IT and Society: 40% of Russians have Internet access

The Public Opinion Foundation announced that in autumn 2010 in Russia the share of Net surfers among adults reached 40% (or 46 mil. people). What is more, 32 mil. people surf the Net on a daily basis.

Within a quarter (from summer 2010) the number of monthly audience increased by 6,4%. Increase in daily Internet audience is more significant (11,5%), what has been caused among others by increased user activity as compared to the summer period. In summer the active audience share among all Internet users decreased to 65%, but by the autumn went up to 69%, what slightly exceeds figures of this spring.

In major cities (with 100 000+ people population) Internet penetration is larger than average figures across Russia. In towns with the population ranging from 100 000 to 1 mil. people the monthly Internet audience amounts to roughly 45%. In small towns and villages Internet has been not so widely spread, but right here has been recorded the highest increase: within a season (from summer) Internet audience in towns with population of less than 100 000 people and villages increased by almost 10%, as for a year there is 28% and 31% increase accordingly.

In major cities Internet audience is increasing slowly: in Moscow within a year it grew up to just 9%, in St. Petersburg the increase is more considerable and reaches 18%, however stabilization is expected to follow in the near future, as an increase within a quarter amounted to only 4%.

However despite an apparent surge in regional Internet penetration, so far every sixth Internet user lives in one of the two capitals.

In major cities where Internet penetration level already tops an average figure across Russia, there is a process of audience’s “aging”. Thus the share of monthly audience in Moscow and in St. Petersburg among people aged 45–54 has reached and event slightly exceeded the share of Net surfers aged 25–34 across Russia as a whole.