Audit Chamber reports $3 billion rubles wasted on telecom infrastructure construction

© Изображение сгенерировал ИИ

An audit of federal budget funds allocated in 2025 for universal telecom services has revealed almost $3 billion in unnecessary spending, according to Danil Shilkov, an auditor at the Accounts Chamber (Schetchnaya Palata), as reported by Vedomosti.

In 2025, the Ministry of Digital Development (Mintsifry) allocated around $3 billion to build telecom infrastructure in 500 locations as part of a program aimed at bridging the digital divide. However, these installations were made in areas "where such need did not exist, as other telecom operators were already providing similar services," Shilkov noted.

He stressed that the identified violations raise questions about the need to adjust the mechanisms for distributing funds for regional digitalization.