Russia Rolls Out “Digital Twin” Cities to Boost Transparency and Attract Investment
The real-time simulation platform helps regional governments test decisions, model urban changes, and give residents access to live data.
At the Infotech 2025 forum in Tyumen, Rostelecom unveiled a new homegrown platform called “Digital Twin of the Region.” The system mirrors real-world urban life in real time, allowing officials to simulate the effects of infrastructure and policy decisions — for example, predicting how a new highway interchange might ease traffic congestion.
Residents can access up-to-date data through online geoportals, which include not only maps of physical infrastructure but also live feeds on public transport, environmental conditions, and regional demographic and economic indicators.
A Bridge Between the Physical and Digital Worlds
According to Vladimir Barvinsky, Director of Rostelecom’s branch in the Tyumen and Kurgan regions, the platform serves as “a bridge between the physical world and the virtual environment.”
Russia’s digital twin initiative aims to modernize urban management and attract investors, while giving citizens a real-time view of how their cities function — from traffic and air quality to spending and growth.
