Faked wisely: authorities introduce control over gadgets for the "smart" home
The authorities want to take control of the production and import of devices for the "smart" home. To do this, Rosstandart has included about 60 names of such gadgets in the classifier of products by type of economic activity (OKPD 2). This will allow you to monitor the production and supply chains, as well as confirm the compliance of devices with established standards. According to experts, the measure will help reduce the volume of counterfeiting and prevent the appearance on the market of gadgets that do not meet the requirements and are unable to fully perform their functions in the Russian Federation. According to their estimates, today almost every second device for a "smart" home either does not meet Russian requirements, or it is a fake. In addition, experts pay attention to the risks associated with the use of devices assembled from imported components. Such systems can be disabled or hacked from the outside, which poses a threat to user security.
Why do we need to strengthen control over "smart" home systems?
Rosstandart has entered codes for more than 60 names of "smart" home devices into the All-Russian Classifier of Products by type of Economic Activity (OKPD 2). This is evidenced by the materials of the department and the ANO "Smart House MCD", which participated in the development of proposals for adjusting the classifier. "Izvestia" reviewed the documents.
The list includes, in particular, software for a "smart" home, controllers and wireless access points, pressure, gas and water leak sensors, as well as self-closing taps, blinds and curtains. The work on the changes was carried out by ANO "Smart House MCD" together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Economic Development and other organizations. The editorial board sent requests to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Due to the lack of codes, government agencies and organizations purchasing such equipment were often unable to monitor compliance with technical requirements and functional characteristics, as well as track the origin of the devices. According to Nikita Utkin, the head of the above-mentioned non-profit organization, products, for example, were imported into the Russian Federation under other, not always unambiguous codes.
With the advent of new positions in the classifier, the state will receive a tool for accounting for equipment, he believes. This will reduce the volume of counterfeit products and reduce the risk of purchasing devices that do not meet Russian standards and declared functional characteristics. Often, after the delivery of a batch, it turns out that the technologies used in gadgets are not supported by domestic Internet of Things (IoT) systems or solutions from individual manufacturers, the expert explained.
According to him, the changes in the classifier, together with the current regulatory framework, will also make it possible to identify devices that are passed off as Russian, but are completely assembled from imported components. This, in turn, will create conditions for targeted support for manufacturers who actually produce products in the Russian Federation.
— The equipment for digitalization of residential buildings — metering devices, sensors, intercom, access control systems — was not previously allocated to separate categories in the classifier. The approval of more than 60 new codes will ensure accurate accounting of products: it will be clear exactly what is being produced and in what volumes," the non—profit organization quotes the words of Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Vasily Shpak. — This creates conditions for the transition from targeted support measures to systemic ones. Classification is a necessary first step. The task for the next two years is to ensure that Russian—designed and manufactured products are taken into account under the new codes.
According to Anton Shalaev, head of Rosstandart, a series of national standards had previously been developed and put into effect, which consolidated uniform terminology and technical requirements for individual "smart" home systems. The classifier has now been updated with detailed codes corresponding to the accepted terminology. This will ensure the consistency of the entire regulatory and technical regulation system, from product identification in the classifier to the correct confirmation of its compliance with the requirements of national standards, he noted.
"Today, almost every second "smart home" gadget sold in Russia is either counterfeit or does not meet our standards," said Eldar Murtazin, a leading analyst at Mobile Research Group. As an example, he cited a situation where a set of Chinese sensors purchased on an online platform turns out to be incompatible with either Russian or European Internet of Things (IoT) systems.
According to the expert, some of these products are imported and sold in Russia without paying taxes and fees. Devices that are completely assembled from imported components pose a separate problem. They not only provide undeserved preferences to suppliers, for example, when participating in public procurement, but can also pose a threat to user security, the analyst claims.
Such devices, in particular, can be remotely blocked. As an example, Eldar Murtazin cited the case when in 2022 one of the Ukrainian manufacturers turned off the security systems operating in the Russian Federation. In addition, such equipment can be used to illegally collect user data, the expert believes.
There is no direct data on the share of counterfeit products in the "smart" home market, therefore, the situation can only be assessed based on indicators of related industries, according to Oleg Yablokov, NTI expert on wireless communications. Thus, in the segment of household electrical equipment, the share of non-conforming products among the tested samples of lighting equipment reaches 50%. In the field of components for IT equipment, the share of counterfeit goods was estimated at 18% last year, the specialist said. According to him, in terms of prices, sales channels and dependence on imports, the "smart" home market is closer to the segment of household electrical equipment.
The market of "smart" home systems in Russia is currently at a growth stage, said Alkhas Mirzabekov, CEO of the operator of JSC YESK. There is a noticeable demand for such systems in all segments of housing — from the mass economy class to premium and luxury properties. At the same time, two key areas are being formed — infrastructure solutions that are laid by developers at the stage of building houses (security, control, automation and accounting systems), and individual ecosystems that users implement independently ("smart" lighting, climate control, motorized curtains and household appliances with Internet access), Alkhas listed. Mirzabekov.
— However, as these technologies expand, the issue of security inevitably arises. Since any device integrated into the network potentially opens up access to personal data, state regulation of the market becomes necessary," Alkhas Mirzabekov emphasized.
According to the expert, it is necessary to introduce strict information security standards and strengthen control over counterfeiting in this area. This will help not only to clear the market of low-quality equipment, but also to streamline the work of the players. In the future, companies providing such services may be required to undergo licensing, obtain the status of subjects of critical information infrastructure (CII) or unite in self-regulatory organizations (SRO) for professional control, Mirzabekov believes.
Is it realistic to create a fully Russian device for a "smart" home
"Rostelecom" supports measures to reduce the volume of counterfeit devices for the "smart" home. The company emphasized that this primarily meets the interests of consumers: high-quality equipment from trusted manufacturers is not only stable, but also protected from vulnerabilities.
"In addition to regulatory measures, the creation of a smart home infrastructure at the design and construction stage of residential complexes allows minimizing the use of counterfeit devices." A comprehensive solution from a single supplier eliminates the need to check each element individually," they noted.
The company also reported that this market is actively developing, in particular, the demand for integrated solutions for new MCD is growing.
Until now, the "smart" socket belonged to the general category of sockets, and it was impossible to single out such devices in a separate position of the regulatory document, Oleg Yablokov noted.
— Almost all regulation is based on codes. The list of goods subject to mandatory labeling in the "Honest Sign" system is formed on the basis of the OKPD 2 and HS codes. The list of traceable goods, requirements for public procurement, as well as conditions for the inclusion of products in the register of Russian industrial products and industry support measures are determined by the same principle. While there is no corresponding code, there is actually no subject of regulation for the regulator," he explained.
Since May of this year, manufacturers and importers of electronic products have been applying labeling codes to goods. Starting in December, the turnover of unmarked products will be prohibited, and starting in March 2027, retailers will begin to report on each unit sold, Oleg Yablokov recalled. In his opinion, the new positions in the classifier will allow for the correct inclusion of "smart" home appliances in the relevant lists and the application of the prescribed regulatory measures to them.
IoT devices are characterized by low cost, which is achieved through mass production, so a significant part of such gadgets are manufactured in China, explained Leonid Konik, a partner at ComNews Research. According to the expert, there are companies in the Russian Federation that position themselves as domestic manufacturers of systems for "smart" homes. However, their product descriptions mention wireless microcontrollers from American manufacturers, electromagnetic relays from Panasonic, Omron and Hongfa, Infineon power transistors and other imported components.
"If our country has not yet produced a single domestic smartphone for the retail market, produced in at least some significant series, then it is not necessary to expect the appearance of fully Russian IoT devices for the smart home assembled from our components," he stated.
A number of similar standards are already in force in Russia, in particular GOST "Cyberphysical systems. A smart home. General provisions," the expert reminded. In addition, wireless IoT technologies NB-IoT, LoRaWAN RU, NB-Fi and others have received the status of national standards. At the same time, the need for a separate classification of devices raises questions, Leonid Konik believes.
According to him, the consumer chooses the equipment independently based on the functions he needs, for example, leak sensors or devices for controlling lighting. In addition, no one can prohibit a private management company, the owner of an apartment or a private house from installing "smart" home devices that support proprietary protocols — ZigBee, Z-Wave, Thread and others closed communication standards, regardless of the manufacturer, the expert concluded.
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