Russian authorities have found a solution to the problem of the lack of Internet along highways. To do this, non-working cell towers will be connected to the networks through intermediaries - enterprises and organizations. It is currently problematic to conduct electricity to roadside communication facilities - due to the lack of connection points to the power grid, it is impossible to launch already built base stations, market participants and experts said.
Currently, mobile internet is armenia whatsapp resource available only on 70% of federal highways and 40% of regional highways. The deficit of energy infrastructure often means that operators have to work on highways at a loss, experts say.
The Council for the Development of the Digital Economy under the Federation Council (CF), headed by First Deputy Speaker Andrei Turchak, intends to instruct the Ministry of Energy to develop regulatory legal acts necessary for the "indirect connection of communications facilities to power grids along existing highways." This follows from the recommendations of the Council's working group, which Izvestia has become familiar with. It will consider them at the end of October; if approved, they will become the basis for laws introduced by senators, as well as for regulatory documents developed by departments, a source in the CF explained.
The Ministry of Digital Development is aware of the preparation of recommendations on the issue of communications along highways from the working group under the Federation Council. The issue of technological connection of communications equipment to power grids is relevant: ensuring coverage of remote settlements or public highways with cellular communications directly depends on the availability and cost of such connection, the department noted.
The Ministry, together with other departments, is working on issues of placing communication facilities along highways, as well as reducing the costs of communication operators, energy companies and builders of other linear facilities by synchronizing plans for network development, its press service clarified.
"We need to build roads, communications and power grids at the same time where possible. The preparation of recommendations for the Ministry of Energy is being carried out precisely within the framework of this work," the department told Izvestia.
This initiative was discussed with the Ministry of Energy, its press service confirmed. The department, having studied the issue, considered it relevant and supported the initiative.
— The Ministry of Energy intends to amend the Rules for Technological Connection to Electric Grids. The amendment will allow for indirect technological connection of communication facilities up to 150 kW to the electric grid infrastructure along highways, — its representative noted.
The Rosseti Group is participating in the Ministry of Energy's development of amendments to regulatory and legal acts aimed at ensuring the provision of indirect connection of communicatio