The Ministry of Digital Development is preparing a large-scale reform of the telecommunications industry, one of the key points of which will be the requirement for home internet speed. The agency is developing a norm according to which every apartment building must be able to connect households to the network at a speed of at least 1 Gbit/s. Ten years are expected to be allocated for this task.
At the same time, the authorities intend to significantly change the rules for the operators themselves. Instead of almost 20 types of licenses, it is proposed to leave four levels — municipal, basic, universal, and general. For repeated violations of the law, out-of-court license revocation is being considered, after which it will be impossible to obtain a new one for ten years.
Additional requirements may also affect the financial model of companies. At least half of their revenue must come directly from communication services, and the cost of the license is planned to be tied to the operator's service area. To transition to the new rules, companies are to be given one year for free re-registration of documents.
The changes may be most sensitive for small regional providers. Earlier, market participants warned that under a strict reform scenario, a significant portion of existing companies might not meet the requirements. The Ministry of Digital Development, however, states that a transitional period must be provided for small operators who remain the sole communication providers in their territory.
Experts note that much will depend on the final version of the document. If concessions are maintained for small regional companies, there may be no serious impact on subscribers. If the requirements are equally strict for everyone, the costs of small operators may increase, and with them, the cost of internet in certain cities.
The Ministry of Digital Development expects to submit the bill to the State Duma by the end of 2026.