As expounded on its website, the app owes its capabilities to ChatGPT, an advanced AI framework. The platform extends an invitation for users to seek solace, guidance, and inspiration through these unique virtual interactions. These revelations came to light through a report by the Religion News Service.

The application’s design is elegantly straightforward. A simple click on any of the “Holy Family” icons promptly elicits a welcoming message: “Greetings, dear friend! I am Jesus Christ, your companion for today’s discourse, offering my guidance and boundless affection. How may I be of assistance to you?” It’s a glimpse into what the AI-powered Jesus might impart.

For a monthly subscription of £2.99, users are granted the privilege of conversing not only with Jesus himself but also with some of his disciples. Notably absent from this roster are Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, and Simon. Additionally, the app extends its scope to include venerable Old Testament figures such as Adam and Eve.

As with any novel technological venture, this application raises a host of intriguing questions, both profound and ethical. While some may find solace and enlightenment through these digital dialogues, concerns about the ethical implications and potential sensitivities of such interactions are also pertinent. Regardless, it is an undeniable manifestation of the ever-evolving intersection between technology and spirituality.

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Threads is expected to be released on Thursday and will allow users to retain followers from photo-sharing platform Instagram, and keep the same username, a listing on Apple’s App Store showed.

The rollout represents a direct challenge to Twitter, which has faced numerous controversies since Musk bought the company for $44 billion in 2022. Last week, the Tesla billionaire announced a slate of new restrictions on the app, limiting the number of tweets users could view per day, prompting outcry from many on the platform. While alternative microblogging sites – such as Mastodon and Blue Sky – have seen an uptick in user numbers since Musk’s acquisition, neither has been able to challenge Twitter. But Instagram already has hundreds of millions of registered users and has a history of introducing new features based on the success of other social media firms.

In 2016, it added a feature called “stories” to Instagram, or user posts that disappear after a fixed amount of time, in response to the rising popularity of Snapchat.

More recently, the company’s short-form video feature “Reels” has sought to challenge the rise of TikTok.

The launch of Threads represents a credible threat to Twitter under Musk.

“Threads is going to pose a huge threat to Twitter because it’s coming from the Meta and Instagram family of apps,” said Drew Benvie, CEO of social media consultancy Battenhall.

“Instagram has 2 billion users compared to around 250 million of Twitter, so it’s about ten times bigger already. If only one-in-ten Instagram users tries using Threads, it will overtake Twitter in the blink of an eye.”

After acquiring the company late last year, Musk laid off around 80% of staff and reinstated a number of banned accounts, such as those of former U.S. President Donald Trump and conservative satirical news site Babylon Bee.

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Overall, more women than men reported such usage of digital devices. This usage peaked for both sexes in the 30-44 age range (36% of employed women used digital devices for most or all of their working time, against 29% of men), then dropped for ages 45-59 (31% for women, 23% for men) and 60-74 (24% for women, 19% for men). 

Among the EU countries, the highest rates for people aged 15-74 were recorded in Luxembourg (47% of employed people), the Netherlands and Sweden (both 41%). Meanwhile, the lowest rates were recorded in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece (all 12%). 

In the EU as a whole, the proportion of employed people using digital devices during all or most of their working time increased with their level of education, regardless of sex. Among people with a low or medium level of education, women showed higher shares than men: 10% of women with low education spent all or most of their working time using digital devices, against 8% of men; 28% of women with medium education were in the same situation, against 16% of men. The trend reversed among people with a high level of education, where women recorded a share of 44%, while men 47%.

Source: ec.europa.eu

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Akey trend in this sector that is set to accelerate is digital-only banking accounts such as Monzo, Starling and Revolut. In the UK, 14 million adults already bank with digital only accounts, a three-fold increase since 2019 – and that number is expected to hit 23 million by 2027. Notably, 41% of digital-only banking account holders are Gen-Z adults, and nearly half of all digital-only accounts (47%) have just a £1,000 average balance.

So, what does this mean for traditional banks? Why are customers moving from an HSBC or Barclays current account to the Monzo app? The answer lies in personalisation. Challenger banks like Monzo have the agility and speed in innovation to meet customers’ needs in terms of their lifestyle choices. And even if this need constantly changes, new and emerging banks are better able to offer more that is hyper-personalised and highly appealing, such as attractive pricing and simple account opening for money transfers and day-to-day transactions. A key differentiator is their ability to provide very detailed, real-time bank balance and transfer notifications – something traditional banks cannot do as easily because of their existing core legacy systems. For many people, challenger banks offer a better customer experience and give them the products and services they need when they need them – and this is a key test for incumbent banks.

How can incumbent banks compete with digital banks?

Although fintech providers are naturally more nimble and perhaps less complex in nature, there are many areas where high street banks are still superior in the digital banking space. They have developed solid and secure digital channels and processes and unparalleled customer service support. For instance, with NatWest or HSBC, you can speak with a banking representative about your banking matters almost any time you need. Many of the digital-only banks offer online support only. High street banks also have the advantage of inherent trust which they can use to their advantage, as many customers have a legacy of confidence in their traditional banks.

Banks must embrace a shift in mindset to adopt a more customer-centric, technologydriven approach to deliver the hyper-personalised services that customers (especially younger customers) expect

While high-street banks have the right digital processes in place, it’s the end user customer experience that’s currently inadequate. Many of these banks aren’t agile enough to streamline digital processes like a fintech provider due to the complexity of their back-office legacy systems. To truly lead the way in digital banking and particularly make their offering attractive to Generation Z, these banks must strategically analyse what applications directly impact their customer and lift those out of the legacy core. By extracting this intelligence out of the back-office and moving it into a mid-office layer that sits closer to the digital channels for customers, banks can simplify complex operations and infrastructure and embrace intelligent technology to create the right service bundles for their customers. It will also allow them to understand how to leverage customer data to offer service-first models, just as the challenger banks do, and to stop looking at the legacy core system as a hindrance.

Ultimately, banks must embrace a shift in mindset to adopt a more customer-centric, technology-driven approach to deliver the hyper-personalised services that customers (especially younger customers) expect. If they don’t, their customers will continue to move to challenger banks and embrace their service-first approach to meeting their financial needs – leaving traditional banks behind.

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In 2022, 91% of people aged 16 to 74 in the EU had used the internet, 75% of whom had bought or ordered goods or services for private use. The proportion of e-shoppers grew from 55% in 2012 to 75% in 2022, an increase of 20 percentage points (pp).

The highest shares of internet users who bought or ordered goods or services over the internet in 2022 were recorded in the Netherlands (92%), Denmark (90%) and Ireland (89%). On the other hand, fewer than 50% shopped online in Bulgaria (49%).

Between 2012 and 2022, the growth was particularly significant in Estonia (+47 pp), Hungary (+43 pp), Czechia and Romania (+41 pp).

Clothes, shoes and accessories: most common online purchase

In 2022, the most common online purchases of goods were clothes (including sports clothing), shoes or accessories (ordered by 42% of internet users). Following wearables, the top five most common online purchases of physical goods were completed by deliveries from restaurants, fast-food chains and catering services (19%), cosmetics, beauty or wellness products (17%), furniture, home accessories or gardening products (16%), and printed books, magazines or newspapers and sports goods (excluding sports clothing) (both 14%).

Purchase of physical goods exceeds demand for services

The collaborative economy opened up a new way of exchanging goods and services through digital technologies. In 2022, among internet users in the EU, 21% used collaborative economy platforms to order or buy physical goods from other individuals, while 6% rented accommodation, 1% used a transport service and below 1% ordered household services via such platforms.

Individuals aged 25-34 years and 35-44 years had a higher-than-average propensity for buying goods from other private sellers in 2022 with a share of 29% of internet users each.

The importance of online platforms to book, for instance, rented accommodation was recently also observed via the experimental statistics on this topic, showing booking levels in 2022 that exceeded the pre-pandemic years, whereas tourism in more traditional types of accommo

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THE NEW GENERATION OF NETWORKS

Since the first mobile phone call was made in 1973, the mobile industry has seen breathtaking advances. On 1st December, 2018, South Korea became the world’s first 5G country. Ever since, mobile devices have changed our world by reshaping how we communicate, engage in business, and access information. Following this event, many countries started adopting 5G technology in 2020 and are set to increase data usage exponentially as more people get on board with all the benefits this technology has to offer.

To understand where we are today, due to the inevitable rise in wireless standards from 1G to 6G, it is useful to chart their unstoppable spread across the globe.

1G TECHNOLOGY (1979)

NTT introduced the first generation of mobile networks to Japan in 1979 and, by 1984, had expanded coverage throughout its home country. The first generation of mobile telecommunications technology, which went into operation in 1983, made it possible for users to make and receive calls on handheld devices such as the Motorola DynaTAC. Canada was among the countries that adopted 1G shortly after its introduction.

But 1G technology suffered from several drawbacks: poor coverage, low sound quality, and the lack of roaming support between various operators. As different systems operated on different frequency ranges, they had no compatibility. When switching carriers or travelling internationally, making or receiving calls was extremely expensive.

Furthermore, the calls were not encrypted, so they could easily be intercepted. Despite its drawbacks and hefty price tag, DynaTAC still managed to rack up an astonishing 20 million global subscribers by 1990. The success of 1G paved the way for 2G – appropriately dubbed such due to technical advancements like better processing power.

2G TECHNOLOGY (1991)

The second generation of mobile networks— known as 2G—was first implemented in Finland under the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard in 1991. With this system, encrypted calls were possible for the first time, and digital voice calling was significantly clearer with less static or background crackling than traditional analogue services had been able to provide.

But 2G was about far more than just making phone calls; it also enabled the transmission of text messages and multimedia content, transforming communications in ways no one could have foreseen. By the time 2G came along, 1G was already well-established. This meant that people enthusiastically adopted 2G—and it became hugely popular among consumers and businesses.

To understand where we are today, due to the inevitable rise in wireless standards from 1G to 6G, it is useful to chart their unstoppable spread across the globe

Although the transmission speeds in 2G networks were slow at first—around 237 kbps (0.2 Mbps)— mobile-phone operators invested heavily in building new infrastructure such as mobile cell towers since there was so much demand for the service.

Despite relatively sluggish speeds, 2G revolutionised the business landscape and changed the world forever. Moving from snail-paced dial-up Internet connections to blazing fast mobile broadband (relatively speaking compared to what we are used to today, of course) was like going from cave paintings to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel—in just a few years.

3G TECHNOLOGY (2000)

In 2001, NTT DoCoMo launched 3G and standardised the network protocol used by vendors. This meant that users could access data from any location worldwide—as long as their phones were equipped to use it. No longer would travellers be limited to their home country’s phone services when travelling abroad.

The increased speed of data transfer made possible by 3G networks allowed for the proliferation of new services such as video conferencing, streaming media, and voice-over IP (such as Skype). In 2002, the Blackberry smartphone was launched—many powerful features of this device were enabled by its ability to connect via 3G.

4G TECHNOLOGY (2008)

The transition from 2G phone networks to 3G was simple: users just needed new SIM cards. However, making the leap up to 4G was a more complicated matter as it required that phones be built with this capability in mind.

This change made it possible for device manufacturers to scale their profits dramatically and was one factor behind Apple’s rise to become the world’s first trillion-dollar company.

According to Statista, approximately 4.7 billion users will use 4G/LTE by 2023, becoming the standard worldwide.

A CLOSER LOOK AT 5G AND ITS CURRENT IMPACT

The development of 5G technology dates from 2008, with the aim to make better use of the radio spectrum and enable many devices to be connected simultaneously. It uses higher frequency waves with shorter wavelengths than previous generations.

5G is much better at handling thousands of devices simultaneously, meaning that a single network can handle mobile phones and equipment sensors—among many other forms of hardware—without slowing down.

The higher-frequency radio bands in which 5G operates – 3.5GHz (gigahertz) to 26GHz and beyond – have much greater capacity than their predecessors. Still, some infrastructure issues are created because cell towers must be spaced more closely to achieve a good signal. In addition, 5G wireless technology is designed to deliver much higher peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, and greater reliability and capacity than previous networks— allowing more users per cell and better performance in dense urban areas.

As mobile networks increase bandwidth and enhance the quality and quantity of content delivered to mobile devices— such as smartphones or tablets— 5G’s benefits will be even more evident for a more user-friendly experience

For 5G to work, the most important cellphone companies in the world will need to install many more transmitters and receivers near homes. It is a significant investment, requiring these companies to be wholly committed to the technology; further negotiations with small towns and municipalities over placing smaller boxes may also be necessary. Nowadays, of the countries that have begun the 5G rollout, China and the United States lead with a combined 652 cities where 5G is available. The Philippines has been able to roll out active connections in 98 cities—making it closest in terms of its rollout schedule.

As leaders focus on building new opportunities and compelling technologies, including the WiFi 6E standard and private 5G networks, they will shift their attention away from simply staying operational.

Executives can benefit from the increasing value that wireless infrastructure and applications unlock by leveraging new location- based services within their networks. In other words, organisations are capable of developing entirely new services and insights that can support their evolving business objectives.

Already, 5G has impacted many organisations, so let’s look at a few examples:

MAKING REMOTE WORK POSSIBLE

With the advent of 5G wireless, people no longer have to be tied down by a mandatory location. With high-speed internet available anywhere, people have the freedom to live anywhere they wish. In fact, as carriers upgrade the network, people living in rural areas and other broadband dead zones will gain access to high-speed internet. This will significantly help the local economy and connect more populations that have traditionally been isolated due to a lack of access to fibre optics that would allow them to connect to more populated areas.

BRINGING EDGE COMPUTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

5G will enable the creation of new edge computing systems that augment cloud infrastructure. By using advanced networking technology, businesses that engage in frequent transactions (such as FinTech companies and mobile banking) or need real-time interaction with their users (such as online gaming providers and live sports broadcasters) can now offer incredibly fast services in sub-10ms latency.

IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF APPS

5G already provides substantial improvements over its predecessors in predictability, which translates into reliable application performance for business users. As mobile networks increase bandwidth and enhance the quality and quantity of content delivered to mobile devices—such as smartphones or tablets—5G’s benefits will be even more evident for a more user-friendly experience.

USING AI AND AUTOMATION TO ENABLE NEW INNOVATIONS

Many companies like Amazon, through Amazon Web Services (AWS), have already begun using new automation and artificial intelligence technologies that depend on faster download speeds.

As businesses prepare for the future and modernise, 5G’s lower latency and faster speeds will be difficult to ignore-especially when combined with automation.

ANALYSING PRODUCT AND PROCESS PERFORMANCE

5G technology makes data a commodity that everyone can access. With the ability to collect so much data in real-time with low latency (almost 100% uptime), we can gain insights into product and process performance that were never before possible. Understanding trending data helps us recognise patterns or issues, allowing for better predictions and therefore improving internal processes, services, and products, among many other things, for optimisation of enterprises and organisations.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF 5G TECHNOLOGY

5G technology will enable new types of intelligent devices to communicate with one another and with their users. These devices can be integrated into various systems, allowing them to self-organise to address a broad spectrum of applications and services. Here are some examples.

SMART CITIES

One of 5G’s primary uses is for smart city applications, such as the Alba Iulia Smart City in Romani. This smart city has traffic monitors, parking sensors, and waste management systems. With the advent of 5G, factories will accommodate an influx of robots on assembly lines and drones for lastmile deliveries. Cars will communicate with one another to avoid hazards or accidents and become fully automated.

Ford and Mercedes-Benz and companies such as John Deere rely on intelligent technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) to power smart factories. Now they are looking at how 5G can drive further innovation in their facilities

Alba Iulia is a relatively small city, but it is an excellent example of the potential of WiFi and IoT connectivity powered by 5G to transform how citizens interact with the government — as well as businesses and visitors — could improve everyone’s lives.

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

The automotive industry is poised to experience significant changes in the future with connected and autonomous vehicles— including driverless cars on 5G networks.

With the advent of 5G technology, we will see a new wave of business models. The faster response times made possible by low latency data streams means businesses can deploy more complex applications—and get back to their customers faster.

A U.S.-based start-up, Movandi, develops 5G ecosystems for connected vehicles. All 5G mmWave bands are supported by the company’s integrated antenna modules and radio-frequency chips. Movandi’s algorithms and systems enhance signal coverage while eliminating self-interference.

Furthermore, Movandi BeamXR technology allows smart repeaters to seamlessly integrate with gNB (5G NodeB) and operator networks. These innovations make it easier for operators to implement 5G technologies in their connected-car and cellular vehicle- to-everything (C-V2X) applications—and provide mobile hotspots as an additional source of revenue in nonroaming markets.

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES

Recently, T-Mobile and Qualcomm have partnered to build augmented reality (AR) applications for smart glasses (such as the Niantic Planet-Scale AR Alliance powered by 5G). The new participants will work alongside other developers and entrepreneurs to build immersive AR experiences for smart glasses using T-Mobile’s 5G network.

With its gigabit speeds and next-generation technology, T-Mobile’s new 5G network is ushering in a new era of mobile computing. And with the Snapdragon Spaces XR developer platform, you can create augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), or other immersive experiences that transform smartphones into powerful pocket computers.

SMART FACTORIES

Ford and Mercedes-Benz are using 5G technology to build smarter factories. Ford and Mercedes-Benz and companies such as John Deere rely on intelligent technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) to power smart factories. Now they are looking at how 5G can drive further innovation in their facilities.

Private 5G networks—networks that don’t share traffic with other cellular networks in the vicinity—play an important role in these factories as they are gaining traction around the world since regulators allocate more spectrum to enterprises.

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Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro

Meta scored a hit with its Quest 2 virtual reality (VR) headset, enabling it to introduce almost 15 million of us to its version of the metaverse. Of course, we’ve always known that this was only the beginning, and soon we will see the introduction of two new headsets that will enable even more immersive and interactive virtual experiences.

Apple Watch Ultra

Apple has been making consumer smart watches for a few years now, but late 2022 saw the introduction of a new model designed to compete with the high-end sports and luxury models recently introduced by competitors such as Garmin and Tag Heuer. The Apple Watch Ultra is encased in a titanium shell, making it more hard-wearing and durable than any previous Apple Watch.

Withings U-Scan

Did you know your urine contains more than 3,000 metabolites, which can be used to create an in-depth snapshot of our health, providing early warnings of a number of medical conditions as well as recommendations for diet and exercise? Smart device manufacturer Withings does, which is why it has created the U-Scan.

GoCycle G4

The G4 from GoCycle is among the first of a new wave of fully foldable electric bikes that can be converted into a more manageable form that’s easy to take onto public transport or even to pack away in a car for vacations or longer journeys.

Timekettle Translation Earbuds

Timekettle has created what it says is the most powerful and sophisticated range of real-time, AI-powered translation earbuds in the world. Coming in a range of models aimed at professional, casual, and travel users, the WT2, M3, and WT2 Plus earbuds enable translation in a range of situations, from business meetings, short conversations while traveling, and phone calls.

Ring Always Home Drone Camera

The latest addition to Ring’s suite of smart home security devices is an autonomous drone designed to patrol your property, enabling you to have eyes on places that static security cameras just won’t reach. As well as potentially alerting you to intruders, it could also come in handy for forgetful homeowners wanting to check that they didn’t leave the kitchen stove on or the windows open.

DJI Avata

Lots of us have discovered the fun as well as the opportunities to capture stunning photography and video footage offered by drones in recent years. The latest offering from the leaders in the field of consumer drone technology, DJI, is aimed at those who want to experience the thrills of first-person flying. The DJI Avata is designed to provide a fully immersive flying experience via a wide field-of-view headset that truly imparts the feeling of high-speed flight from the airborne drone to the user on the ground.

GE Profile Smart Mixer

A high-tech kitchen helper, the GE Smart Mixer automatically weighs out the correct quantities of ingredients thanks to its inbuilt scale and talks users through recipes with step-by-step instructions. Sensors detect the texture and consistency of mixtures to enable the device to offer real-time suggestions while preparing snacks and meals. It also integrates with Google and Amazon Echo devices meaning it can be fully voice-controlled.

Sorce: Forbes

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With internally developed technical solutions, direct communication with users and partners in the field, quality education and our own network of integrators and distributors, the whole of Serbia and the Belgrade office will remain an inevitable factor in introducing users in the region to global technological trends.

With over 40,000 employees in more than 150 countries, Konica Minolta has been producing innovation and transformation for 150 years to facilitate business and create an ideal working environment. Both globally and locally, Konica Minolta demonstrates its superiority day by day in all branches of industry and in all fields of business that include IT services, the digital office, professional printing, measuring instruments, and especially in the field of video surveillance.

SECURITY IS TODAY’S PRIORITY

This technological giant in the field of video surveillance offers a robust system based on MOBOTIX cameras that provide advanced cyber-security and surveillance functions for every company. The cameras are used for mobile surveillance, protection of public areas, prevention of vandalism and theft, and are characterised by reliable coverage and image quality. They are used in the manufacturing sector, retail, education, healthcare, logistics, tourism, industry and other branches of industry.

Although Konica Minolta cameras are the best on the market, today’s customers expect more, from simple face recognition, through temperature reading and item counting, to motion detection. Konica Minolta achieves this thanks to software solutions that are often custom made, tailored to the customer. No solution is “off the shelf ”, because the customer is always approached individually so that each of them receives a complete service fully adapted to individual needs.

What else sets Konica Minolta apart are its experts, both globally and locally. Each of them is an expert in their field and that is why Konica Minolta, with its entire portfolio, offers all-in-one solutions, which almost no-one else can offer.

LISTEN TO THE DEMANDS OF THE MARKET

Listening to market demands, with the help of KMLE (Konica Minolta Laboratories Europe), the company develops its own video analytical solutions for defect detection, shape recognition and recognition of security-sensitive situations, and detection of the use of PPE – Personal Protective Equipment. Video analytics of this kind enable users in various industries to improve processes and control security challenges in real time. Ubiquitous AI solutions are the backbone of Konica Minolta’s business today, which rely on its own hardware, MOBOTIX cameras.

In the coming period, the company will focus on solutions related to video analytics, not only for hardware, but for solutions that can cover many verticals, and the backbone will be MOBOTIX and the solutions it develops itself. Konica Minolta is recognised first of all as a printing provider, one of the leaders in the world market of printing solutions. Digital transformation is a direction in which they have been moving for a long time, but now even more actively. They definitely see themselves as a leading integrator leader in professional printing, IT, ICT, video surveillance and security markets.

prodaja@konicaminolta.co.rs

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The move is also part of Honor’s broader push to expand its presence in the tech sector amid intensified competition. Zhao Ming, CEO of Honor, said the company has become the No.3 tablet brand in China during the third quarter.

Speaking of market competition, Zhao said consumers often get fascinated with Apple’s good product ecology, but in terms of services and understanding of Chinese consumers, domestic brands can do better than Apple adapting to the diversified demands of Chinese business people, students, home audio-visual entertainment needs and other scenes. 

According to him, though there is still a gap between Honor and Apple in tablets, the company will continue marching towards the middle-to-high-end market with better products.

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The value of the composite index of maturity of digital administration (GovTech Maturity Index) of 0.895 enabled Serbia to progress on this global list by 40 places compared to 2020 and positioned Serbia in convincing first place in the region, but also ahead of Austria, Spain, Germany, the United  Kingdom, and many other highly developed countries.

In this report, Serbia is positioned in group “A”, i.e. in the group of global leaders in the field of digital transformation, both in relation to the value of the composite index of digital governance maturity, and in relation to each of the individual indices that assess the extent to which  provided key systems and technical-technological catalysts of digital transformation, provision of digital services, adequacy of regulations and policies, level of digital skills, but also the existence of mechanisms for digital interaction and involvement of citizens and the existence of other important prerequisites.

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The conference was organized by the Government of the Republic of Serbia in cooperation with the World Economic Forum, and with  support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

In one place, the public sector, the private sector and the academic community gathered in order to encourage cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and experience. 

Growing investments and technological advances have accelerated the development and application of biotechnology, which is key to advancing solutions in areas such as medicine, agriculture and the food industry.

On this occasion, the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Serbia, which within the global network of 16 centers of the World Economic Forum is the leader in biotechnology and artificial intelligence in the field of health, was promoted, and the concept of the future BIO4 Campus and the potential for investment in research and development projects in Serbia.

Source: Office for IT and E-governmen

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“That’s why I advocate that the euro system should actively deal with the transformation of money and continue to examine the possibility of using digital money in the central bank,” Nagel said, noting that “the introduction of a new form of national currency for the digital world, that is, central bank digital money, would was a new step in the development of state currency after coins and banknotes”.

Planners in the Eurozone are already examining the introduction of a digital version of the euro, and last July the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to speed up preparations and begin a two-year phase, in which the technology and data protection that go with the introduction of the digital euro will be examined.

The ECB, however, stresses that the digital euro would only complement and not replace cash.

ECB Governing Council member Fabio Panetta stated at the Bundesbank meeting that the aim of the digital euro project is to provide an anchor for the stability of the monetary and payment system.

“We want to ensure that central bank money remains generally available and can be used everywhere in the eurozone for everyday transactions, not only in physical form, but also as digital money,” Panetta concluded.

Engagement on the digital euro project is not a unique case, as other banks are also exploring the possibility of digital versions of conventional currencies.

According to experts, this is the answer to the sudden increase in the popularity of cryptocurrencies, with the fact that, unlike bitcoin, the digital euro would be under the supervision of a central bank that takes care of its stability.

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The imperative of modern science is in its application, which is why science has entered deeply into the needs of industry. 5G is part of the industrial revolution 4.0, making a major contribution to its application in almost all branches of industry. The concept of 5G is based on the need to increase the speed of information transfer, greater mobility, enormous capacity and, crucially, small delays (at the level of human perception) of the order of a millisecond. Given the stated and fulfilled requirements, the following are possible applications of 5G:

Video transmission that requires high throughputs and shows sensitivity to variations in delay, but not to the magnitude of constant delay.

Control and management of automated processes are based on interactive user access or fully automated processes, with strict requirements for signal delays. The most complex automatic control is in the movement of driverless vehicles. Associations of car manufacturers are intensively testing such vehicles, based on the collection of information from interconnected vehicles on the road and data generated by servers at checkpoints along the road. Delays to data generated in this way must be extremely small, and the signal transmission must be highly reliable. The data is stored in a computing cloud distributed along the road. 5G networks need e a densely connected (capillary type) optical network for signal transmission, i.e. to exchange large amounts of data. The automotive industry in the EU is already installing devices intended to increase the safety of automated vehicles, which use a radio frequency range known as G5.

Serbia was the only non-EU country to sign a memorandum of cooperation and participated in preparing plans for testing cross-border passage of automated vehicles with two EU member states.

Automation of processes in closed systems (production halls, mines, warehouses, ports, airports), due to the possible collision of moving objects, requires small delays. Movements of objects take place in a limited space, creating conditions for the introduction of vertical operators (manufacturers, ports, construction sites, etc.). A part of the radio-frequency spectrum is usually set aside to be auctioned for these purposes in which the frequencies are used in a limited area, enabling their reuse in more distant places. Serbia has provided a portion of the 100 MHz band for use in limited areas. Vertical operators can be either independent operators, or engaged operators of public mobile systems, or a combination of the two.

Serbia was the first to release the 700 MHz band when digitalising the transmission of the television signal, but unfortunately it has not yet announced an auction for issuing licenses to use this part of the spectrum. Hesitation on the introduction of 5G is a loss for industry and the overall development of society

Telemedicine applications in the 5G environment are particularly interesting for remote operations, where a surgeon from a remote location controls a robot, while making decisions based on video with extremely low latency.

Smart technologies in synergy with 5G make it possible to improve living conditions. Sensors are placed in a large number of locations collecting data on environmental pollution, climate parameters, noise level, etc. The operation of the parking service, waste management, water supply network, water level monitoring, monitoring of parks, green areas and agricultural crops (increasing yields) is simplified.

The radio frequency bands intended for 5G systems were finally adopted at the World Radio Conference in 2019, after harmonising the requirements (and interests) of the 193 ITU members and performing tests.

• The 700MHz band favours transmission in rural areas because it provides greater coverage and a smaller number of base stations, but unfortunately a smaller amount of data that can be transmitted.

• A higher frequency range (26GHz) provides small coverage (just a few metres), so it is often necessary to use a larger number of base stations. High frequencies ensure high flows making them suitable for urban environments.

• The 3.4-3.8 GHz band is a compromise between the size of the coverage area and the amount of transmitted data and is considered the most interesting “golden band” for 5G.

Serbia was the first to release the 700 MHz band while digitalising the transmission of the television signal, but unfortunately it has yet to announce an auction for licenses to use this part of the spectrum. Some Western Balkan economies have not even released 700 MHz yet, while Montenegro and North Macedonia were the first to hold auctions for the introduction of 5G systems.

Hesitation on introducing 5G is only a loss for industry and the overall dvelopment of society.

DIGITAL AGENDA FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS

In developing the Digital Agenda for the EU, a Digital Single Market (DSM) was defined, to provide better access to digital goods and services for consumers and companies. For economies that are preparing for European integration, DSM is a serious obligation, and the World Bank has defined an action plan for development of the Common Regional Market (CRM) for the period from 2021 to 2024. It was conceived as a “catalyst for deeper regional economic integration and a step towards the DSM”. The goal is to increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of the region, to place it on the global investment map and reduce differences between the CRM and the EU market. An important element in this is the areas of the digital region, which will integrate the Western Balkans into the pan-European digital market. Activities aimed at intensive development and better connection of broadband networks (fixed and 5G), towards the adoption of digital skills for all Western Balkan citizens, towards the development of the digital economy in the light of new ICTs and towards the strengthening of capacities for the introduction of trusted services have been elaborated.

Progress in developing the EU digital society is shown by the Digital Economy and Society Index DESI. Initially, it relied on five categories: connectivity (network), human capital, public digital services, internet use and integration of digital technologies. By weighting the values of the parameters that describe the status of individual categories, DESI is calculated for each of the EU member states.

TheresponsibleministryoftheRepublicofSerbia calculated the DESI index for the first time for the year 2016. At that time, only one EU member state had a worse result. In 2020, the regulatory agency for electronic communications showed that Serbia was more successful than nine EU member states.

The methodology for calculating the DESI index in the EU is changing. The last major changes were made in 2021, and according to these DESI is calculated on the basis of four (originally five) categories. The changes followed the Digital Compass defined by the EU to speed up the digitalisation process. It insists on: the adoption of digital skills, the introduction and use of public online services, Cloud technology and BigData services in the economy, gigabit internet access for everyone and the introduction of Cloud and large databases at network endpoints.

Irini Reljin Ph.D., School of Electrical Engineering, University of Belgrade

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