Free socially significant sites – a window into the digital future
Russia is going to adopt the law on socially significant sites. It will oblige mobile operators to provide subscribers with free access to more than 300 Internet pages that allow them to get acquainted with the news, exchange messages and make online payments. The significance of this unique initiative has become particularly noticeable against the background of the pandemic. The coronavirus verbally locked most of the population of large cities in their apartments, and the Internet became necessary almost for everything. It is also important for Turkmenistan to open free access to socially significant sites. At the initiative of President Berdimuhamedov, the country is implementing the Concept of Developing the Digital Economy until 2025. Within its framework, dozens of Internet resources have already appeared to simplify the interaction of citizens with state institutions. Ensuring universal access to these platforms is seen as a quite logical next step towards a digital future. The experience of the Russian Federation shows that such an initiative really works. In the test mode, free access to socially significant sites in Russia is valid from April 2020. This has opened up access to important information and services for tens of thousands of Russians, regardless of their social status and financial situation. To make this possible, the sites included in the list of free ones have developed their own “light” versions. There are no videos, large photos, or other decorative elements on them. Only the most important thing is information and the opportunity to make use of services. This made it possible to free mobile operators from excessive load on the mobile network and unnecessary financial expenditure. Experts predict that free access to socially significant sites should essentially accelerate the development of e-government and lead to a reduction of the “digital abruption”.
