With the support of Rosneft Oil Company, a unique project is being implemented in Ugra to ensure Internet accessibility for the indigenous North peoples

Thanks to Rosneft in 2020 about 800 ancestral lands residents of the indigenous small-numbered North peoples on the territory of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra gained access to the Internet. The funds allocated by the Company are used to connect 17 access points to the global network in 54 territories of traditional nature management of indigenous peoples. In 2021, it is planned to install at least 20 more points.

Depending on the location of a particular household, the necessary technical solution is applied - masts with antennas are installed, which amplify the signal from the base stations of operators, or, for remote settlements, a satellite dish is placed on the hut, which transmits the signal via the Wi-Fi network to the house and the street.

Ugra is the first Russian region in which residents of ancestral lands have access to the Internet, which makes it possible to receive education remotely, consult medical specialists, and have access to various information, state and other socially significant resources without leaving the camp.

At the moment, 475 territories of traditional nature use with a total area of over 132,000 km² are registered in Ugra. More than 4,800 representatives of the indigenous small-numbered North peoples, leading a traditional way of life, live here.

Ethnic-forming types of traditional economic activities for the small peoples of the Autonomous Okrug are reindeer husbandry, fishing, hunting, animal husbandry, gathering, traditional trades and crafts, including the manufacture of national clothes, utensils, fishing gear, etc. The state of affairs in these sectors determines the family budget of the majority of the villagers, since the products types of traditional agricultural production have a high commodity price. The land inhabitants preserve their identity, tribal way of life, culture and their special social status by doing it.

The project to provide the Internet to the indigenous North peoples is led by the public organisation "Salvation of Yugra", which advocates the preservation of ethnic identity and the provision of a system for the protection of indigenous peoples of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra with the involvement of funds from oil companies.

The project is being implemented on the territory of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra on places of permanent residence of the indigenous peoples within the boundaries of the production activities of LLC RN-Yuganskneftegaz. Within the Cooperation Agreement between Rosneft and the Government of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra, the company annually allocates funds for the development of the social sphere of the settlements of the region indigenous minorities.

Rosneft
Information Division
April 19, 2021