In brief

• Russia's Ministry of Digital Development has proposed that data centre operators disconnect non-priority clients to free 10% of capacity for state 'whitelist' services.
• The proposal is tied to a 2 November decree by Vladimir Putin and is still under discussion, with no decision announced.
• Operators that refuse could face temporary external management, which often precedes nationalisation.

Background to the proposal

The proposal follows a decree signed by Vladimir Putin on 2 November that obliges owners of private data centres to reserve 10% of their space and power for state needs. Under the decree, a special commission can order that capacity be handed to government bodies within 24 hours (Дата-центры обяжут отключать «неприоритетных клиентов», чтобы зарезервировать 10% мощностей для государственных нужд – The Insider) (Власти введут временное управление частными дата-центрами, если те не отдадут 10% мощности под госсервисы – Novaya Gazeta Europe) (Операторов дата-центров заставят отключать «неприоритетных клиентов» ради работы «белых списков» – Meduza).

How the reservation would work

According to Meduza, citing Russian business outlets, operators that lack free capacity would have to disconnect existing clients. Companies would be asked to rank their customers in advance, with lower-priority clients cut first. The Insider reports that the measure was discussed at a ministry meeting on 6 November. The reservation would apply to services on the government-approved lists.

Consequences for operators

According to Meduza, the disconnection of customers would be classed as force majeure, a classification that could free operators from liability, though The Bell notes this would not automatically exempt them (Как государство возьмет десятину с дата-центров, ожидания от Абу-Даби, банки не успевают с прогрессивным налогом – The Bell). Failure to meet the reservation requirements could lead to temporary external management of the company, a step that often precedes nationalisation, according to Novaya Gazeta Europe (Владельцев дата-центров могут заставить отключать «неприоритетных» клиентов для обеспечения работы «белых списков» — РБК – TV Rain).

Official position

The Ministry of Digital Development said the measures are still being worked out and will be shaped together with experts and market participants. It plans to set up a sub-commission on uninterrupted operation of IT and communications facilities under the government commission on digital development. The ministry has described the temporary management measure as temporary, without specifying how long it would last.

Context

Several data centres of major Russian companies, including Yandex, Sber and VK, were hit by Ukrainian drone attacks in recent weeks, followed by outages across Russia affecting services from search engines to ride-hailing apps.

Read also

• Putin Orders Private Data Centers to Reserve 10% of Capacity for the State