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Russia plans to nearly double three-year internet filtering budget to 60 bln rubles
En breve
An appendix to Russia's draft three-year budget allocates almost 60 billion rubles to operating the system that filters and blocks internet resources, up from 32 billion rubles planned for the same period two years ago. The money is to go to the Main Radio Frequency Centre, which is subordinate to Roskomnadzor and runs the ASBI filtering system. Vedomosti, Meduza and CNews all cite Forbes; the reason for the doubling is not stated in the budget documents and the Finance and Digital Ministry press services did not answer Forbes's questions.
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Russia plans to spend almost 60 billion rubles over the next three years on the system that filters and blocks internet resources, according to an appendix to the draft budget placed in the State Duma's electronic database. Vedomosti, Meduza and CNews all reported the figure, citing Forbes. Two years ago, 32 billion rubles was planned for the same period. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The money is to go to the Main Radio Frequency Centre, a body subordinate to Roskomnadzor that runs the automated system for ensuring the security of the Russian internet segment (ASBI), which filters, analyses, slows and blocks internet traffic. The planned allocations are 19.87 billion rubles in 2027, 19.84 billion in 2028 and 19.87 billion in 2029. CNews reported that under the “Cybersecurity Infrastructure” federal project, part of the “Data Economy” national project, the figures for those years were 7.22 billion, 12.32 billion and 12.32 billion rubles. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The documents give no reason for the increase. Meduza reported that it is unknown why costs doubled, that the Finance and Digital Ministry press services did not answer Forbes's questions, and that a source close to the Digital Ministry said the explanations in the draft law have “not yet been written” and should be expected by the end of the year. CNews carried the same remark about explanations being expected by the end of the year. Experts quoted by Vedomosti and Meduza attribute the growth to the rising cost of equipment, including chips, memory and storage used in technical means of countering threats (TSPU), with imports of foreign components complicated by sanctions. Vedomosti, citing Digital Ministry data, also reported that mobile internet traffic fell 6% year-on-year in the second quarter, to 12.1 billion GB. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
TSPU equipment is installed on the networks of all telecom operators under the law on the sovereign internet, and it is what allows Roskomnadzor to filter, slow and block traffic. Meduza quoted Alexei Amelkin, president of the Makatel telecom operators association, saying the equipment has yet to be installed on operators' networks in the occupied territories of Ukraine, and noted that if TSPU become “smarter”, that is, use AI, this too would require funds. CNews reported that the cybersecurity infrastructure project envisaged modernising ASBI in 2025-2030 through replacing installed TSPU, installing them at new nodes, and developing new signatures, with throughput planned to reach 725.6 Tbit/s by the end of 2030, against 953.9 Tbit/s in the Digital Ministry's 2025-2030 plan. [ 2 , 3 ]
Por qué importa
The spending figures indicate that filtering and blocking infrastructure remains a budget priority for the next three years, and that the equipment is to be extended to more networks. Experts quoted by the outlets link the higher sum to rising hardware costs and sanctions, while Meduza notes the documents give no explanation for the increase.
Datos clave
- About 60 billion rubles is planned for the filtering and blocking system over the next three years, according to an appendix to the draft budget in the State Duma's electronic database. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Two years ago, 32 billion rubles was planned for the same period. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The money is to go to the Main Radio Frequency Centre (GRChC), subordinate to Roskomnadzor, which is responsible for the ASBI system. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- By year: 19.87 billion rubles in 2027, 19.84 billion in 2028 and 19.87 billion in 2029. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Under the federal project “Cybersecurity Infrastructure”, part of the “Data Economy” national project, the figures for the same years were 7.22 billion, 12.32 billion and 12.32 billion rubles. [ 3 ]
- Experts quoted by the outlets attribute higher costs to rising prices for equipment, including chips, memory and storage used in technical means of countering threats (TSPU). [ 1 , 2 ]
- Meduza reported that the Finance and Digital Ministry press services did not answer Forbes's questions, and a source close to the Digital Ministry said explanations are expected by the end of the year. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Vedomosti, citing Digital Ministry data, reported that mobile internet traffic fell 6% year-on-year in the second quarter to 12.1 billion GB. [ 1 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- Almost 60 billion rubles is planned over three years for the system that filters and blocks internet resources, up from 32 billion rubles planned for the same period two years ago. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The recipient is the Main Radio Frequency Centre, subordinate to Roskomnadzor, which runs the ASBI system. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Yearly allocations are about 19.87 billion rubles in 2027, 19.84 billion in 2028 and 19.87 billion in 2029. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- Why the planned spending doubled from 32 billion to almost 60 billion rubles. Meduza states it is unknown why costs grew twofold; the Finance and Digital Ministry press services did not respond to Forbes, and a source close to the Digital Ministry said the explanations have not yet been written and are expected by the end of the year.
- Whether new TSPU equipment will use artificial intelligence, which Meduza says would require additional funds. Meduza raises this as a possibility (“if TSPU become smarter, that is, use AI”); no document confirms such plans.
- The exact composition and procurement details of the spending. CNews says the draft budget gives no details, and a source close to the Digital Ministry said they are expected by the end of the year.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- Vedomosti publishes its report on the planned doubling of filtering and blocking spending, citing Forbes and the Duma budget database. [ 1 ]
- Meduza publishes its report, saying it is unknown why costs doubled and that the Finance and Digital Ministry press services did not answer Forbes. [ 2 ]
- CNews publishes its report with the yearly figures and the comparison to the “Cybersecurity Infrastructure” project. [ 3 ]