MOSCOW, December 8 (Sputnik) – Major phone operators in Russia will now grant their users free access to the country’s government websites, as well as mass media sites that publish official documents, with a relevant decree having been signed by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
"For all users of universal communication services free access to Internet sites, the list of which is approved by the Minkomsvyaz [Russian Ministry of Communications and Mass Media], is provided," a document accompanying the decree says.
The phone operators will also provide free access to the Russian government’s on-line portal on public utilities and municipal services.
According to the new decree, each user has to be granted free access to the sites at a speed of no less than 256 kilobits per second. Starting from July, 2015 the speed is to be increased up to 2 megabits per second.
