The Ministry of Digital Development will assess the impact of removing preferential connectivity to electricity grids on the price of communication services.

MOSCOW, April 20 – RIA Novosti. The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation is concerned about the sharp increase in the cost of connecting communication facilities to electrical networks by 30-60 times, and in connection with this, it will analyze the impact of the abolition of the tariff guarantee on the change. mobile communication prices telegraph channel ministries.

On July 1, 2022, a government decree came into force canceling the preferential rate of 550 rubles for the connection of facilities with a capacity of up to 15 kW.

“The Ministry of Digital Transformation has received a letter from operators and supports their concerns about the increase in the cost of connecting communication facilities to electricity grids. According to the results of today’s discussions, the industry has confirmed that there have been multiple increases in prices for technical connections. The cost of connecting to the electricity grid has increased from 30 to 60 times due to the removal of the tariff guarantee. If no action is taken, prices will continue to rise.”

The ministry stressed that the need to pay for the entire infrastructure for connecting to networks will lead to an increase in the cost of operator services and a significant decrease in the penetration rate of communication on roads and sparsely populated areas.

They reminded that communication services in Russia are among the cheapest in the world. While average costs have increased 1.3 times over the last 20 years, electricity prices have increased more than five times in the same period.

“The Ministry of Digital will conduct an analysis of the impact of the removal of the tariff guarantee on the possible increase in the cost of fixed and mobile services,” the ministry said. said.