Closing the Digital Divide: Russia Connects Remote Siberian Villages to High-Speed Internet
Three rural communities in the Krasnoyarsk Territory have gained access to LTE networks as Russia ramps up efforts to eliminate digital inequality.
Expanding Connectivity in Remote Areas
Russia continues to push forward in its campaign to bridge the digital divide. Ensuring stable internet access across the country's vast territory remains a formidable challenge, requiring significant investment and logistical coordination. Still, progress is evident.
Telecom operator MTS recently announced the launch of high-speed internet in three isolated locations in Krasnoyarsk Krai: the villages of Altat and Lesnye Polyany, and the settlement of Belaya Roshcha. These communities, home to around 500 people, are now fully covered by LTE networks.
In Altat, for example, eight streets — including homes, a rural health post, a library, and a kindergarten — now benefit from reliable mobile broadband. With this infrastructure in place, residents can access online education, e-government services, and remote work opportunities — privileges often taken for granted in urban areas.
Operator and Government Collaboration
According to Sergey Egoshin, Director of MTS Krasnoyarsk: "MTS continues to expand LTE across the region, including in small and remote villages. In 2025 alone, we’ve connected around 50 communities, ranging from towns with up to 100,000 residents to settlements of fewer than 100 people."
The project is part of a broader partnership between telecom providers and regional authorities. Much of the work is being carried out under the regional Development of the Information Society program. Previously, MTS expanded coverage along the federal Siberia highway and several local and regional roadways, including the Minusinsk–Bellyk route near Novotroitsk, the Yenisei Highway near Maly Kantat, and the Roshcha–Balai road near Roshcha.
A Nationwide Strategy to Eliminate the Digital Gap
Efforts to eliminate digital inequality in Russia have been ongoing for years, involving both public and private initiatives. In 2021, Rostelecom deployed four base stations in remote areas of Arkhangelsk Oblast as part of the federal digital inclusion program.
Despite sanctions and the withdrawal of foreign vendors in 2022, progress continued. More than 900 remote communities were targeted for high-speed internet deployment that year, showcasing the resilience of domestic efforts even in challenging circumstances.
Looking ahead, officials anticipate acceleration in 2025, as base stations from Russian manufacturers begin to be installed at scale. Companies such as Irteya, Bulat, Spektr, and Yadro are now producing the hardware required for nationwide LTE rollouts.
Satellite Integration and Global Relevance
To reach truly isolated areas, operators are also turning to satellite-based solutions. Megafon, for example, plans to connect 500 base stations to a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network in regions where fiber-optic infrastructure is unfeasible. The effort is supported by a cooperation agreement with aerospace firm Bureau 1440.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Russia has developed a unique body of experience in bringing broadband to remote territories. No other country faces challenges of this geographic scale, and the solutions being tested could be applied in similarly underserved regions abroad. Russian methodologies may offer cost-effective and scalable blueprints for emerging markets struggling with rural connectivity.
