representations of themselves or avatars. Many believe that the metaverse will become widespread in society, and as an early adopter of the metaverse, the gaming industry is certainly leading the way. So just how vast will the economic opportunity of the metaverse be? According to one estimate, the global metaverse market is expected to reach $280 billion by 2025. As it matures, the metaverse will continue to incorporate various technologies, such as VR, AR and 3D functionality. It is also associated with the decentralized Web 3.0 concept, which many view as the next chapter in the evolution of the internet.?Do you??

What’s possible for the gaming industry in the next dimension?

3. Cocreators of the metaverse?

Telecom operators stand to benefit immensely by taking part in the metaverse. Through this virtual environment, they can enhance customer experience, monetize investments through adjacent services and increase operational efficiency. Alongside technology giants and online game developers, telecom operators can leverage emerging technologies such as 5G, edge cloud, analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) so that they are no longer relegated to the role of pipe provider but are paving the way to becoming cocreators of the metaverse. We are already starting to see telcos around the globe recognize this potential – but how can they be truly successful??

Seven ways telecom operators can power the metaverse

4. A wake-up call?

Companies see emerging technologies not just as a tool to enhance their resilience but as a means to help them grow. According to executives from 1,325 enterprises worldwide, businesses now rank the contribution of Internet of Things (IoT) to revenue growth, equally with operational efficiency benefits. That is in stark contrast to last year’s study, when pandemic-weary businesses were primarily focused on business resilience and continuity. These findings are a wake-up call to businesses that may be going into defensive mode, as they look to weather adverse economic conditions. First-movers in some industries will undoubtedly realize concrete benefits now, by seizing the opportunities of 5G, IoT and beyond.?

Industries’ focus on emerging technology is fast shifting from survival mode to growth

5. It’s time to clean up...?

We all know the importance of good hygiene in our personal lives – it’s what keeps us healthy, resilient, and presentable. So why is it that we don’t always apply the same principles in the workplace? With the?threat of cyber-attacks on the rise, maintaining high standards of cyber hygiene can make a huge difference to?organizations when?trying to protect themselves. In the same way you’d protect your home from intruders, cyber hygiene is about getting the basics right – making it as difficult as possible for attackers to penetrate the organization and to remain undetected - improving security is a matter of identifying potential weak points that might allow entry, taking action to strengthen those areas, and installing systems that sound the alert if security is breached. So, in?an era where more people are working remotely and businesses are left more vulnerable, how can organizations clean up their act when it comes to cyber??

Clean up to stay safe?

If you do one thing:?

Team up to level up.

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