Russian operators: Tariffs to triple if content record bill adopted

MOSCOW, Jun 30 (PRIME) -- Russian mobile operators suppose that they may be forced to double or triple tariffs because of extra expenses they would bear if the bill obliging them to store data on users’ activities and exchanged content is signed into law, PRIME reported late Wednesday.

Operators repeatedly said that the initiative would cost them 2.2 trillion rubles as they would have to upgrade networks, create storage facilities and the like.

“If the amendments are adopted, tariffs will triple,” Yulia Dorokhina, head of MegaFon’s press office, said.

T2 RTK Holding, known as Tele2, agreed. “We don’t exclude that because of the additional spending, which operators will face, prices of cellular connection for absolutely all subscribers could spike by two–three times. Besides, these expenses will exceed a large-scale investment program for the construction and expansion of networks, with which Tele2 is busy now by dozens of times, and it will slow down or even suspend infrastructure development,” Tele2 spokesperson Konstantin Prokshin said.

“Data storage, as well as their details up to the level of content of messages and media files, will require colossal investment in expansion of infrastructure of storage facilities from operators. Chances are high that spending will be offset at the expense of higher servicing prices for the final consumer,” Olga Alekseyeva, PR director at Scartel, known as Yota, said.

The Federation Council, the parliament’s upper house, approved earlier on Wednesday the bill obliging connection operators and Internet companies to keep records of users’ calls, correspondence and their content.

Operators must store information on calls, text messages, photos, sounds and video exchange on the country’s territory for three years and content of talks and correspondence for up to six months. Internet companies must keep this information for one year.

The government will determine an order, deadlines and volume of stored information.

Now the future of the bill will be decided by President Vladimir Putin, whose signature will turn the bill into the law.

The president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier that the Kremlin is well aware of hot disagreements about the bill severely criticized by market participants and experts.

(64.2575 rubles – U.S. $1)

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