The Ministry of Digital Development is preparing a reform that could seriously reshape the communications market. Instead of almost two dozen licenses, they want to leave only three, but the entry cost will become much higher: from 1 million rubles for a basic license to 50 million for a general one. At the same time, capital and infrastructure requirements for operators will increase.
For large companies, these are manageable conditions, but thousands of small regional providers may not be able to withstand them. Players operating in small towns, the private sector, and specific areas are especially vulnerable – there, local companies often provide internet where it is unprofitable for large operators to go.
The reform also worries IT developers. Regional operators buy billing, security systems, and other Russian software from them, and at the same time become a platform for testing new solutions. If there are fewer such clients, the industry risks losing both money and room for experimentation.
We propose suspending the licenses of gross violators, but giving them a last chance to save their business.
There is also a more understandable risk for subscribers – prices and quality. Industry associations fear that after the departure of small providers, competition will decrease, and in some regions, the choice of operators will significantly narrow. According to one estimate, in 27 regions, there may not be a single regional player left at all.
The Ministry of Digital Development emphasizes that no final decisions have been made yet. The agency explains the reform by the desire to keep companies in the market that are capable of fulfilling legal requirements, modernizing networks, and ensuring stable communication. The dispute essentially boils down to one question: will a stricter selection make the market more reliable – or will it simply leave it without thousands of small operators?