Rostelecom's 2018 budget doesn't include cost of Yarovaya law compliance - company head
MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - PJSC Rostelecom has not included in its budget for 2018 the costs of complying with the so-called Yarovaya law, company President Mikhail Oseevsky told reporters following a meeting of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) on the digital economy.
"No, we are not yet including [the funds] in the budget," he said.
He said that the company has various estimates for the cost of complying with the law, but that it is too early to talk about them as the parameters [of the law] have yet be to confirmed.
"Of course we have given various models [of implementing the law]. This really does depend on the parameters, I would not like to get into this subject right now," he said.
During the meeting, the Rostelecom head said that the dialogue between business and the government regarding the Yarovaya Law has not been conducted in the correct way.
"We have urgent questions which are being discussed with the government concerning large sums of money: this is the Yarovaya and the law on key Runet infrastructure. I cannot say that communication with government officials here is currently set up and conducted in the necessary way," Oseyevsky said.
"Operational work is ongoing; ministries are making assessments regarding the government decree. Other major companies as well as Rostelecom are involved in this work. I would like to remind you that there are hundreds of telecoms operators who are affected by the law, so the decision that will be made must be calibrated for major companies and for small companies," Oseyevsky said.