The Russian government is considering introducing an additional fee for international traffic in the recently launched 5G networks. This initiative is aimed at restricting the use of censorship circumvention tools. It is expected that subscribers will have to pay extra if their international traffic exceeds 50 gigabytes per month.
Implementation timeline and reasons for delay
The new rules could take effect as early as October 1, although the cabinet of ministers has not yet approved the exact date. Representatives of the largest mobile operators confirm that these measures are being discussed, but they cannot specify the exact implementation dates. Notably, information about this surfaced almost immediately after the conclusion of elections to the State Duma and regional parliaments.
Previously, a similar system was planned for May 1 for users consuming over 15 gigabytes of international traffic. Later, the launch was postponed to June for technical network preparation, and then delayed until autumn. Experts attribute these postponements to the authorities' reluctance to make unpopular decisions before the election campaign, during which some digital restrictions were actually eased, including the unblocking of the popular game Roblox and the launch of 5G in major cities.
Project origins and technical challenges
These measures are being introduced based on a closed directive from President Vladimir Putin. During specialized meetings, the impossibility of accurately identifying encrypted traffic was discussed, which led to the proposal to restrict all international data exchange. The potential surcharge may amount to 150 rubles.
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