Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade has prepared a draft government resolution defining categories of telecommunications equipment that could become subject to a technology levy.
According to Vedomosti, which examined the draft, the proposed list includes mobile base stations, routers, switching devices and equipment used to receive, convert and transmit data.
The technology levy is envisaged as a mandatory non-tax payment for manufacturers and importers of certain categories of electronic products.
Under the proposal, the levy would be extended to telecommunications equipment after an experiment involving product labeling.
The draft provides for adjustments to the base rate depending on verification of a product's origin and its registration in the Chestny Znak labeling system. Under the relevant conditions, the payment could be reduced or increased by 33%.
However, the base rate itself for telecommunications equipment has not yet been disclosed.
Introducing the levy could affect costs for manufacturers, importers and telecommunications operators purchasing equipment to develop network infrastructure. The specific implications for consumer tariffs cannot yet be determined.
The ministry's document remains a proposal. Its publication does not mean that the levy has already taken effect for the equipment listed.