A new Cullen International Global Trends report features the key trends that will take shape worldwide in the digital ecosystem in 2021.

According to the report, the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated initiatives aimed at closing connectivity gaps. Different types of projects with varied goals and infrastructure solutions, from basic backbone investment to open radio access network (OpenRAN) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite deployments, are expected to gain momentum across all continents, including in emerging markets.

The pandemic also marked an acceleration towards using less cash or even near cashless societies. This trend paves the way to transformation of the banking industry, which is bound to continue in 2021 all over the world.

In technologically advanced markets, industry started looking at 6G technology, with more research expected in 2021. Strategies and new research and development initiatives targeting global economic and environmental sustainability might also see an acceleration in 2021.

The year 2020 marked initial action against the market power of big tech companies in some economic sectors in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the US. Policy debates and proposed actions are bound to continue through 2021.

Online misinformation will remain a highly controversial topic globally, as well as all regulatory debates on online consumer protection.

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