Shared Telecom Infrastructure Law Set to Ease Connectivity in Remote Parts of Russia
Telecom operators will be allowed to share infrastructure in sparsely populated areas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law requiring telecom operators to jointly use communications infrastructure in sparsely populated areas and along public highways. The amendments to the Law on Communications are set to come into force on September 1, 2026.
In practical terms, this means operators will no longer need to build their own infrastructure separately in such locations. Instead, telecom companies will be able to connect to existing facilities, even if they are owned by a competitor.
One for All
The Ministry of Digital Development and the Ministry of Transport will approve a list of areas where shared use of communications infrastructure will apply. The new rules will cover territories with populations of fewer than 1,000 people, as well as federal highways.
As Sergey Boyarsky, head of the State Duma committee on information policy, said earlier, the amendments will spare residents of remote settlements from having to wait “until each operator extends its network on its own.” Stable mobile communications and internet access are also expected to be provided for motorists on major highways.
