At the session titled “Digital Sovereignty: A Path to Resilience and Connectivity, Not Fragmentation”, held during the Global Digital Forum, representatives from the Government of the Russian Federation, PJSC Rostelecom, and ministries of communications from various countries exchanged experiences on ensuring digital sovereignty, developing international cooperation in technology and infrastructure projects. The speakers also addressed issues of education and training in the field of information technology, as well as ensuring the security of critical infrastructure and protecting citizens' data in the context of global digitalization.
The session was attended by: Eldar Gaifutdinov, Deputy Head of the Directorate for the Development of ICT and Communication Infrastructure of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation; Alexey Sapunov, Vice President and Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Rostelecom; Vladimir Volkov, Vice President for Work with Large Corporate Clients at PJSC Rostelecom; Honorat Evita Oma, Minister of Transport, Posts, Telecommunications, and Artificial Intelligence of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; Kfeloufe Navel, Advisor to the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications of Algeria; Mohammad Hanif Hamza, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Afghanistan; and Léon Juste Ibombo, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy of the Republic of the Congo.
Eldar Gaifutdinov, Deputy Head of the Directorate for the Development of ICT and Communication Infrastructure of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation: “Digital sovereignty refers to a state's ability to independently control and manage its digital infrastructure, data transmission, and technologies, as well as to regulate the digital space to minimize dependence on foreign solutions and external threats. Key aspects of Russia's digital sovereignty include technological independence, such as the development and adoption of domestic software; control over personal data circulation; cyber and information security; protection of citizens from unlawful information; development of infrastructure and national projects; and workforce training. We are always ready to share our experience.”
Alexey Sapunov, Vice President and Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Rostelecom: “For us, digital sovereignty primarily means ensuring security in the broadest sense. We focus on local data storage and the protection of key processes, ensuring the safeguarding of client data to prevent any distortions for consumers. We employ a comprehensive approach to provide digital sovereignty for our clients and have already developed significant expertise that we can contribute to cooperation with future international partners.”
Vladimir Volkov, Vice President for Work with Large Corporate Clients at PJSC Rostelecom: “To accelerate digitalization, Rostelecom has developed a range of solutions that have already proven effective in the market. These include 'Video Surveillance' for federal and socially significant projects, including the Unified State Exam and single voting day; the 'Unified Data Transmission System,' covering all educational institutions in the country and ensuring digital equality for rural and urban areas; communication technologies such as pLTE, M2M, PTT, and DMR, actively used in key sectors of the economy; solutions for automating technological processes based on Russian technologies; data center services ensuring reliable and secure operation of information systems; and offerings in information and cybersecurity.”
