In Russia will close down community access points Internet – RIA Novosti

09:1224.10.2016

(updated: 11:43 24.10.2016)

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SOCHI, October 24 — RIA Novosti/Prime. Almost all points of collective access to the Internet (PKD) opened in inhabited localities with population from 500 people in 2016 will cease work in connection with the shortage of budget financing, said the head of the Ministry Nikolai Nikiforov.

in Russia In the framework of the project “universal service of communication” (UUS) there are approximately 21 thousand of PKD in settlements of 500 people and about 148 thousand universal pay phones in remote villages. Their maintenance is funded by UUS, where all operators donate 1.2% of revenue.

Since 2014, the Fund also financed a project to eliminate digital inequality (UCN), which provided Internet access in settlements with population of 250-500 people through access points, which laid fiber-optic communication lines (FOCL). A single “universal” appointed operator “Rostelecom”.

every year the Fund is going to about 14 billion rubles, however, in 2016, “Rostelecom” did not get him out of 6.9 billion rubles for the implementation of these projects. Despite the fact that by law the funds may only be spent for these purposes in the framework of the budget sequestration have been reduced and compensation to Rostelecom from the Fund.

In connection with the underfunding from the budget will be closed almost all of PKD, Nikiforov said.

“I Think that in connection with the lack of funding in fact CACS to the end of 2016, almost everywhere will stop,” said the Minister, noting that the issue of closing PKD is solved in each region individually. CACS will remain in very small settlements where there are no other methods of communication, he said.

not needed Anymore

According to Nikiforov, from the point of view of funding the number one priority for today are pay phones on the second place — the project UCN, the third — PKD.

the Minister noted that the need for CACS is eliminated — they were necessary when people did not have computers and smartphones, today as part of the project UZN people have other ways of access to the network, and the project UZN more popular.

“Today, the smartphone was used in 63% of cases of access to the Internet. That is, people with different devices coming out, but neither the desktop nor the laptop is no longer leading the way. So just changed the world dramatically, so, unfortunately, these conditions limit the funding of CACS will be phased out,” said the Minister.

According to him, the volume of traffic consumption during the first 3 thousand settlements, where there is a Wi-Fi point in the project UZN one to two orders of magnitude has surpassed the volume of traffic consumption by all CACS in the country.

Nikiforov also noted that perhaps there will be changes in the legislation which requires the presence of PKD in settlements with population of 500 people.

“Maybe changes in the law will make. While this does not do. This year is associated with a reduction of funding. You need to wait until the budget act of 2017, look, what figure, what the deficit outcome, and then we will decide”, — said the Minister.

Time-shifted

again, the Minister did not rule out that because of underfunding can move and the timing of the project UCN. “It is clear that something will move. I’m not ready to state which regions will move as I move”, he said.

the Contract signed with Rostelecom in 2014, is designed for 10 years and involves the provision of Internet access 13,6 thousand settlements with the population of 250-500 people at speeds at least 10 Mbps using access points will be based on the fiber (about 200 thousand km).

According to Nikiforov, the Ministry of communications in the autumn session plans to submit to the state Duma a bill on the separation of the Fund UUS that will allow to avoid further use its funds for other purposes, not associated with the specified projects.

According to the Finance Ministry, “Rostelecom” can receive from the Federal budget on rendering universal communication services in 2017 of 13.67 billion rubles, in 2018 — 13,691 billion and in 2019 — of 13.68 billion. The Finance Ministry is proposing from 2017 to Fund the telephone services using payphones, as well as providing access to the Internet via PKD in human settlements with population over 50 thousand people.