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Russian data center operators to be required to disconnect ‘non-priority clients’ to keep ‘whitelisted’ services running
Russia’s Digital Development Ministry has proposed making data centre operators disconnect “non-priority” clients if necessary to reserve capacity for government services on approved “white lists”. The plan implements a decree signed by Vladimir Putin, and could disrupt existing customers’ access to data centre services.
Private operators would have to reserve 10% of their existing space and capacity and respond to requests within 24 hours. If capacity is unavailable, they would disconnect clients, with the ministry proposing that operators rank customers’ priority in advance; such disconnections would count as force majeure, while failure to meet the reserve could lead to temporary management. The ministry describes the measure as temporary but has set no end date: it would remain in force until the decree is revoked or amended.
In short
- Data centres may have to disconnect clients to meet government needs.
- Operators must reserve 10% of existing capacity.
- The measure has no set end date.
Explained simply
Data centres house the computer servers and networking equipment that keep websites, apps and online services running. They are operated by both private companies and public bodies, and businesses often rent space and capacity from them rather than building their own facilities.
Russia’s Digital Development Ministry oversees the country’s digital policy, while President Vladimir Putin can issue decrees that set government requirements. The proposal concerns reserving part of private data centres for government services approved for a “white list”, with operators deciding in advance which customers have lower priority.
The issue matters because data centre capacity is shared infrastructure: reserving it for selected services could affect other customers’ access. The proposal describes the arrangement as temporary, but gives no fixed end date.