MEF Connects Mexico proves a Runaway Success

Last week we hosted the first ever MEF Connects Mexico. CEO Rimma Perelmuter was in attendance in Mexico City and discussed the changing global mobile landscape.

Opening the first ever MEF Connects Mexico at the magnificent Torre Mayor’s Piso 51 Penthouse was a real high. The feeling of anticipation and stunning setting certainly lent itself to a jubilant atmosphere.

I had a feeling of déjà vu, having recently launched MEF Africa surrounded by Cape Town’s breath-taking Table Mountain, here we were once again bringing together the mobile content and commerce industry – this time overlooking the stunning panorama of Mexico City.

It’s nearly four years since MEF LatAm launched in Brazil with the mission of setting up a pan LatAm hub to help to accelerate the industry’s growth across this exciting and diverse continent. At that time, the Brazilian industry was buoyant and keen expand the business but also under threat, suffering from inconsistent regulation.

Having grown a strong community and delivered a number of strategic initiatives including the Unified Code of Conduct for VAS Services and the cross-border MEF Americas event in Miami, the next key focus for the Chapter has been to bring MEF to Mexico.

Supported by leading players in the Mexican mobile industry: Naranya, Binbit, Movile, Titans, Turner, MobileLife, Nextel and Televisa, last week’s launch event enjoyed tremendous support.

Attended by over 150 guests, the evening was a truly international event with guests traveling far and wide including from Mumbai, Atlanta, London, São Paulo and Lima alongside local mobile pioneers and content leaders from Monterrey and of course México City!

MEF Mexico General Manager Jorge Basurto who recently joined our global Executive team kicked off the evening’s proceedings and I spoke about the rapidly changing global mobile landscape as internet giants and new entrants actively pursue mobile as a key platform and discussed the opportunities this presents for Mexico.

Summarizing the Chapter’s experience in the region to date, MEF LatAm General Manager Rafael Pellon took the audience through MEF’s central role advancing self-regulation to protect mobile content distribution and presented the business focused activities of MEF Brazil as a key industry driver. Also taking up the theme of evolving landscapes, Rafa highlighted the extinction of old distribution channels and the indisputable position of the mobile platform as the best way to enable growth in the content business.

We enjoyed a lively debate with members and guests sharing their thoughts and insights on this key growth market.

Arturo Galvan, CEO of Naranya and MEF LatAm Board Director reflected on the rise of Mexico as a hub for mobile content and innovation and the power of MEF LatAm as a connector and facilitator for accelerating growth across the region. He suggested Monterrey as the natural hub for technology innovation and announced the launch of Naranya Labs, a mobile services accelerator for developers to deliver ideas and products.

Fellow Board Director & VP Digital Development, Turner LatAm, Josh Weinrobe highlighted Turner’s digital successes in media distribution via mobile/pervasive new channels in markets such as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Mexico and Argentina, and discussed the opportunities still to be harnessed across the region around ad-serving and multi-screen business.

Gilda Gonzalez from Mexico’s AMPROFON claimed the role of digital in driving 80% of music revenues and the strength of mobile as a counterweight to piracy in its ability to champion and value content rights.

The evening concluded with a buzzy and convivial networking event which our guests clearly enjoyed as the venue were forced to ‘call lights’ out to bring the inaugural MEF Connects Mexico to a close.

The leaders of the digital scene in Mexico are now keen to develop MEF’s activities to fully capture the region’s well-deserved position on the global mobile landscape.

Viva la Mexico and go MEF LatAm!