Two Russian mobile operators this week will increase the cost of archive rates. Changes in MegaFon’s tariffs will come into effect on January 13, and for Vimpelcom subscribers (Beeline trademark), price increases will begin on January 16th.

Megafone is forced to take such a step in connection with an increase in the consumption of services by subscribers, representatives of RIA Novosti said. The press service of the operator emphasized that the changes will affect only a small number of users.

The press service of VimpelCom, in turn, explained that they resorted to this measure in connection with the costs of intensive development of infrastructure and the implementation of new requirements of Russian legislation, in particular, anti-terrorism laws, as well as the law on sustainable Runet.

The director general of the Digital Platforms Autonomous Non-Profit Organization Arseny Shcheltsin, in a conversation with RT, noted that mobile communications are an area that requires increased oversight by government agencies.

“The fact is that now telecom operators are the business that requires more regulation by the state, because the topic of information security is now at the head of any new process,” he said.

The expert explained that the costs of mobile operators are increasing due to the requirements of the regulator to comply with all standards, and in one way or another affect users.

“There are various forms for this, including increasing the cost of old tariffs, in essence the operator offers new configurations in which it makes less cost, but at the same time they are also more profitable for the user, and the archive ones are formed according to old calculations, therefore, of course, first of all, they raise prices, ”added Shcheltsin.

  • globallookpress.com
  • © Paul Zinken

Recall that the amendments to the anti-terrorism legislation, known as the “Yarovaya package”, were developed by the deputy Irina Yarovaya and Senator Viktor Ozerov and signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2016. Innovations include new criminal articles for international terrorism, for failure to report an impending terrorist attack, as well as a tougher punishment for extremism. Public appeals and the justification of terrorism on the Internet are also subject to punishment.

In addition, telecom operators and Internet companies will be required to store text messages, voice information, images, sounds and videos for six months. Also, operators will have to store data on the facts of the reception, transmission and delivery of messages for three years, and Internet companies - for a year. Operators are obliged to transfer all information to special services, if necessary, without a court decision. Also, in accordance with the law of telecom operators, instant messengers and social networks that use data encryption will be obliged to help special services in decrypting messages.

In addition, in 2019, the Law on Sustainable Runet entered into force. He assumes that a special center for monitoring and managing the network will ensure the operation of communication services in the country if any extraordinary situations arise, including the threat of disconnection from abroad.

“An infrastructure is being created to ensure the operability of Russian Internet resources if it is impossible to connect Russian telecom operators to foreign root servers of the Internet,” the explanatory note says.

In addition, this center will coordinate the efforts of telecom operators in unforeseen cases, and specialists from ILV, FSB, FSO, telecom operators and equipment manufacturers will be involved in ensuring the stability of the Runet.

Information from government agencies and state-owned enterprises on the Internet will also be further protected by encryption.

Vladimir Putin previously explained that the main goal of the new law is to ensure the reliable functioning of the Runet.

“We are not talking about any restrictions on the Internet ... We must ensure the reliable functioning of the Runet, the Russian segment of the Internet. That’s what this law is aimed at, only this, ”the president explained.

TelecomDaily analyst Ilya Shatilin in an interview with RT noted that mobile phone prices in Russia are among the lowest in the world.

“We are on the verge of building fifth-generation networks, so that there is some money for it, we also need to increase tariffs, because now in Russia mobile communications are one of the cheapest in the world when you have five dollars, relatively speaking , there is unlimited Internet, a certain amount of bonuses, ”he explained.

The analyst added that given inflation, price increases become inevitable.

“Communication will probably rise to the level of at least Eastern Europe,” added Shatilin.