In late September 2026, Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development put forward a major regulatory proposal under the “Antifrod 3.0” (Антифрод 3.0) draft initiative. The proposal would restrict the provision of SMS bulk messaging services to licensed telecom operators, excluding third-party SMS aggregators, which currently operate in a regulatory gray area. The draft is scheduled to be submitted to the State Duma for review in autumn 2026.
The Ministry of Digital Development explained that aggregator activities lack effective supervision and create fraud risks. Centralizing SMS bulk messaging permissions with telecom operators could reduce the sending of various illegal SMS messages, including non-compliant advertising messages.
Under the proposed framework, third-party aggregators would no longer be eligible to independently conduct SMS bulk messaging business. This would significantly disrupt the current operating model of Russia’s A2P SMS industry, as a large volume of enterprise SMS traffic is currently routed through aggregators. If the bill is enacted, the pathways through which enterprises send A2P SMS would change substantially.
Companies conducting A2P SMS business targeting Russia should anticipate adjustments to their business models in advance. In the future, they may need to connect directly with telecom operators or rely solely on channels officially authorized by operators for SMS delivery. At this stage, the measure remains only a legislative proposal and has not become binding law. Relevant stakeholders should continue monitoring the State Duma’s review process and evaluate alternative connection options.
