Russian Telecom Firms Freeze International Link Expansion to Curb VPN Use
Approximately twenty Russian telecommunications companies, including major operators like MTS, Beeline, T2, and Transtelecom, have signed a moratorium on expanding international network capacity linking Russia to Europe. This agreement, reported by RBC, follows meetings with Digital Development Ministry head Maksut Shadaev aimed at restricting Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage. The strategy relies on limiting bandwidth for foreign traffic, forcing carriers to economically filter or raise costs for VPN services, which mimic international traffic. Authorities anticipate this will compel foreign digital services to localize servers within Russia to maintain performance for Russian users. Additionally, telecom providers must now coordinate any future capacity expansions with the ministry and submit monthly cross-border traffic reports. This move adds a regulatory layer to existing coordination with Roskomnadzor, potentially requiring new legislation. The initiative aligns with recent government threats to revoke tax benefits and military draft deferments for IT companies facilitating VPN access. While the moratorium's duration remains unspecified, it represents a significant escalation in state control over internet infrastructure and information flow, following earlier technical disruptions for VPN users on major domestic platforms.
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Russian Telecom Firms Freeze International Link Expansion to Curb VPN Use
Approximately twenty Russian telecommunications companies, including major operators like MTS, Beeline, T2, and Transtelecom, have signed a moratorium on expanding international network capacity linking Russia to Europe. This agreement, reported by RBC, follows meetings with Digital Development Ministry head Maksut Shadaev aimed at restricting Virtual Private Network (VPN) usage. The strategy relies on limiting bandwidth for foreign traffic, forcing carriers to economically filter or raise costs for VPN services, which mimic international traffic. Authorities anticipate this will compel foreign digital services to localize servers within Russia to maintain performance for Russian users. Additionally, telecom providers must now coordinate any future capacity expansions with the ministry and submit monthly cross-border traffic reports. This move adds a regulatory layer to existing coordination with Roskomnadzor, potentially requiring new legislation. The initiative aligns with recent government threats to revoke tax benefits and military draft deferments for IT companies facilitating VPN access. While the moratorium's duration remains unspecified, it represents a significant escalation in state control over internet infrastructure and information flow, following earlier technical disruptions for VPN users on major domestic platforms.
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