Next-to-leading order corrections to Bhabha scattering in renormalization group approach (I). Soft and virtual photonic contributions

Soft and virtual loop photonic contributions to the second order next-to-leading QED radiative corrections to Bhabha scattering are calculated with help of the renormalization group approach. The results are in agreement with earlier calculations, where other methods were used. Scale dependence and the present theoretical accuracy of Bhabha cross section description are discussed.