FEATURES OF ICT DEVELOPMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Information and communication technologies (ICT) are the main fundamental aspect of the development of the digital economy. They directly affect the socio-economic condition of any territory, including its competitiveness. The development of ICT is directly related to the green economy and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Over the past two years, the economic activity of countries around the world has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the reduction in the budgets of organizations for software, hardware and services, the demand for cloud, mobile and other IT tools is growing. Total spending on digitalization in Russia increased by more than a third in 2020 compared to 2019, but among all regions, only seven have a positive growth in costs on ICT. During the pandemic, the number and quality of various digital services have grown, allowing people to work, communicate, have cultural leisure and purchase goods and services remotely. COVID-19 contributes to a faster mass transition to the so-called Industry 4.0. ICT allow to depopulate production and to automate all processes. The pandemic has become a catalyst for increased investment in 5G and Wi-Fi 6 wireless networks, which are key factors in the development of medical, educational services, and the development of smart cities. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an even greater digital divide among the population and organizations, which is also observed in the northern regions of Russia. There is a need to analyze the impact of the pandemic on the dynamics of ICT development and the possibility of using ICT to combat the coronavirus pandemic. For these purposes, one can apply the SWOT analysis. This study has identified successful areas of ICT application aimed at reducing the spread of the disease, weaknesses of ICT, opportunities and threats of future periods. The analysis suggested avenues for further development of ICT in a pandemic. The study followed a qualitative research approach, with data collected by browsing online content related to the topic.