Moscow businesses struggle as Russia restricts cellphone internet services

Mobile Internet Restrictions Grip Moscow, Fueling Fears of Wider Digital Control

Foreign websites became inaccessible on mobile devices across central Moscow on Friday, extending internet restrictions that have disrupted daily life in the Russian capital for more than a week. The widespread disruptions have severely impacted businesses reliant on mobile connectivity and forced millions of residents to alter their routines.

Russian authorities have attributed the restrictions to security measures against Ukrainian drone attacks. However, many technology experts suspect these outages may be preparation for a more comprehensive plan to isolate Russians from the global internet should the Kremlin decide such action necessary.

The intermittent shutdowns, previously documented in dozens of Russian regions for months, have driven some Muscovites to dust off obsolete communication tools like walkie-talkies, pagers, and portable media players. The restrictions represent just one aspect of the government’s broader strategy to tighten control over internet access in the country.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, authorities have implemented increasingly restrictive internet policies. The government has blocked major social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Last year, Russia’s communications regulator announced restrictions on popular messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram.

Simultaneously, officials have promoted “MAX,” a domestically developed messaging application that critics argue functions primarily as a surveillance tool for authorities.

The mobile internet disruptions in Moscow, initially reported in outlying areas on March 5, spread to the city center earlier this week. Similar connectivity blackouts have affected numerous other Russian regions since May 2023.

During these outages, a select number of government-approved Russian websites and online services, designated on “white lists,” have remained accessible. However, this week’s disruptions in Moscow proved so extensive that even these whitelisted services—including government portals, major banks, and taxi applications—ceased functioning.

While businesses and households with fixed broadband connections have been largely unaffected, establishments relying on mobile internet have suffered significant economic damage. The business newspaper Kommersant estimated Moscow businesses lost between 3 and 5 billion rubles (approximately $38 million to $63 million) during just five days of shutdowns, with some analysts suggesting even higher figures.

Cafes, restaurants, and retail stores have reported substantial revenue losses as customers found themselves unable to make electronic payments. ATMs and parking meters dependent on cellular data connections stopped working entirely. Taxi services have resorted to taking bookings by telephone and accepting cash payments.

At times, the restrictions extended beyond mobile internet to affect basic cellular service, making phone calls impossible. Earlier this week, members of Russia’s parliament reported near-complete mobile internet outages within the State Duma building, located just hundreds of meters from Red Square.

Friday’s pattern of blocked foreign websites while allowing access to Russian sites appeared to some observers as rehearsal for potentially disconnecting the country from the global internet entirely.

Local media reported that retailers have experienced surging demand for communication alternatives including pagers, portable radios, landline telephones, and media players as residents seek ways to maintain connectivity.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov defended the measures on Wednesday, stating they were in “strict conformity with the law” and would continue “as long as additional measures to ensure security of our citizens are necessary.” Recently enacted legislation requires Russian internet providers to disable mobile internet when authorities deem it necessary for security purposes.

When questioned about the timing of these measures, Peskov claimed that Ukraine’s “increasingly sophisticated methods of attack” necessitate “more technologically advanced measures” to protect public safety. He indicated the government would explore ways to compensate businesses for losses resulting from the shutdowns but provided no specific plans.