Topic
MTS
Marketplace Scraping in 2026: Why Timer-Based IP Rotation Undermines Parsers
Fraud & Social Engineering
MTS, MegaFon and Beeline Must Temporarily Suspend Radio Equipment at FSO Request Under Extended Frequency Licenses
Policy & Regulation
FAS Clears Russian Operators on 'Unlimited' Internet Claims Despite Speed Throttling to 128 Kbit/s
Policy & RegulationAeroflot to Accept Digital Rubles for Ticket Purchases Starting September 2026
From September 1 2026 Aeroflot will begin accepting digital rubles as a payment method for airline tickets both on its website and in company sales offices. Customers choosing the new option online will see a QR code generated by the site that must be scanned in a participating bank application. The payment is then confirmed from the digital wallet hosted on the Bank of Russia platform and an electronic ticket plus receipt are issued automatically. The same QR-based flow will be used at physical ticket counters where the code appears on the terminal. Ordinary bank cards and other payment methods remain fully available and no physical digital cash is required. On the same date MTS will start accepting digital rubles through MTS Pay while Rostelecom and Megafon are also preparing their systems. Russian authorities have clarified that the digital ruble is the third official form of the national currency alongside cash and non-cash funds rather than a cryptocurrency.
Russia Permits 5G Deployment on Existing 4G Infrastructure and Frequencies
The Russian Ministry of Digital Development has prepared a draft decision for the State Radio Frequency Commission that introduces technological neutrality for mobile networks. Major operators including Beeline, Megafon, MTS and Tele2 will be allowed to launch 5G services on spectrum and base stations already allocated for LTE. The measure covers foreign equipment installed before September 2026 and aims to accelerate commercial 5G rollout without waiting for entirely new infrastructure. Additional spectrum in the 4.63-4.99 GHz band will be allocated for high-capacity use cases, although these frequencies offer limited coverage. Commercial 5G services must appear in cities with over one million residents by the end of 2027, with gradual expansion through 2031. Domestic base stations are scheduled to replace foreign equipment between 2027 and 2031.
Russian Data Centers Above 500 kW May Receive Protection from Forced Relocation Under Gilotina 2.0 Roadmap
Land plots hosting large data centers in Russia could gain special protection against seizure for state or municipal needs as part of the Gilotina 2.0 roadmap for the data center sector. The proposed ban, set to take effect on December 15, 2027, would apply to facilities with at least 500 kW capacity listed in the Russian registry of data centers. The measure aims to prevent the demolition of operational sites for territory redevelopment, recognizing that data centers cannot be easily disassembled and relocated like simpler structures. Industry groups have raised concerns over the 500 kW threshold and mandatory registry linkage, noting that participation in the registry is voluntary and that standardized methods to separate IT load from total power capacity are lacking. If relocation becomes unavoidable, developers would need to provide equivalent land or fund new construction, including full equipment transfer, power and connectivity infrastructure, capacity reservation, and compensation for early contract terminations with clients. Major operators including RTK-COD, MTS, and Megafon have backed the initiative while opposing compulsory registry ties, highlighting acute capacity shortages in Moscow where utilization reaches 95 percent.