🗣 Telecom Operators Call for Unity Against Strict Regulation

The central theme was the impending licensing reform, which experts and market participants warn could lead to the disappearance of half of Russia’s broadband providers.

A Blow to Small Towns and New Regions

Oleg Grishchenko, President of the Rosteleset association, presented a detailed analysis of the legislative initiatives. He argued that the current reform draft requires significant softening; otherwise, small towns risk losing connectivity entirely.

Key proposals from Rosteleset include:

• For Sole Proprietors: A simplified transition to new corporate entities without re-payment of licensing fees and the seamless transfer of SORM (Lawful Interception) systems.
• For Small Operators: A reduction in contributions to the Universal Service Reserve (USR). Maintaining the current threshold at 1 million rubles would render business in small settlements unprofitable.
• For New Regions: Legislatively securing a special status. Local providers play a vital social role and have already invested heavily in adapting to Russian law.

A “United Front” of Industry Associations

During the roundtable, heads of the five largest industry associations (AKS, AMOR, ASTO, UralAOS, and Rosteleset) agreed that the industry requires direct lobbying within political circles.

Aleksey Sturov, President of AKS, noted a lack of deep understanding within the executive branch regarding the specifics of provider operations and urged associations to act as a “united front.” This sentiment was echoed by Dmitry Galushko (AMOR), who emphasized that now is the time to form a civil society where every operator must participate in defending their rights.

Subscribers as the Ultimate Bargaining Chip

Aleksey Leontyev, Director of ASTO, suggested using a “wave of appeals” from citizens as an effective tool to influence the Ministry of Digital Development. In his experience, mass letters from telecom consumers often prompt the government to revise rigid “top-down” initiatives.

Meanwhile, Olga Shakhmetova, President of UralAOS, advised businesses not to panic and to seek legal paths for adaptation—for instance, by using articles of incorporation to pool resources. She emphasized that market consolidation is inevitable, and it is crucial for operators to choose their own merger partners rather than waiting for state-driven pressure.