Foreign internet traffic fees may be introduced in Russia after parliamentary elections
Daniel
2026-09-24
Read time
2 minutes
Following the parliamentary elections, the Russian government has resumed discussions on introducing additional fees for international internet traffic. At this stage, authorities are considering charging users for exceeding a fifty-gigabyte limit on newly launched fifth-generation networks. These changes are planned for early October of this year, with the primary objective being to restrict the operation of independent tools used to bypass blockings.
Initiative details and technical challenges
Previously, the line ministry proposed a fifteen-gigabyte limit on foreign traffic, with a charge of one hundred and fifty rubles for each additional gigabyte. However, the implementation of this plan was postponed until after the elections. Telecommunications experts point out that launching such monitoring requires solving complex technical tasks to track the traffic of every user, which could take up to six months.
Combating bypass tools
Public demand for tools to bypass blocks has surged significantly after access to two popular messaging apps was restricted. In response, government agencies were directed to reduce the usage of such technologies in the country. Specifically, telecom operators were prohibited from expanding data transmission channels to Europe, and large companies were instructed to block access for users of these services.
According to internal directives from the country's leadership, the task of restricting such platforms has been assigned to key security agencies. The head of a major security division was granted full authority to establish order within the Russian segment of the internet.
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