VIEWPOINT: Daniel Holcman, COO Media Digital Group (MDG)

What does your company do?

Media Digital Group (MDG) specialises in digital content monetisation, production and distribution. The company offers financial services, micropayments, CRM and mobile marketing.

Which regions do you believe offer the most significant opportunities for telemedia services?

Telemedia services have vast potential across various regions, but I believe the most significant opportunities currently lie in emerging markets. Regions such as Latin America, parts of Africa and Southeast Asia are experiencing rapid digital adoption and increasing mobile penetration rates.

You’ve started your expansion in the EU. What significant trends have you noticed in the mVAS markets in the EU compared to LATAM, where you have a strong presence?

In LATAM, we’ve observed a rapidly growing demand for mVAS driven by increasing smartphone penetration and mobile internet usage. The region’s youthful and tech-savvy population is eager for digital content, mobile financial services and other innovative offerings. Countries like Brazil and Mexico lead this trend, showcasing strong adoption rates and high engagement with mobile services.

Moreover, in LATAM, there are no aggregators, and entering the VAS business requires establishing local relationships with operators in each country. This necessitates having a local presence and understanding the local culture and idiosyncrasies. Additionally, there are tax restrictions that often make it difficult to transfer money out of the countries where operations are based. This also requires a long-term plan, often involving the establishment of a local entity, hiring local staff, and committing to a lengthy process to secure contracts, which can take from one to two years.

What strategies has MDG adopted to address the preferences of the EU’s consumers?

MDG has adopted several key strategies to address the unique preferences of EU consumers:

• Building Trust Through Compliance:

• Personalised, High-Quality Service:

• Localised Content and Partnership.

By tailoring our strategies to meet the specific needs of the EU market, we aim to replicate our success in LATAM and establish a strong presence in this diverse and dynamic region.

How does the regulatory landscape in different regions impact MDG’s operations, and what measures are you taking to ensure compliance, especially considering your antifraud initiatives and Google Certificates?

The regulatory landscape significantly impacts MDG’s operations, especially as we expand into diverse regions with varying legal frameworks. Navigating these regulations is crucial to ensure compliance and maintain our reputation for integrity and trustworthiness. Main steps we follow to ensure compliance are Antifraud Initiatives and Google Certificates. By following these steps, we ensure that MDG stays compliant and trustworthy while delivering top-notch services.

How do you approach partnerships with billing providers and are you considering collaborations in new geographic regions?

Partnerships with billing providers are crucial for the seamless operation of our services. We carefully choose billing providers with robust, reliable and scalable platforms that can support our growing user base and the complexity of our services.

We also work closely with billing providers to integrate their systems with ours, ensuring a smooth and efficient user experience. Ongoing technical support and collaboration are key to maintaining seamless integration.

As we expand globally, we actively seek collaborations with billing providers in new markets. We conduct thorough research to understand the regulatory environment, consumer behaviour and local payment preferences in new regions.

We establish relationships with local billing providers who have a deep understanding of the regional market and can offer tailored solutions.

We also ensure potential partners can scale with us as we grow and adapt to changing market conditions and regulatory requirements.

Can you explain how the collaboration with Norton Antivirus was initiated and what the primary goals of this partnership are?

The collaboration with Norton was initiated as part of our strategic goal to enhance security for mobile users. Norton, being a globally recognized leader in cybersecurity, was a natural fit for our objectives.

Value Addition: Offering premium security features as part of our mobile value-added services, thereby increasing the attractiveness and competitiveness of our offerings.

Brand Trust: Associating with a reputable brand like Norton helps to reinforce our commitment to security and quality, building greater trust with our customers.

The partnership involves close collaboration on product development, marketing, and customer support to ensure seamless integration and delivery of these enhanced security features.