Broadband Internet is expanding rapidly due to the rising connectivity of Russian towns, in line with the Government's E-Russia policy focus. The increased focus on E-Governance and ICT diffusion at all levels of schooling is boosting the uptake of ICT goods and services by government agencies and schools. Meanwhile, new special economic zones (SEZs), techno-parks, and provision of venture capital are enhancing opportunities for small businesses in the Russian ICT industry.
As corporate Russia increasingly switches from closed networks to IP networks to increase efficiency, markets for enterprise resource planning (ERP) as well as managed network security and IP virtual private networks (VPNs) have received a shot in the arm. IP telephony is catching on in the mobile telephony segment and this could be the first step toward full-scale adoption of next-generation networks based on packet telephony.
"Communication VAS, particularly ring tones and logos, media projects, and information and entertainment in the mobile content market, is the fastest growing segment of telecommunication services," says Farheen Pasha, Team Leader, ICT, Frost & Sullivan's ERA group. "Currently, less than 50.0 percent of the telephone lines in Russia are digital; however, the government aims to completely switch from analog to digital mode by 2015."
Although the Russian Government had historically passed over the interests of the ICT industry in favor of others such as oil and gas, it has steadily increased interest in the IT industry. It is also actively involved in developing the telecommunications infrastructure and is a strong participant as well as regulator in this field.
Russia's vast human resources and low labor costs hold it in good stead in the ICT industry, while its competent education system provides its people with high levels of skills, excellent training, as well as intensive scientific and engineering expertise. However, a substandard process quality and a weak legal system and intellectual property right (IPR) enforcement impair it. This scenario is set to change, with the present government placing unprecedented focus on the development of the IT industry.
The Government is sparing no efforts to upgrade the telecommunications infrastructure and services throughout Russia. It has deployed a supportive framework for the development of the ICT industry to make it competitive in both domestic and international markets. It hopes to improve information transparency and enhance the efficiency of the public as well as private sectors.
The Government is also committed to raising the levels of penetration, diffusion, and awareness of ICT goods and services in Russia. Moreover, a series of high-profile industry reports changed the general perception that the ICT infrastructure in Russia is inadequate by publishing positive articles.
Russia has been the biggest spender on IT among the central and eastern European (CEE) countries and its spending has been higher than the global average since 2002. This is mainly due to the growing affluence of the Russian population and the global awareness of its enterprises. This industry's growth is high and stable, considering it witnessed double-digit growth for the last five years and is poised for further growth until 2010, though consumption trends in telecommunication vary across regions as well as segments.
"The United States and the European Union (EU) recognized Russia as a market economy in 2002," notes Pasha. "With a gross domestic product (GDP) of more than US$814.76 billion and an economic growth rate of 6.7 percent in 2006, Russia is poised for further strong growth in the future."
