Rostelecom Plans Underground Data Centers, Talks With Nornickel

Rostelecom is working on buried, effectively underground data centers designed to withstand external threats better than conventional facilities. The Russian operator is currently in talks with the mining giant Nornickel about building one such site, according to reports.

No details have been disclosed on the location, capacity, cost or timeline of the planned facility. The talks are still ongoing, and neither side has announced a final agreement.

Why hardened data centers matter

The project reflects growing demand for physically protected computing infrastructure. Putting servers below ground is a way to shield them from a range of outside risks, and a deal with an industrial company like Nornickel could tie the new capacity to a major corporate customer.

For Russian businesses and public bodies that store sensitive data domestically, a higher protection tier could become a selling point when choosing a hosting provider.

Other digital news from Russia

The Ministry of Digital Development plans to start issuing code-signing certificates to Russian software developers in 2027. A certificate will make it possible to identify the author of a program and check whether it was altered after release. The information will appear in the installer file, so an operating system could recognize the publisher and warn users if software comes from an unknown company.

Separately, the Emergencies Ministry reported a large-scale cyberattack on its mobile app, which was used to send fake information to the public. Specialists are fixing the vulnerability and restoring normal operation.

The government has also extended until 30 June 2027 the period during which importers bringing EAEU goods across the Russian-Belarusian border do not have to pay a security deposit under the goods-tracking system.

Further details on the Rostelecom and Nornickel project are expected only if the parties conclude their negotiations.