Previously, the internet from a specific provider could only be installed after a decision by the general meeting of owners. The bill adopted by the State Duma implies that any provider can have access to a multi-apartment residential building simply at the request of a single owner. What do owners of newly built houses with no alternative internet expect from this law?
Internet providers may be granted free access to multi-apartment residential buildings. The Federation Council will consider the corresponding bill today, adopted by the State Duma a week ago.
Previously, many apartment owners in new buildings complained that they only had access to one provider, whose service quality was subpar. After a series of publications in the media, including articles on Business FM, lawmakers finally paid attention to the bill submitted to the State Duma in the fall of 2022. And it seems like they decided to promptly adopt it.
Last year, we repeatedly discussed the problems of apartment owners in Moscow’s new buildings, who pay much more for home internet than the market average and experience intermittent internet outages. The editorial team decided to contact some of the subjects of these articles again to find out if anything has changed. The short answer: nothing.
Here is what Igor, a resident of the Now residential complex near the “Technopark” metro station, shared:
Valeriy, a resident of the “Meshchersky Les” residential complex, also notes that there have been no changes for him, and he doesn’t have high hopes for the new law on free access for providers to residential buildings:
According to the bill, providers will be able to install their equipment in multi-apartment residential buildings without the consent of the property owners, whereas currently, a decision by the general meeting of owners is required. How this will work in practice, we will probably find out soon. Konstantin Ankilov, CEO of “TMT Consulting”, continues:
Indeed, problems with choosing an internet provider are mainly characteristic of new buildings. But the bill does not make a distinction between old and new residential housing in this regard. And this is not the only concern that arose with the document for Konstantin Krokhin, the chairman of the Moscow Housing Union:
For most apartment owners in new residential complexes, it may not be so important to which provider they are connected, as long as the provider does not raise prices and functions properly. However, in the absence of competition, the quality of services usually decreases, and the prices increase. Perhaps the situation with internet access in new buildings will change after the new law is adopted. When it will come into effect, is still unclear.