Association warns of gadgets deficit risk with software deadline

MOSCOW, Dec 29 (PRIME) -- The new April 1 deadline for preinstallation of Russian software on the smartphones, computers, and smart TV sets does not eliminate possible deficit of gadgets, Artyom Sokolov, head of the Russian Online Retail Association (AKIT), told PRIME in an interview published on Tuesday.

“The circulation period of electronics is 30–60 days, which means that all the devices will be bought within these 60 days. If by April 1 manufacturers fail to learn to make new gadgets suiting the law, there will be nothing to sell,” Sokolov said.

“We’ve repeatedly drawn attention of the government to these risks – a high probability of deficit of devices – and asked for a delay till July 1. We think that April 1 is clearly an insufficient deadline.”

The country bans to sell certain types of technically sophisticated goods without preinstalled local software, whose list is to be set by the government, from April 1, 2021.

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