Radio points to return: Ministry of Digital Development to include wired broadcasting in communication strategy

The Ministry of Digital Development of Russia has prepared a draft of an updated Strategy for the Development of the Communications Industry, which proposes including measures to preserve and develop wired radio broadcasting (WR) networks in apartment buildings. This was reported to Izvestia by the department. The Joint Stock Company "Russian Broadcasting and Alert Networks" (RSVO) initiated the inclusion of these provisions in the strategic document. According to the Ministry, about 70% of the country's population lives in apartment buildings, and for this audience, wired broadcasting is viewed as an additional communication and alert channel.

Technological basis for emergency information

Wired radio broadcasting in apartment buildings, as intended by the strategy's developers, should serve as the technological basis for alert and emergency information systems. Unlike mobile networks and the internet, a radio point does not depend on the apartment's electricity supply: the loudspeaker is powered directly by the line, not by a wall outlet. This means that even during a complete power outage or a cellular network failure, the device will continue to transmit information. Furthermore, a wired line can transmit a volume of data significantly exceeding the limit of SMS messages, making the channel more informative during emergencies.

Security and addressability of the signal

Among the key advantages of wired broadcasting listed in the draft strategy, experts highlight the addressability of signal delivery — the message is delivered directly to a specific apartment rather than just within a tower's coverage area. The second argument is energy independence: the system works without external electricity. The third, and perhaps most relevant in current conditions, is its high degree of resistance to cyberattacks. In an environment where digital communication channels are vulnerable to hacker interference and DDoS attacks, a physical wired line remains one of the most stable ways to reach the end user.

Experts differ on the format's potential

In the professional community, the attitude toward the idea is mixed. STI (National Technology Initiative) expert on technological development Ilya Ilyinsky emphasizes the practical value of a radio point: "The loudspeaker in an apartment is powered by the line, not a wall outlet. If the power is out, the cellular network is down, and the phone battery is dead, the radio point will still inform you what is happening. It can transmit more information than an SMS." At the same time, ComNews Research partner Leonid Konik notes that from the perspective of broadcasting, the wired format is indeed outdated, yet the government still considers such radio one of the primary alert channels. Konik also points out that in practice, only a small portion of the Russian population has access to wired broadcasting, which raises questions about the actual audience reach.

Context: from "Radiomolniya" to digital transformation

Wired radio broadcasting in apartment buildings is a legacy of the Soviet era, when radio points like "Radiomolniya" and similar devices were standard in every apartment. With the transition to digital television and the spread of mobile networks, interest in the wired format dropped sharply, and many lines were dismantled or abandoned. The return of the topic to the Ministry of Digital Development's strategic document in 2026 indicates that in the face of growing cyber threats and the need to ensure communication channel resilience, the government is viewing outdated but physically protected technologies as part of a backup infrastructure. The final text of the strategy, as well as specific deadlines and the budget for restoring WR networks, were not disclosed in the document presented to Izvestia.