28.10.2007
We all will live in a different country pretty soon. In a country where data transmission speed is never less than 100 Мbit/s and one can connect to the Internet miles from nowhere. In that country calling on the mobile phone you can not only hear but also see the one you talk to. Technological parks will be at every step and physicians in the capital will consult online their regional colleges. Life will turn easy and merry.

Is it hard to believe? New opportunities can be seen and even tested at the VII International exhibition and forum Russian Infocommunications – XXI Century. These technologies are available to everybody, promised the RF Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and the ICT Minister Leonid Reiman after they had visited the City of the Future.

Let’s return to reality. Today the capacity of the ICT market reached 685.3 billion rubles, 30 million people in Russia are consistent users of the Internet, a number of activated SIM cards exceeds a number of population (154,6 million) and growth rate of telephone density in cities and rural zone doubled in comparison to the last year. It is true that only 17 of 100 people have computers but still it’s more than last year (16,2). Official statistics assures that ICT sector is in progress and new developments enter everybody’s day-to-day life. As Leonid Reiman said, “it’s difficult to realize that there were only 300 cell phones in Russia in 1991” and today it’s just a necessity.

InfoCom 2007 focused on practical use of IT developments which comprehensively improve life quality of common people, corporations and government institutions. In the foreseeable future they are supposed to enhance people’s life.
Take telecommunication for example. It’s something we can’t live without today. What is meant here is our aspiration to feel involved in life rather than just have a mobile telephone.

What did InfoCom 2007 offer? Third generation networking for advanced users, in other words video calls. Unlike web-camera that requires stationary Internet access, 3G networks receive a stable signal anywhere in coverage zone. It makes a phone call more informative as people can look into each other’s eyes while talking. Besides, they acquire visual information what can sometimes be crucial. High-speed access to the Internet and mobile television will be enjoyable bonus for future users of a new service. Today only MegaFon JSC launched commercial operation of the third generation network in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast. This service can be available in the 3G transmitting area provided that both subscribers have UMTS-compatible handsets. The company already has 30 transmission stations and according to Sergei Soldatenkov, general director of MegaFon, it will create 3G networks in 16 Russian regions during the next year.

Besides state-of-the-art developments in telecommunication sphere the exhibition presented technologies that are really for everyone, e.g. equipment allowing handicapped children to use PC or Russian Post’s project on development of universal communication services which aims at creating Internet public access outlets in rural areas. Andrej Konoval, acting general director of Russian Post, informed about plans “to expand network of cash-in terminals used for immediate executing of financial operations such as obtaining and reimbursing credits”. Exhibition’s guests could pay for services of mobile operators, internet providers and commercial TV companies using the CyberPlat system.

At InfoCom 2007 attention was paid to the issues of Russia’s housing and public utilities where ICT application is of current interest. More importantly, high-ranking forum’s guests admitted that HPU policy requires revision and putting into operation information analysis systems. It will allow getting a vast branch picture including information on services and residential properties condition. Besides, unified information system will simplify public supervision of budgetary funds and will make performance in the whole branch more effective.

ICT contribution to public health was represented by electronic diagnosis systems which use special sensors and terminals for making an appointment with a doctor. In some two or three years making such an appointment will require only bringing health insurance card to a terminal sensor to choose a physician and visiting time and get printed slip on the spot. Remote consultation will likely be implemented at the same time. Presently it is planned to begin creation of broadband Internet access network in health care institutions within the framework of the national project “Public Health”. This will help development of telemedicine which allows local doctors having direct connection to the Internet to get an additional consultation. This project contributes to the realization of information society development strategy in this country.

InfoCom 2007 was the City of the Fututre. Hopefully some of the exhibits will be applied in real life. Indeed, in Russia anything can be invented but putting it into mass production and reducing an invention to practice hardly ever occurs.

Anastasia Savinykh
Link:  http://www.rosbalt.ru/2007/10/29/426247.html
Source:  Rosbalt-Business, Analytics