The Association of Small Regional Operators (AMOR) has asked Russia's Digital Development Ministry to give small internet service providers three years, rather than one, to meet new licensing requirements. Industry representatives warn that otherwise some companies could lose their licenses and stop serving customers.
The association sent its letter to Deputy Digital Development Minister Dmitry Ugnivenko on October 22. Kommersant reported its contents on October 26. The reform under discussion would introduce new requirements for operators' own funds, network infrastructure and technical equipment, as well as allowing licenses to be revoked without a court order for repeated violations.
Industry representatives say that approvals of technical documentation and license renewals often take months. Combined with the new financial requirements, that could make a one-year transition period insufficient.
The Insider separately calculated how contributions to the universal service reserve might increase if a proposed annual minimum payment of 1 million rubles were adopted. For a provider earning 10 million rubles a year from communications services, the payment would be five times the current contribution of 2% of revenue. These calculations describe one possible version of the reform and do not account for potential exemptions.
The Digital Development Ministry says stricter requirements are intended to improve network security and resilience. It is also considering a separate licensing framework for local providers. No final licensing rules have been adopted.