Internet and Society: Broadband Internet penetration in Russian grows

According to J’son & Partners Consulting, the number of Russian households with broadband Internet access amounted to 21.7 million in 2011, +18% as compared to the past year’s figure. The service’s penetration totaled 38%. Experts are expecting that at the end of 2012 the number of household broadband connections in Russia will reach 24.7 million or 43% penetration.

The market share as for 2011 (incomes of providers from offering broadband Internet services to private persons) totaled 71.8 billion rubles. J’son & Partners Consulting predicts that at the end of 2012 this figure will increase to hit 81.2 billion rubles.

In 2011 the share of Russian regions (by the number of new broadband connections) reached 75%. The share of Moscow and St. Petersburg keeps on decreasing as there is a growth of market saturation in these cities, and there is an active expansion of major Internet providers in regions.