The Russian government plans to increase funding for the Data Economy national project and the Information Society program by 58% in 2027. This growth will be financed through contributions from telecom operators to the Universal Service Reserve (USR), rather than by raising the current 2% levy rate.
The decision follows a report by the Accounts Chamber, which identified that telecom operators underpaid 2.58 ₽ billion into the USR fund between 2023 and 2025. Auditors discovered that many companies excluded certain services from their calculation base, with some underreporting revenues by 80% or more compared to tax filings.
According to the federal budget draft, USR contributions are expected to reach 36.6 ₽ billion in 2027, rising to 41.5 ₽ billion by 2029. In 2027, 19.3 ₽ billion of these funds will be allocated specifically to infrastructure development and providing connectivity to small settlements.
The Accounts Chamber noted that out of 4,600 active operators in 2024, only 472 reported their revenues correctly. While there are 5,500 entities currently paying into the fund, 93% of the total contributions come from just 50 major operators. The Ministry of Digital Development does not currently verify these revenue reports.
