In 2020, Rostelecom built 269 Internet access points in the Central Federal District within the federal program "Elimination of digital inequality" (UCU). This required more than 2,500 kilometers of fiber-optic communication lines.
Just at the beginning of 2021, more than 2,600 settlements with a population of 250-500 people are provided with access to the network. The program is completed in the territories of Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Lipetsk and Tula regions.
Dmitry Kim, Vice President - Director of the Macroregional Branch Center of PJSC Rostelecom:
"A program to eliminate digital inequality is one of the most important projects of the company. Thanks to him, thousands of residents of small settlements of the Central Federal District can enjoy free internet. We have already laid more than 16.5 thousand kilometers of fiber optic communication lines. And the work continues: to build even more than six thousand kilometers of optics and 735 Wi-Fi collective access points. In the future, this infrastructure can be involved in the implementation of other national-scale projects, for example, to provide access to Internet health care facilities. "
Viktor Sevastyanov, a resident of the Ivanovo region:
"We have never been in the village of Wired Internet. We, people of the older generation, did not experience special needs, but the youth suffered. After we were connected to the Internet, there were benches near the pillar with the equipment, wept the territory. Now it is the main place for collecting all our teenagers. Yes, and not only teenagers. Yesterday the neighbor met. He said, his grandson came, gave a smartphone and taught it on the Internet photo to send. I think it will be necessary to try too. "
To connect to a wireless network through the UCN access point, a smartphone, a laptop or tablet is sufficient. The user needs to be authorized via SMS or with the help of an account of a single portal of public services. After successful identification, use the Internet in the Wi-Fi zone is absolutely free.
The federal project elimination of digital inequality started in Russia in 2014 and is intended to provide access to the Internet all small settlements of the country in which 250 to 500 people live. Rostelecom as a national digital provider became the project performer. Access points UCN provide access to the network at a speed of at least 10 Mbps. In total, almost 14 thousand Russian villages and villages, of which 3,406 are in the Central Federal District, should be provided on the Social Access.