AI Helps Put Russia’s “Music Village” on the Digital Map
New telecom equipment has been installed in the village of Ondvor on the shores of Lake Ilmen.
New telecommunications equipment has been deployed in the village of Ondvor in Russia’s Novgorod region, as rising tourist traffic drives demand for stronger connectivity. The local outlet Moskovsky Komsomolets reported on the upgrade.
What Makes the Village Famous
The new telecom infrastructure was installed in Ondvor, located on the shores of Lake Ilmen. The equipment has boosted connection speeds to up to 30 Mbps.
Ondvor has been gaining popularity among tourists. Reliable connectivity helps visitors map routes through the village and along the lake, share photos and videos, and plan trips based on weather forecasts. Travelers also use internet access to consult AI assistants, including when exploring local cuisine. Stable coverage is also essential for online meetings and accessing government services.
Why is Ondvor attracting attention? In 2022 and 2023, the village hosted a jazz festival and has since been informally dubbed the “music village.” It also staged the pottery festival “Gorshenya-Charodey,” where visitors learned to decorate clay products and work at a potter’s wheel. Combined with the sandy shores of Lake Ilmen and its location just 20 minutes from Veliky Novgorod, the village has become an increasingly appealing weekend destination.
Lakes Shchuchye and Ladoga
New telecom infrastructure has also recently been installed along the federal highway Kochubey–Neftekumsk–Zelenokumsk–Mineralnye Vody, expanding mobile internet coverage along a key tourist route. Residents and visitors to Dagestan can now stay connected on the road, use navigation apps, stream music, and coordinate trip details with tour operators.
In the Republic of Mari El, Lake Shchuchye has long attracted anglers and tourists from across Russia. The area offers equipped recreation and swimming sites as well as holiday lodges, but connectivity had been unreliable. Visitors can now share photos on social media, stream content, and call family members even during peak network load.
Stable coverage has also been ensured at Lake Ladoga in Karelia. Tourists now have access to digital services and mobile communication not only along the shoreline but also on the islands.
Earlier, we reported that new technologies are reshaping tourism, allowing people to travel from home by exploring not only real-world destinations but also 3D models of lost landmarks, including ancient tombs at the Tatarskoye Gorodishche archaeological site, Orthodox churches, and historic factories around which cities were built.
