Regional Digital Infrastructure: Key Elements and Their Interrelations

The object of this study is the digital infrastructure of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The subject of the study is the structural interrelations between the elements of digital infrastructure within the regional context. The methodological framework comprises a systems approach to analyzing infrastructure as a multilevel phenomenon, a comparative analysis of statistical data from the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation for 2022−2023, and a case study method for an in-depth examination of practices in three types of regions: a metropolitan region (Moscow), a digitalization leader (Tatarstan), and a typical agrarian region (Kursk Oblast). The study reveals a persistent differentiation among regions in terms of digital infrastructure development: the gap between the most and least developed entities in network capacity reaches a factor of 4.7. Three groups of systemic problems hindering effective interaction among infrastructure elements are identified: economic (the cost of laying fiber-optic communication lines in rural areas reaches RUB 2.8 million/km), technological (63% of regional information systems use foreign software), and human capital (an annual outflow of 18.7% of IT specialists from regions). It is established that sanctions pressure has accelerated import substitution (the share of domestic software in the public sector increased from 35% to 65%) but has led to delays in the implementation of infrastructure projects in 40% of regions. Practical recommendations are developed for federal authorities, regional governments, and the business community aimed at optimizing the architecture of digital infrastructure, taking into account the specific characteristics of different types of regions. An integrative model of regional digital infrastructure is proposed, encompassing structural, spatial, institutional, and technological sovereignty components.