Tariff cage: home Internet in Russia rose in price by 5-15%
Prices for home Internet and pay TV in Russia have increased by 5-15% since the beginning of the year. Izvestia was convinced of this after studying the tariff schedules of providers and reports on cost increases on their websites. This is confirmed by experts: according to their estimates, tariffs have increased by 100 rubles on average. Market participants attribute the increase to the exchange rate, the key rate and the growth of expenses on salaries, logistics and rent. At the same time, the Ministry of Communications said that together with the FAS they monitor the prices for communication services, but so far the agency has not received any complaints about the increase in cost.
How much home internet tariffs have increased
Prices for home broadband internet access (broadband) and pay TV have been raised by many Russian providers, both federal and regional,in late 2024 and early 2025. The cost has increased by 5-15% on average. Izvestia learned about it after studying the tariff schedules of these companies, as well as the information provided to their subscribers.
For example, Izvestia's correspondent received reports from Moscow-based MTS that its monthly subscription fee for home Internet, pay TV and router rental has increased by 85 rubles since February 1. The increase affected a number of archived fixed-line tariffs and affected an insignificant number of subscribers, a representative of the operator told Izvestia. The change in pricing may differ in different regions and depend on the tariff, leased equipment and the like.
- We informed about the changes in advance so that subscribers could make a decision - to stay on their tariff or choose something more suitable from among the open ones, which remain unchanged," the company said.
"Rostelecom" also warned subscribers about the increase in service fees, said one of them. The company explained to Izvestia that in January the change in the cost of Internet access services amounted to an average of 5%, below the inflation rate, and affected only part of the archived tariff plans.
- We strive to maintain affordable tariffs for services. Additional revision of tariffs this year is currently not planned, - said the representative of the operator.
Regional operators have also raised Internet prices. For example, from February 1, Centra provider working in Kuzbass raises a number of tariffs by 10-15%, according to its website. Teleos-1 provider operating in the Irkutsk region informed its subscribers about the price increase from January 1. As the main reasons there named the increase in costs for the purchase of materials, components, equipment, as well as electricity, which are necessary to ensure the stable operation of the network.
The tariffs of ER-Telecom Holding ("Dom.ru") in Chelyabinsk have increased by about 14%, and they have increased by more than 17% for the same provider in Yekaterinburg, as calculated by TMT Consulting at the request of Izvestia. Representatives of this operator declined to comment.
- The Federal Antimonopoly Service constantly monitors the economic feasibility of raising tariffs on the markets of communication services, including Internet access services," the antimonopoly service said. - If there are grounds, the agency takes antimonopoly response measures.
The Ministry of Finance told Izvestia that they do not record any significant changes in prices for home Internet and pay TV services and have not received any complaints about it.
- We will keep the situation under control. Together with the Federal Antimonopoly Service, we are closely monitoring prices for communication services. In case of suspicion of violations in terms of tariff formation, an inspection is promptly conducted," the agency said.
They added that they are always in favor of a differentiated approach to tariffs, which will keep them affordable for different categories of people, as well as for the guaranteed fulfillment of operators' obligations to invest in infrastructure upgrades.
Why operators raise prices
The increase in prices for broadband services by regional and federal operators from the IV quarter of 2024 to the present day is taking place throughout Russia - the average increase amounted to 5-10%, according to Elena Krylova, analyst of TMT Consulting. In absolute terms, the average growth amounted to about 100 rubles, she said. Operators kept prices for two years, but in the current economic situation almost all communication companies have started to raise them, she points out.
- The growth of exchange rates leads to an increase in the cost of equipment for the construction and modernization of networks, the growth of the key rate of the Central Bank also contributes to this, as well as an increase in the costs of operators associated with rent, logistics, wage growth,- said the expert.
Elena Krylova also drew attention to the fact that from January 1, 2025 companies with a turnover of more than 60 million rubles must pay 5% VAT. For very small providers on the scale of one or several districts this is an additional burden, she believes.
Market participants have previously predicted an increase in broadband tariffs. In October 2024, a survey conducted by TelecomDaily revealed that 95% of Russian telecom companies providing mobile, home Internet, pay TV and telephony services plan to raise prices. Almost half of the companies (49%) announced an increase in tariffs by 10-15%, another 22% of respondents said that the price increase will be higher - by 20% or more, in 24% of organizations then predicted an increase of 3-10%.
The main factor affecting the telecom business in 2024, 66% of operators named the lack of equipment and increase in its cost. In the second place (55%) - the shortage of personnel, in the third place (54%) - government regulation, noted in the documents of the agency. A year earlier, 42% and 40% of the surveyed companies complained about the lack of equipment and staff hunger, respectively.
In addition, operators told about the increase in costs. The growth of this indicator by more than 10% was reported by 62% of respondents, while a year earlier it was 37%. Another 18% indicated an increase in the range of 3-10%. At the same time, the share of those who attribute the growth of costs to sanctions problems has decreased, the study says. Respondents also noted difficulties with cross-border payments and equipment logistics.
Internet prices are pushed up by rising inflation, the purchase of equipment under sanctions through new logistics channels at inflated prices, changes in supply chains due to sanctions and the decline in the ruble exchange rate, TelecomDaily CEO Denis Kuskov listed. All this leads to an increase in the cost of not only telecom services, but also other goods and services, he concluded.
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