Operators warned about links due to equipment deficiency

Large Russian operators warn of possible ligaments in Russia due to deficiency of imported equipment. Problems can begin after 4-6 months. About this writes "Kommersant".

The cost of telecom equipment has already increased by 40 percent and can further increase by another 80 percent. According to operators, the risk of accidents and interruptions in the network will increase in July-August. Representatives of the industry believe that the only option to maintain the performance of the infrastructure is to curtail all development plans and use previously acquired equipment only to maintain the stability of the network.

Against the backdrop of the “current economic conditions”, the commission of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Communications for Communications and IT (includes representatives of MTS, Megafon, GS Group, Russian Railways and others) suggested introducing additional support measures: to reduce the fee for radio frequencies, to reset the property tax rate and exempt the income of industry employees.

Operators complain that due to problems with the supply of components, capital costs of large operators will grow from 390 billion rubles in 2021 to 450 billion rubles this year. The commission believes that this will happen even in the case of a reduction in investment programs. In addition, operators are afraid that while maintaining current trends within six months, the industry may lose up to 30 percent of highly qualified specialists, and the general deterioration of the financial situation of communication and broadcasting operators may force management to optimize the staff of 15–20 percent by the end of 2022.

The mincifers "Kommersant" said that "they did not see the prerequisites for failures" in communication networks. "On the part of the state, business receives whole packages of support measures. It is important to understand that business performance depends not only on preferences by the state, but also on the decisions of the enterprises themselves," the ministry said.

The document "On measures to ensure the development of the communication industry and information and communication technologies in the conditions of external sanctions pressure" will in the near future will be sent to the government.

• On February 24, the Russian army entered the territory of Ukraine. This happened immediately after Vladimir Putin announced that he had decided to start the “special operation” in the Donbass after the request of the so -called “DPR” and “LPR”.
• Many countries and large international companies have imposed sanctions against Moscow, turning around the programs of cooperation with Russia.