Mandatory payment for the passage of “main” Internet traffic, including large video streams, may be implemented for Internet service operators, reports Kommersant. This initiative was suggested in the “Strategies for the development of the communication industry in the Russian Federation for 2024−2035,” which was developed with the participation of Mincifers and telecom operators.
Under the proposal, Internet companies would be required to enter into commercial agreements with operators on the passage of their traffic. As part of the initiative, the document proposes that VKontakte, Zen and Odnoklassniki, Yandex services, as well as Rutube video hosting, be removed from the register of information distribution organizers (Ori).
Or is the registry of information distribution organizers, but YouTube is not included in it, and the only foreign video hosting listed is Vimeo. Online cinemas are also not included in the registry, thus are subject to the requirements.
The authors of the strategy refer to a planned increase in traffic volumes of at least 25% annually in Russia. The initiative also draws on international experience, particularly the decision by the South Korean District Court in 2019, which required Netflix to compensate SK BroadBand for the traffic passing (Netflix disputes the solution).
Market participants recalled that Russian content providers are already compensating communication operators directly or through commercial CDN operators. The initiative could primarily target foreign services such as Google, including YouTube and search engine, as well as WhatsApp messenger.
However, some industry sources doubt the practicality of creating a legislative mechanism in Russia to collect deductions from foreign companies.