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67% and 66% of respondents, respectively, admitted the lack of knowledge about the digital ruble.
Furthermore, 57% of Russians believe that digital currency will outperform ordinary money in the future. At the same time, 12% of them are sure that this is likely to happen in two or three years, while 45% of respondents say this will be in 10-15 years. One in five Russians (22%) are convinced that the digital ruble will never replace ordinary money.
9.1.8​ Telecoms sector news
The Russian telecom market may expand by 2.4% in 2021 to RUB1.77 trillion, ​researcher TMT Consulting said late in January in a statement. “In 2021, at least in January–June, the market will be still hit by negative factors related to the pandemic. At the same time we can expect recovery in most of the segments,” TMT Consulting said. It thinks the subscriber base of the key market of mobile connection will resume growth, which together with the recovery of the roaming segment will ensure an advanced increase of incomes. “In the absence of the negative trends of 2020, revenue growth of broadband Internet access and pay TV will speed up,” the statement read. The 2020 market shrank by 0.7% to RUB1.73bn, showing the poorest dynamics in its history. In 2022, the market may rise by 2% to RUB1.805 trillion; by 1.8% in
116 ​RUSSIA Country Report​ February 2021 www.intellinews.com