operators are afraid of monopolization of the segment, and banks are afraid of rising costs for obtaining data

The RSPP asks to finalize the bill, which involves the launch of a state system for exchanging subscriber data between banks and telecom operators. If adopted, operators will be able to conclude contracts for the transfer of data about subscribers only through the system operator, which will be the structure of Roskomnadzor. Nobody likes the idea: operators are afraid of monopolization of the segment, and banks are afraid of rising costs for obtaining data.

Kommersant got acquainted with the resolution following the meeting of the RSPP Commission on Communications and IT (it includes Rostelecom, VimpelCom, MTS, MegaFon, etc.), which took place on May 29. It discussed a bill regulating the exchange of information between banks and telecom operators. We are talking about amendments to the Federal Law “On counteracting the legalization (laundering) of proceeds from crime”, which were submitted to the State Duma in 2018 by a group of deputies (Anatoly Aksakov, Igor Divinsky and others). The initiative did not progress beyond the first reading in 2019, but in 2022 the authorities returned to finalize it (see “Kommersant” dated February 28).

The bill involves the development of a Unified information system for verifying information about the subscriber (UIS PSA). With its help, banks will be able to identify users of financial services by phone numbers. This will avoid fraudulent transactions using gray SIM cards (see “Kommersant” dated June 1, 2022).

At the time the bill was submitted to the State Duma, judging by the explanatory note, it was assumed that the system operator would not store and process data, and the UIS PSA would only become a gateway through which banks would be able to identify subscribers. However, the new version, according to the resolution of the RSPP commission, stipulates that the system operator (the GRCHTS subordinate to Roskomnadzor may become it) will store and process data, which “creates additional risks to their security.” “There are doubts that Roskomnadzor, which recently made a major leak (see “Kommersant” dated November 18, 2022), will be able to guarantee the safety of information, ”says a Kommersant source in the communications market. The GRCHTS declined to comment on the bill.

Even more worrying for market participants is the fact that the data operator “will conduct independent commercial activities and receive remuneration from banks for providing information about subscribers” and only then transfer part of the remuneration to them.

Telecom operators fear that as a result they will not be able to enter into direct contracts with banks for the transfer of subscribers’ data. MTS, Vimpelcom, MegaFon and Tele2 did not provide Kommersant with data on the size of this market. But MegaFon’s GR director Vladimir Mesropyan said at a meeting of the RSPP commission that an average bank pays operators 250,000 rubles a month. for access to this data, and a large bank – up to 3 million rubles. per month.

Taking into account the listed risks, the authors of the resolution propose to finalize the draft, excluding from it a ban on the conclusion of direct contracts between telecom operators and banks, and also to provide for the use of the EIS PSA only as a gateway for data transmission, but not for their storage and processing.

“The project does not assume that the system operator will store and process data on its side. Operators are worried that they will no longer be able to dictate their pricing on the data market,” Anatoly Aksakov assured Kommersant. The Central Bank said that the adoption of the bill “helps reduce the number of fraudulent transactions in the financial market.” Sberbank, VTB, Alfa-Bank did not respond to requests.

From a technical point of view, it does not matter for banks how to receive information – from mobile operators or from the EIS PSA, said a source in one of the banks. “The issue of pricing is important,” he says. “But if operators with the advent of a single system are banned from transmitting data, it will become a monopolist, which can increase the cost of the service for banks.” Ultimately, the interlocutor of Kommersant admits, this will only increase the costs of credit institutions to combat fraud, “which are already so high.”

Nikita Korolev, Tatiana Isakova, Olga Sherunkova