A significant number of telecommunications operators will leave the Sverdlovsk region.

      In the Sverdlovsk region, 39% of regional communication operators, including internet providers, may cease operations after the launch of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation's reform. This was stated by the director of the Association of Telecommunications Operators (ASTO) Alexey Leontyev during a press conference at the "Russian Newspaper."

      Only 61% of players will be able to maintain their positions. At the same time, in 27 regions, all local communication operators serving 22 million subscribers will leave the market due to the new requirements of the Ministry of Digital Development. Among them are: Bryansk, Vologda, Kirov, Kurgan, Novgorod, Orenburg regions, and the republics of Kalmykia, Sakha, and Komi. In another nine regions, two-thirds of regional players may leave the market, and 12 subjects will lose up to half of all local providers.

      — Some regions will become so empty that there will be no one to take on the subscribers. Federal operators will be able to fill the gap if they are handed over the networks of the departing operator, Leontyev is quoted by the EAN publication.

      For federal communication operators to replace the departed local companies, it will take 1-2 years. Leontyev believes that after the new rules come into effect, remote settlements will suffer significantly, where subscribers may be left without local providers. For this reason, the association urges the Ministry of Digital Development of Russia to ease the requirements for regional players or provide a transitional period to comply with the norms outlined in the reform. The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation confirmed that some players may leave the market, but the agency does not predict a deterioration in the quality of communication. Earlier, there was information that the Ministry of Digital Development intends to introduce a fee for all foreign traffic for Russians.