Possibilities of "Smart city" concept implementing: Russia' s cities practice

The article deals with the "smart city" concept which comprises the intellectual transport system, public security, energy consumption management and control, measures to protect the environment, and information-communication technologies (ICT). To analyze and assess the state of affairs, we have chosen one of the five "smart city" key elements, namely, the information-communication technologies including the following: new urban technologies, ICT in education, ICT in public health care, in electronic government and public services. The situation in three biggest Volga Federal Region cities (Kazan, Samara and Nizhniy Novgorod) has been analyzed. Recommendations on how to implement the "smart city" concept in other Russia's cities are made