Conference on Development of Telecommunications and Digitalization in the Arctic to Take Place at SPIEF 2022

On 15–18 June, participants of the Conference on the Development of Telecommunications and Digitalization in the Arctic at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be discussing the implementation of digital technologies in the Arctic, the current situation with projects by Russian companies in the region, and the use of telemedicine and unmanned transport. The event will be taking place as part of main events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023, with the Roscongress Foundation serving as operator.

The Conference will feature a presentation by Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials and Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Cooperation of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affair Nikolay Korchunov on ‘The Role of Telecommunications and Digitalization in Ensuring Sustainable Development in the Arctic’, Head of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) Aysen Nikolayev, Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Region Roman Kopin, Governor of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Dmitry Artyukhov, Deputy Director of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation’s Northern Sea Route Directorate Maxim Kulinko, and other representatives of Russian agencies and companies. In addition, General Director of FSUE Space Communications Aleksey Volin will be making a presentation on the development of communications in the Russian Arctic zone, and General Director of FSUE Morsviazsputnik Andrey Kuropyatnikov will be speaking about the development of the Murmansk – Vladivostok – Polar Express trans-Arctic fiber-optic communication main line project.

Key issues to be considered at the Conference include:

-                     creating and implementing a unified platform of digital services provided in the waterways of the Northern Sea Route,

-                     providing remote areas of the North with reliable communications,

-                     developing satellite communications systems,

-                     establishing fibre optic lines in the Arctic,

-                     selecting telecommunication technologies for extreme climatic conditions,

-                     employing the public-private partnership model to implement project,

-                     encouraging inter-agency cooperation in the establishment of telecommunications infrastructure.

Digitalization is one of the most important areas of development in Russia’s Arctic zone until 2035. The introduction of digital technology can help create additional jobs in the Arctic and reduce migration away from the region. Telemedicine projects likewise promise to help in the modernization of primary healthcare in the Arctic zone’s more remote regions.

Sustainable Arctic development, ensured prosperity, and improved quality of life for those living in the North, including the region’s indigenous peoples, are all priorities for Russia’s 2021–2023 Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Russia seeks to promote projects and initiatives aimed at digitalizing the cultural and linguistic heritage of Polar indigenous peoples and to provide remote Arctic villages and reindeer herding farms with reliable and efficient satellite navigation systems and their inhabitants with access to educational services.

 

 

Reference information:

Official social media accounts of Russia’s chairmanship in the Arctic Council:

VKontakte: vk.com/arctic_on

Twitter: twitter.com/ArcticON1

Telegram: t.me/arcticonofficial

Weibo: weibo.com/u/7728847725

WeChat ID: arcticonofficial