The Russian government has formalized a new requirement for all electronic devices sold in the country to come with pre-installed domestic software by 2025.
19 Pre-installed Applications
According to URA this mandate aims to promote the use of locally developed applications and ensure that Russian consumers have access to homegrown digital services.
According to the government announcement, the list includes 19 applications for smartphones and tablets. Among these are search engines, navigation tools, email services, social media platforms, a voice assistant, messaging apps, the "Mir" payment system, "Gosuslugi" (a government services app), and apps from the RuStore marketplace.
For personal computers and all-in-one systems, the mandatory pre-installed software will include a web browser, office applications, and antivirus programs. Smart TVs sold in Russia will need to come with 18 specific applications, including video streaming services and internet access capabilities.
Encourage Russian-made Software
This updated law, part of a broader effort to encourage the adoption of Russian-made software, follows regulations that first took effect in April 2021.
The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media (Ministry of Digital Development) compiled the list of mandatory software, selecting the most popular apps with at least 500,000 users per year.
While the law requires these applications to be pre-installed, Russian consumers will still have the freedom to choose which programs and services to use.
