Megafon, Beeline, and Tele2 halted charges for sharing Internet from mobile devices, according to a report on the Telegram channel of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service of the Russian Federation. The notice outlined that alerts were issued to the three operators as part of an official inquiry about distribution fees.
The FAS announced that Megafon removed the fee beginning October 23. The agency cautioned that some technical glitches could appear for up to a month as the tariffs for distributing traffic from devices are removed. Tele2 plans to drop charges for new subscribers starting November 22 and for all subscribers on December 19. Beeline will waive fees across all tariffs with capped Internet packages by December 1, and the company is assessing when charges on unlimited plans might be dropped. A spokesperson for FAS added that given the technical timelines, the compliance period was extended for a portion of the warnings.
Despite this directive, MTS opted to continue billing for Internet traffic distribution from mobile devices. The company argued that such charges do not harm user interests and maintained the practice.
There were widespread complaints. The four largest operators in the country faced scrutiny as of September 18 when the changes were first proposed. The Ministry reported that telecom providers had placed unfavorable terms on subscriber contracts by imposing fees for distributing Internet traffic from devices. The anti monopoly agency noted a surge in subscriber inquiries and indicated it could pursue legal action if needed.
The FAS stated in August 2023 that it had asked the Big Four operators to fully disclose the circumstances and details of their practices. The companies did not provide sufficient economic, technological, or other justification for the fees. On the one hand, operators had begun to commercialize these charges. The FAS emphasized the goal of keeping services accessible and prices stable. Leaders from the Ministry of Digital Development, including Maksut Shadayev, spoke about seeking a balanced resolution that protects consumers while considering operator needs.
Consumer impact and regulatory stance
The FAS actions reflect a broader push to curb implicit charges related to sharing data from mobile devices. In markets outside Russia, similar debates arise around how operators price the distribution of content and traffic generated by subscribers. Regulators in Canada and the United States often scrutinize terms that could be seen as hidden fees or unfair contract provisions. The aim is to promote transparent pricing and safeguard consumer interests while allowing competitive innovation in mobile networks. Reports and official statements from authorities are essential for understanding how these dynamics unfold and what that means for users who rely on mobile data for everyday activities. This case illustrates how regulatory oversight can shape tariff structures and how operators respond to consumer feedback and legal requirements. Attribution: FAS announcements and official ministry statements (as reported by the agency channels and later summarized by regulatory press releases).