A widely used definition «spatial data infrastructure» is analyzed. The World’s and Russian versions of its usage are considered. It is marked that its usage is illegal in the case of the narrow area for cartographic and geodetic practice. If the task of creation and development of spatial data infrastructure is set in a more widely extensive sense, i.e. for the data of all the interested branches and agencies, it is necessary to create a special interdepartmental system for its solution. It shall not be focused on the only organization as a part of executive authorities of the Russian Federation.