FOCUS: Operators, Internet firms, banks to set up big data union to adjust regulation

By Yekaterina Yezhova

MOSCOW, Aug 13 (PRIME) -- Six Russian companies are reported to intend to set up a big data association to work out rules of collecting and processing information in the Internet, the idea that has been in the air for more than a year, and experts welcome the initiative.

“Creation of a big data association is homage to the world expertise, when technological giants join efforts to tackle several emerging issues fast. It helps avoid unpopular legal moves that could entail extra costs for companies and undermine their margins,” investment company Freedom Finance analyst Anastasia Sosnova told PRIME.

“A European analogue of the projected Russian association could be the Big Data Value Association, which comprises Orange, SAP, Siemens, Nokia, IBM, and Telecom Italia.”

Mass media reported that the association will be forged by mobile operator MegaFon, Internet companies Mail.Ru Group and Yandex, banks Sberbank and Tinkoff Bank, and research company oneFactor.

A MegaFon spokesperson confirmed the operator’s intention to take part in the association without any further deliberation or comments regarding a reported presidency at the entity by the operator’s Chief Operating Officer Anna Serebryanikova.

The association is said to work out rules to exchange data on the market, interrelate with foreign owners of data and startups, create a code of ethics and serve as an expert platform for the government.

“The big data association will be most likely a self-regulating organization and one of its tasks will be to build a dialogue with the government to avoid excessive legal initiatives. As any self-regulating organization, the entity will be able to set standards for its activities in the industry and bring participants to responsibility if they misbehave,” Sosnova at Freedom Finance said.

“It’s quite difficult to forecast any timeframe for the association to take shape. I think it will happen within a year,” the analyst said, adding that all large-scale players of the IT industry are interested in the idea.

Local connection operators and Internet companies have been discussing the creation of the big data association to elaborate new rules of work with this emerging business tool for more than a year, said brokerage BCS, which views the projected association as a positive event.

Artashes Sivkov, executive vice president for corporate business development at mobile operator VimpelCom, said, “We think the use of big data allows business to cut marketing costs significantly, which is especially crucial in the current complicated economic conditions, when companies have to watch their spending closely.”

“The big data market in Russia has only started to form, and its natural evolution could slow down when certain operators try to lead its regulation. Competition and variety of ideas is a recipe to a successful development of any business.

“At the same time, VimpelCom is an ardent partisan of an industry organization as a platform to discuss different current issues, including the matter of self-regulation and protection of big data against potential threats.”

VimpelCom, widely known under the Beeline brand, is actively developing this vector as well. “We have lots of products that on the basis of big data help business reduce marketing and advertising budgets. We’ll speak soon in detail about our new product Focus, which will assist our clients in targeting their audience by 23 parameters and making relevant offers,” Sivkov told PRIME.

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