The Ministry of Digital Development has proposed extending the investment tax deduction to telecom operators and thus return part of the income tax to them. The Ministry believes that this will help maintain the quality of communication without additional funding.

 
 Experts propose saving investments in the operation and modernization of communication networks with the help of regional financial support measures. Experts the Ministry said that the laws providing for investment tax deduction had been adopted in 60 regions of Russia, but the infrastructure of telecom operators is not covered in them.

 
 The Ministry proposes “adding 61 OKVED (Russian Classification of Economic Activities) “Activities in the Field of Telecommunications” in order to extend this support measure to the telecom industry. The Russian regions are supposed to have a mechanism for raising investments to develop a modern telecom infrastructure,” the statement of the Ministry said.

 
 The Ministry of Digital Development plans to send a letter with the initiative to the authorities of the Russian regions.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mintsifry-predlozhilo-vozvrashchat-operatoram-sviazi-chast-naloga-na-pribyl/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Ministry of Digital Development

Ministry of Digital Development Proposes Income Tax Returns to Telecom Operators

Roskomnadzor plans to create the national DDoS protection system using the equipment involved in the execution of the sovereign internet law in the fall of 2022. According to the plans, by this time the supervisory agency will upgrade the hardware for deep packet inspection (DPI).

 
 These DPI tools are already equipped with protection against DDoS attacks, but they have only a few signatures (patterns of attack types) which the equipment can respond to. Roskomnadzor also plans to upgrade the infrastructure for the sovereign internet in order to increase the throughput of DPI equipment.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-sozdadut-federalnuiu-sistemu-zashchity-ot-ddos-atak/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Forbes

Russia Plans to Create National System for Potection Against DDoS Attacks 

According to M.Video-Eldorado, from January to March the demand for smart home devices increased 1.5 times compared to last year. Speakers with voice assistants and IP cameras were among the most popular devices. In total, about 450,000 voice assistants worth 3.3 billion rubles were sold in the first quarter. According to the company’s forecasts, smart home devices market in Russia can grow to 5-6 billion rubles by 2030.

 
 Smart device sales of MTS increased by 40% year-over-year. Security systems, including sensors for tracking water and gas leaks, video surveillance systems and smart door locks, were the most popular products. The increasing demand for smart home systems (for IP cameras and sensors in particular) was also confirmed by MegaFon.

 
 The experts from M.Video-Eldorado <a href="https://www.mvideoeldorado.ru/ru/press-centr/press-relizy/detail/2636" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">name</a> Yandex and Xiaomi the most popular smart home device brands. This is also confirmed by data <a href="https://t.me/ICT_Moscow/5256" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">provided</a> by ICT.Moscow: 34% of users choose Xiaomi devices, slightly fewer customers (32%) choose the products of Yandex.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/riteilery-otmechaiut-rost-sprosa-na-ustroistva-dlia-umnogo-doma-v-pervom-kvartale-2022-goda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Kommersant

Retailers See Increase in Demand for Smart Home Devices in Q1 2022

The Radio Research and Development Institute has tested the Russian LTE base station developed by the Institute and the Laboratory of Infocommunication Networks. The base station operates in the 2.3-2.4 GHz band. VoLTE voice calls, ViLTE video calls, data transmission with support for various QoS profiles, S1 and X2 handovers have been performed during the tests.

 
 Previously, the base station was tested in the laboratory environment, and at the end of March it was demonstrated to Rostelecom and Tele2. During these tests data transmission speed of 90 Mbps was reached. Future tests will be carried out at the test site of the Radio Research and Development Institute in Balashikha, and the base station will be included in the Tele2 network.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-nii-radio-ispytali-otechestvennuiu-bazovuiu-stantsiiu-lte/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

CNews

Radio Research and Development Institute Tests Russian LTE Base Station

The government of the Russian Federation has released a preliminary concept for the new national project in the field of electronics. The project will have four focus areas.

 
 Development in the Product area includes the launch of a 2022 program to reengineer foreign solutions and transfer their production to Russia and China, and an electronic engineering development program.

 
 Specialists in the Infrastructure department will engage in the work to launch the production of microelectronics using the 90 nm technology in 2022; by 2030, it is planned to launch the mass production of electronics using the 28 nm technology. The government intends to increase the number of Russian design centers from 70 to 300 by 2030.

 
 The Demand area will be focused on stimulating the purchase of Russian electronics through cross-cutting projects, which imply that large corporations and companies will guarantee the demand for the Russian electronics, and the state will subsidize up to 50% of the sum of such contracts.

 
 Experts in the Personnel department will be engaged in the implementation of two thousand research projects and the creation of 400 prototypes of new electronic products. In addition, it is planned to increase the conversion rate for university graduates from 5% to 35% and create more than 1 thousand project teams at the training design centers.

 
 The cost of implementation of the national project until 2030 is estimated at $39.4 billion (3.19 trillion rubles).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/podgotovlena-predvaritelnaia-kontseptsiia-novogo-natsproekta-v-oblasti-elektroniki/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Government Releases Preliminary Concept of New National Project in the Field of Electronics 

Demand for the Russian operating systems in Russia has increased six times over the month due to sanctions and the fact that foreign IT companies suspended their activities. According to the head of Partner Relations Department of Red Soft Andrey Sviridov, authorities, state corporations and the companies partially owned by the state are interested in such solutions.

 
 Experts of the company developing MyOffice software also say that the demand has increased. Over the past two and a half weeks, interest in the products has also grown six times. At the same time, 70% of requests for testing and acquisition are made by large commercial companies.

<hr />
 
 Product cards 

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/red-os/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Red Soft</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/mojofis/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MyOffice</a>

<hr />
 
 In early March, Marvel Distribution <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5249905" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> a 300% weekly increase in demand for Russian software. At that time, office solutions, operating systems and database management systems were in great demand.

 
 Experts of companies providing cloud services also <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/news/russian-companies-began-to-massively-switch-to-russian-cloud-services/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">say</a> the demand for their services has increased.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/red-soft-i-moiofis-otmechaiut-rost-sprosa-na-svoi-produkty-v-shest-raz/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

TASS

Red Soft and MyOffice Report Six-Fold Increase in Demand for their Products

Cars with a test driver in the driver’s seat travel between the company’s engineering center along Andropov Avenue (Prospekt Andropova) near the Technopark metro station and the ZIL MCC station. Self-driving cars choose the trajectory of movement and take into account the traffic situation, recognize traffic lights and traffic signs, and let pedestrians cross the road.

 
 The passenger tablet in the car shows whether seat belts are fastened, and provides information about readiness to start movement and information about the environment and the status of the trip. Users can call a car in the application for a smartphone and the SberPortal smart display. Currently, only the company’s employees can call a car, but in the future it is planned to expand the routes and make the service available to external users.

 
 SberAutoTech’s autonomous vehicles first <a href="https://press.sber.ru/publications/pervaia-seriia-bespilotnikov-sber-vyekhala-na-ulitsy-moskvy-dlia-ispytanii" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">appeared</a> on Moscow roads in December 2020.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sberautotech-zapustil-testirovanie-bespilotnikov-dlia-perevozki-passazhirov-v-moskve/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

SberAutoTech Launches Testing of Autonomous Vehicles for Passengers in Moscow

The service is based on the LUNA computer vision platform. The company plans to use the service to enable customers to change the number, SIM card, tariff or carry out other operations without a passport. Before that, customers have to take a picture and enter a digital “cast” of their faces into the biometric identification platform of MTS. When a customer visits the store, the system captures the face and extracts a biometric template from the image, and then compares it with the data in the existing database.

 
 Experts from MTS told say that the company expects that the service will become popular due to its convenience, however, the company did not disclose plans about the development of the platform.

 
 According to Kommersant, other mobile network operators are not yet sure of the demand for biometrics among customers. MegaFon’s experts say that they tested a similar solution in stores with partners in 2020, but today the implementation of biometric identification is not efficient in retail. Tele2 plans to use biometric authentication for employees.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/luna-platform/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LUNA</a>

<hr />
 
 At the end of 2021 it was <a href="https://www.sberbank.ru/ru/press_center/all/article?newsID=83fa16be-027f-4ee6-8631-880fd29643be&blockID=1303&regionID=77&lang=ru&type=NEWS" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that MTS would buy out the full stake in VisionLabs from Sberbank. The deal was estimated at 7 billion rubles and <a href="https://www.interfax.ru/business/826097" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">closed</a> in February 2022.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-nachala-ispolzovat-tekhnologii-visionlabs-dlia-biometricheskoi-identifikatsii-klientov-v-salonakh-sviazi/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTS Uses VisionLabs Technologies for Biometric Identification of Customers in Telecom Stores

MTS has bought a 58.38% stake in Gulfstream Security Systems, the Russian provider of security and smart home systems. The deal was estimated at $24.7 million (2 billion rubles). The company’s experts clarified that they had created a separate smart home business that will be developed on the basis of Gulfstream.

 
 According to MTS President Viacheslav Nikolaev, MTS's applications "such as intelligent video surveillance, data analytics, IoT platforms and networks can form the basis of completely new solutions for real estate security and digital home and office control".

 
 In particular, MTS, together Gulfstream and VisionLabs, <a href="https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5306672" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">plan</a> to release a series of smart cameras with analytics later in 2022.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/mts-priobrela-58-golfstrima-dlia-razvitiia-reshenii-umnogo-doma/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

MTS Buys a 58% Stake in Gulfstream to Develop Smart Home Systems

Ozon has launched its hotel booking service, which currently operates as an aggregator. Ozon Travel allows users to choose from 70,000 accommodation options in Russia and in the countries available for travel.

 
 The company’s spokesmen say that in the future hotels will get a special personal account. Hotels will be able to log in to the account, post offers and independently manage prices.

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/ozon-travel/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ozon Travel</a>

<hr />
 
 Earlier it was <a href="https://tass.ru/ekonomika/13980365" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported</a> that the Russian Railways had launched a new service, which enables passengers to book hotels and excursions.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/ozon-zapustil-sobstvennyi-servis-bronirovaniia-otelei/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

VC.ru

Ozon Launches its Own Hotel Booking Service

At the moment, there are 9 areas of radiologic studies where computer vision is used. In the future, it is planned to use AI-based digital services in 29 areas.

 
 Currently, AI helps specialists to find signs of lung cancer, COVID-19, spinal osteoporosis, thoracic aortic aneurysm, coronary heart disease, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, lung pathologies and breast cancer on CT scans.

 
 In March, it was <a href="https://mosgorzdrav.ru/ru-RU/news/default/card/6383.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> that 50 AI services had been engaged in an experiment on the use of computer vision for the analysis of radiologic studies. The experiment on the use of AI in healthcare <a href="https://mosgorzdrav.ru/ru-RU/news/specialist/card/3513.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">started</a> in Moscow in February 2020.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-moskovskikh-bolnitsakh-zadeistvovali-ii-dlia-vyiavleniia-priznakov-insulta-i-legochnoi-gipertenzii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

mos.ru

Specialists Moscow Hospitals Use AI to Detect Stroke and Pulmonary Hypertension

Participants of two streams of the Moscow startup development program StartHub.Moscow have raised $12.4 million (more than one billion rubles) for the development of their projects. Fintech startups attracted the biggest investments, accounting for 43% of the funds raised. Startups in the fields of human resource management, transport and logistics have drawn much attention as well.

 
 Moscow-based companies received most of the funding (70%) from various founds, while 12% came from private investors, and another 12% were given in the form of grants. Russian fintech service Joys was one of the most successful graduates of the program. The funds raised by the service amounted to $5.1 million (418 million rubles). Joys is followed by Skipp service, which has raised $2.7 million (218 million rubles). Ubirator platform has raised $855,800 (69 million rubles).

<hr />
 
 Product cards

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/joys-digital/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joys</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/skipp/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Skipp</a>, <a href="https://ict.moscow/en/card/ubirator/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ubirator</a>

<hr />
 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/bolee-1-mlrd-rub-privlekli-uchastniki-dvukh-naborov-programmy-starthub-moscow/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

IKS Media

Participants of Two Streams of StartHub.Moscow Program Raise $12.4 Million

30 engineering schools will be created in various regions of Russia at the premises of universities. Various internships and practices with mentors from state corporations and large high-tech companies such as Yandex, Rostec, Russian Railways, KAMAZ, Sinara and others will be organized there.

 
 In the period from 2022 to 2024, $452.5 million (36.6 billion rubles) will be allocated for creating the schools. At the same time, the government expects that the schools will be partially funded using extra-budgetary resources, with 35% in 2022, 25% in 2023 and 20% in 2024.

 
 <a href="https://tass.ru/ekonomika/14342717" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">According</a> to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, more than 40,000 specialists will be able to graduate by 2030 after the creation of engineering schools. He also noted that school graduates would specialize in digital design and modeling, including robotics, artificial intelligence, big data, digital twins and other areas. By the end of this year, it is planned to develop 30 new advanced training programs for engineering staff.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-na-baze-vuzov-sozdadut-30-inzhenernykh-shkol/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

30 Engineering Schools to Be Created at Universities in Russia

AI developers will have access to de-identified data sets of Moscow. Specialists will have access to de-identified data sets about the city’s structure, calls to contact centers, transaction data in Moscow information systems, and others to train their own AI algorithms.

 
 The city’s departments will impose a number of requirements on projects that want to get access to data sets. For example, they should be focused on the development of life in the city and comply with the basic ethical principles of working with AI.

 
 To get access to data sets, companies will need to fill out an application and describe the project that requires de-identified data. Companies will also have to provide information about the current development of AI models and legal barriers (if any).

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/ii-razrabotchiki-poluchat-dostup-k-obezlichennym-datasetam-moskvy/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

AI Developers to Get Access to De-Identified Data Sets of Moscow

The specialists of the Distributed Ledger Technologies Centre of St. Petersburg State University have begun developing a decentralized international system for interbank financial message transfers using the blockchain technologies. The works started against the background of the disconnection of a number of Russian banks from the global financial messaging system SWIFT.

 
 According to the developers, the system is designed in such a way that each of the countries participating in the project stores a part of the program code and database and is a co-owner of the system. As a result, the risk of disconnecting institutions from the financial messages exchange system is eliminated. At the same time, the safety of transfers and their openness is achieved using the blockchain technologies.

 
 The amount of investment in the system is not disclosed.

 
 The removal of seven Russian banks from the SWIFT system was <a href="https://www.rbc.ru/finances/02/03/2022/621f595b9a79477da51d9db3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> in early March.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-tsentre-tekhnologii-raspredelennykh-reestrov-spbgu-nachalas-razrabotka-globalnoi-sistemy-obmena-finansovymi-soobshcheniiami/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Russia Develops an Analogue of SWIFT Based on Blockchain

Rosatom has completed the development and testing of alpha and beta versions of Repeat - a model-based environment platform. It can be used to create mathematical models of complex processes and objects in the energy sector, including digital twins.

 
 The company’s experts claim that Repeat is a competitive alternative to foreign software that can replace Matlab, Simulink, ETAP, Simcenter Amesim, and other solutions. It is expected that the solution will help to reduce the cost of production processes. According to the plan of the developers, the first official release of Repeat is scheduled for the fall of 2022.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rosatom-razrabotal-po-dlia-matematicheskogo-modelirovaniia-obektov-i-protsessov-v-energetike-vkliuchaia-sozdanie-tsifrovykh-dvoinikov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Rosatom

Rosatom Develops Software for Mathematical Modeling of Objects and Processes in Energy Sector

The Ministry of Digital Development has compiled a list of priority areas for Russian IT solutions that can receive state support. It was formed with the assistance of representatives of IT companies and industry associations, such as the Information & Computer Technologies Industry Association (APKIT), Russoft, the Association of Software Developers “Domestic Soft” and RAEC.

 
 Information systems that are “critical to the economy and not reproducible within the normal market mechanism” are divided into 17 categories in the list. The list includes solutions and tools for software development, life cycle management of products for different purposes, computer-aided design, engineering analysis, machine learning, character recognition, supply chain management systems, systems for property complex management, enterprise and production management, middleware, EDP systems and others. The list also includes foreign solutions that should be replaced by products from each category.

 
 Earlier, the support measures for Russian IT companies <a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67893" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">were taken</a>. A simplified IPO process on the Moscow Exchange for IT companies to raise funds is also <a href="https://digital.gov.ru/ru/events/41505/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">being discussed</a> as one of the new measures to support the IT industry.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/sostavlen-spisok-prioritetnykh-napravlenii-podderzhki-otechestvennykh-it-reshenii/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Ministry of Digital Development Prepares List of Priority Areas for Supporting Domestic IT Solutions 

Nokia, a telecom equipment manufacturer, stops doing business in Russia. The company said in an <a href="https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2022/04/12/nokia-to-exit-the-russian-market-no-impact-to-financial-outlook/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">official statement</a> that the decision would not affect its financial prospects.

 
 Earlier, Nokia suspended deliveries of base stations and network equipment to Russia. New investments have also been stopped in recent weeks, and research activities have been moved outside of Russia. However, Nokia plans to provide support to maintain networks and apply for the licenses needed to provide support under sanctions.

 
 Last year, Russia accounted for less than 2% of the company’s net sales. Nokia expects the loss caused by the complany's exit to be approximately 100 million euros in Q1.

 
 Shortly before, Ericsson <a href="https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2022/4/ericsson-suspends-business-in-russia-indefinitely-and-records-provision-in-q1-2022" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced</a> the suspension of activities in Russia for an indefinite period.

 
 MForum Analytics analyst Alexey Boyko <a href="https://t.me/abloud62/3910" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">said</a> that “the exit of Ericsson and Nokia is a severe blow to the Russian telecom industry”. In this regard, Russian companies will have to turn to Chinese manufacturers, primarily Huawei and ZTE. “As of today, the development of Russian telecom has pretty much stopped. Now it will take considerable effort to at least not regress. And we will have to wait until we are able to move forward”.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/nokia-vsled-za-ericsson-uidet-s-rossiiskogo-rynka/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Nokia and Ericsson Leave Russia

Scientists from Samara University have created NetTestBox, a system for monitoring the quality of data transmission. It helps to evaluate the main technical characteristics of the networks that form the Internet.

 
 The system also helps to track data leaks and see the part of the traffic comes through foreign channels. The developers say that if Western Internet connection diagnostic systems become unavailable to Russian users, NetTestBox will be able to replace them.

 
 The system that consists of five devices is being tested at the moment. There are two analogues of the system in the world - one American and one European.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/v-rossii-razrabotali-sistemu-monitoringa-kachestva-peredachi-dannykh-v-internete-nettestbox/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Izvestia

System for Monitoring Data Transmission Quality on Internet NetTestBox Developed in Russia

The fifth package of sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia includes a ban on supplying technologies for civilian communication networks that are the property of an organization controlled by the state or an organization with more than 50% state ownership. The restrictions will affect Rostelecom. The restrictive measures can also affect Tele2 and Transtelecom, which is building backbone networks on the basis of Russian Railways infrastructure.

 
 Rostelecom’s experts did not comment on the impact of the new sanctions on the development of networks. The company’s specialists noted earlier that all “state projects for the development of digital infrastructure are being implemented using Russian equipment.”

 
 According to the Electronics Developers and Manufacturers Association, the annual sales of telecom equipment in Russia, including imported equipment, are estimated at more than $4 billion, while the sales of domestic equipment account for no more than $780 million.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rostelekom-iz-za-novykh-sanktsii-ne-smozhet-ispolzovat-oborudovanie-evropeiskikh-vendorov/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Rostelecom Can't Use Equipment from European Vendors Due to New Sanctions

The government has increased grant support for Russian IT companies. Now they will be able to cover up to 80% of the project costs with the help of grants. Previously, this figure did not exceed 50%. v

 
 It is expected that the measure will accelerate import substitution, mitigate the negative effects of sanctions and prevent the outflow of IT specialists to foreign countries.

 
 Earlier, it was <a href="http://government.ru/news/45030/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">reported </a>that $257.4 million (21.5 billion rubles) would be allocated to support the IT industry in 2022. $167.6 million (14 billion rubles) of this amount will be provided as grants, another $17.9 million (1.5 billion rubles) will be allocated for preferential mortgage loans for IT specialists. Part of the funds will go to subsidize the interest rate on loans for companies working in the field of digital technologies.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/rossiiskie-it-kompanii-smogut-pokryt-grantami-do-80-stoimosti-proekta/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Interfax

Russian IT Companies to Cover Up to 80% of Project Costs with the Help of Grants

Small and medium-sized enterprises will be able to purchase Russian software with a 50% discount. More than 130 solutions from 29 domestic developers are currently available.

 
 To receive benefits, the company has to be included in the register of small and medium-sized businesses. About 300 thousand licenses have already been received. The amount of funding for the program in 2022 is 2 billion rubles.

 
 The selection of new right holders that will be provided with compensation for half of the cost of the purchased Russian software is <a href="https://d-russia.ru/rfrit-nachal-novyj-otbor-pravoobladatelej-dlja-kompensacii-poloviny-stoimosti-pokupki-otechestvennogo-po-dlja-msp.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">carried out</a> by the Russian Foundation for Information Technology Development. It is expected that the right holders of ERP (business process automation system), CRM (customer relationship management system) and specialized software used by small and medium-sized businesses will submit applications for a new selection round.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/startovala-programma-po-kompensatsii-poloviny-stoimosti-pokupki-otechestvennogo-po-dlia-malogo-i-srednego-biznesa/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Government Launches Program Making Up for 50% of Domestic Software Cost for SMEs 

The U.S. Department of Treasury has decided to remove telecommunications and Internet equipment from the sanctions against Russia, according to the <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/russia_gl25.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">official document</a>.

 
 Officials from the Department clarified that “the exportation or reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located, to the Russian Federation of services, software, hardware, or technology incident to the exchange of communications over the internet, such as instant messaging, videoconferencing, chat and email, social networking, sharing of photos, movies, and documents, web browsing, blogging, web hosting, and domain name registration services, that is prohibited by the RuHSR, is authorized.”

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/minfin-ssha-vyvel-iz-pod-sanktsii-protiv-rossii-telekommunikatsionnoe-i-internet-oborudovanie/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

U.S. Department of Treasury Removes Telecom and Internet Equipment from the List of Sanctions Against Russia

The bill according to which data centers will form a separate industry will be considered by the State Duma in the spring session. The document introduces the concept of a data center in the legal framework in order to be able to independently regulate its individual aspects.

 
 Experts proposed the following definition: “Data center is a communication facility with a complex of engineering and technical support systems, designed and used to accommodate equipment that provides processing and (or) storage of data, that conforms with the approved classification.”

 
 In the future, data center operators will be able to stop using licenses for the provision of communication services and receive their own foreign economic activity code, which will be introduced after the bill enters into force.

 
 <a href="https://ict.moscow/news/tsody-planiruiut-vydelit-v-otdelnuiu-otrasl/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Original (in Russian)</a>

Market in Brief