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92 Elena Vartanovamajority of Russian access providers are secondary providers and technicallyunable to provide access to international networks. Only in Moscow and StPetersburg can Internet companies connect users directly with foreignnetworks. The dominance of the two megapolises in terms of content andservice supply makes the prospect for significant spreading of the new economyinto the regions fairly problematic.Eventually, Russian private business, especially finance institutions andsmall firms, have become heavy users of the Internet, which enables them toovercome many of the existing defects in communication, transport, andadministration. The Internet has made private business less dependent uponthe assistance and cooperation of official authorities. Other advantages forsmall and medium Russian enterprises are based upon the fact that some popularelectronic mail servers offer their facilities and services free of charge; inaddition, local telephone operators provide their services mostly free. As aresult, this technologically advanced, although small, sector of the Russianeconomy is characterized by active use of information technology andnetwork corporate structures to guarantee greater efficiency in organizationalcommunication within companies.This uneasy progress of the new Russian economy is partly counterbalancedby the progress of mobile telephony. Its significance as an alternativetechnological infrastructure for a network society has grown enormously. Withthe increase in amount and volume of transmitted information, mobile telephonenetworks have radically changed the Russian communication landscape.The spread of cellular phones has responded not only to the demand forimproved one-to-one communication. Almost 23 million Russians (15.5percent of the population) who currently use mobile phones have shown aninterest in various technological applications like SMS services, distributionof content, and so on. In general terms, the significance of mobile telephonyfor Russia is difficult to overestimate. It has created a competitive andeconomically viable market based on flexible pricing policies. As a result,three big companies operating in the sector constantly offer new services andthe opportunity of lower prices. As a result, operators of fixed telephonenetworks have lost their monopoly, and Russians have received more mobilityand independence in their everyday information consumption, business-tobusinessand multiple-to-multiple communication.FROM VERTICAL PYRAMID TO NETWORKS: RUNET INPOLITICS AND LEISUREThe rapid spread of the Internet has created its own mythology. Among themost popular declarations is the one claiming greater than ever freedom of