SAKAN Partners: RUSSIA

This page provides a brief summary of the search for SAKAN Partners in Russia. The question of what South Africa can learn from Russia, and vice versa, will be examined closely as the SAKAN network develops. Russia built its Internet Cafés during the early Internet growth years with a clear vision of how these will catapult its citizens into the global information society: 100Mb/s fibre connections to each Internet Café cluster, and a minimum of 10Mb/s between clusters. Russia’s Ziferblat (free space) Internet Café model is an interesting variant that has assumed an international flavour, finding popularity throughout Europe as a Russian export. This model provides for a flat rate charge for a comfortable venue, with all consumables and Internet connectivity part of the hourly charge. SAKAN will examine all possibilities for cooperation.

In the BRICS Community in 2016, Russia was second to China in fixed broadband penetration, thus providing many lessons for South Africa of what can be done, and especially what not to do. The lessons derived from South Africa's BRICS partners could be of immense benefit to South Africa as the country strives to reduce its triple threats of inequality, poverty and unemployment through modern ICT.

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