MTS’s Digital Ecosystem Turns a Residential Block Into a Miniature Smart City
In Omsk, one of Russia’s most comprehensive residential digitalization projects has been brought online. In the Zelenaya Reka residential quarter developed by Etalon Group, MTS has deployed a unified platform that brings together building engineering systems, security, and resident services into a single digital environment.
A Single Digital Control Center at the Heart of the Smart Quarter
The core of the infrastructure is a centralized digital dispatch center. Operating in real time, it monitors all critical systems – heating, water supply, ventilation, and electricity. The platform automatically collects data from sensors and equipment, and when deviations or malfunctions occur, it immediately alerts technical staff. This approach shifts building operations from a reactive model to a predictive one, where issues are addressed before they affect residents’ comfort. According to MTS estimates, this model can cut operating costs by 20–30%.
For residents of nearly 400 apartments in the complex, a dedicated mobile app has been developed as a single point of access to all services. Through the app, residents can submit readings from smart water, heat, and electricity meters, file and track requests to the property management company, and view CCTV feeds from playgrounds and parking areas. The app also enables remote access control – configuring vehicle entry or issuing temporary digital passes for guests. This creates a fundamentally new level of transparency and convenience, boosting resident satisfaction by up to 40%, according to the company.
Where the Smart Real Estate Market Is Headed
The successful pilot in Omsk is only a starting point for larger ambitions. MTS and Etalon Group have already announced plans to offer the integrated platform to other Russian developers and property management companies as a standalone commercial product. This move aligns with a broader market trend: since 2021, the volume of smart housing commissioned in Russia has grown more than fourfold, forming a rapidly expanding market that experts value at hundreds of billions of rubles.
A key competitive advantage is the focus on ESG principles. Accurate resource metering and optimized consumption not only reduce costs but also help developers meet tightening environmental requirements. As a result, Russian IT solutions for smart housing and utilities gain the potential to move beyond the domestic market through technology exports.
A Road to Zelenaya Reka
The Omsk project represents a logical stage in the strategic partnership between MTS and Etalon Group, which has been developing steadily over recent years. Back in 2019, MTS announced the launch of its own platform for managing multi-unit residential buildings, initially focusing on automating payments and accounting. By 2024, the partners had signed an agreement to jointly design smart buildings from the ground up and began scaling successful practices tested in residential complexes in Moscow and Vladivostok. In the summer of 2024, they unveiled a joint “super-service” for managing digital real estate, which became the prototype for the solution implemented in Zelenaya Reka. This trajectory illustrates the shift from isolated digital services to a fully integrated ecosystem.
From a Pilot in Omsk to a New Standard of Living
The Omsk project clearly highlights a broader trend: digitalization in housing and utilities is no longer about incremental upgrades but about building holistic asset management systems. Integrating a telecom ecosystem directly into residential infrastructure opens the door to exporting similar solutions, especially to regions facing comparable climate and infrastructure challenges.
Looking ahead, intelligent platforms that combine resource management, security, and resident services are likely to evolve from a competitive differentiator into a baseline standard for modern housing, laying the groundwork for fully fledged smart cities.
