15:01, 10 January 2026

Expert Points to a Successful Smart City Model in Russia

Domestic platform-based solutions are now widely used across major innovation projects.

Russia’s shift from the idea of a “smart city” to smart districts and even individual homes is already taking shape in practice, Anatoly Kurmanov told IT Russia. Kurmanov heads the “Digital Regions: Best Practices and Development Strategies” section of the Council for the Development of the Digital Economy under the Federation Council and chairs the expert board of the Smart City Competence Center. One of the most illustrative examples of this approach, he said, is the SberCity project.

“This is a complex where technology is used across the entire chain – from individual apartments to the management of solid municipal waste, which has been fully moved underground. There are no traditional waste collection sites; all waste handling is organized below ground. SberCity is located roughly 20–22 kilometers from central Moscow and represents a classic example of a Smart City 1.0 concept: a new city designed from the outset to be densely integrated with technology. At the same time, thanks to transport connectivity and proximity to the мегаполис, it does not cut residents off from the familiar urban environment. In my view, this is one of the most illustrative end-to-end examples – from the city level down to the apartment,” the expert said.

Video Surveillance and Safety

When it comes to domestic technologies, major Russian ecosystems dominate the smart apartment segment. Companies such as Rostelecom and ER-Telecom are actively operating in the equipment market.

“In video surveillance and related solutions, leading positions are held by specialized Russian companies and competence centers. Their product lines are constantly being updated, which shows just how dynamically the market is developing,” Kurmanov added.

According to the expert, users connecting to cloud-based video surveillance should be aware that the video feed is accessible not only to the end user, but also to the cloud operator.

“This is why it is important to carefully consider both the solution itself and the standards it complies with. If foreign solutions are used, video data may be stored in overseas cloud infrastructure. In Russia, the localization of citizens’ personal data is strictly regulated – it cannot be stored abroad, and Roskomnadzor closely monitors compliance. However, cloud video surveillance services are not yet subject to such requirements, meaning responsibility for an informed choice ultimately lies with the user,” he stressed.

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