The Development of the Internet in Russian Regions

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the complex space-time analysis of the development of the Internet in the Russian Federation. The following quantitative and infrastructural aspects of regional disparities in the spread of the Internet are discussed: the regional distribution of the Internet audience, growth poles, disparities in the penetration level, etc. Changes in the geography of the Internet that took place over the first decade of the 21st century are revealed. Features of the Russia’s geographical position and the related significant role of wireless technologies and of the mobile Internet in particular are described. The network and organizational structure of the Russian Internet and its development prospects are covered. Qualitative aspects of regional disparities in the spread of the Internet in Russia are analyzed separately (the activity and effectiveness of the use of the Internet by the population). The dynamics and regional disparities in the development of the Internet and e-commerce market in Russia are examined. Conclusions about significant decentralization in the regional distribution of Internet users in Russia, which occurred in the first decade of the 21st century, are made. The rapid proliferation of mobile communication technologies and mobile Internet penetration, in terms of which Russia is among the world leaders, plays a significant role in smoothing of geographical contrasts. However, a sufficiently rapid reduction in quantitative imbalances inside the country is accompanied by the preservation of significant qualitative gaps in the sphere of creation of Internet information resources and the Internet market, where there is still a monopoly of metropolitan areas.