Mobile internet services are experiencing prolonged disruptions in numerous Russian cities and regions, lasting several days in some areas. Authorities attribute these restrictions to public safety measures. The lack of stable connectivity adversely affects small businesses, including taxi services and independent retail stores, prompting residents to revert to cash payments.
Businesses across various regions are facing significant challenges due to mobile internet restrictions. For instance, in Krasnoyarsk, connectivity has been unavailable for four days, which Governor Mikhail Kotyukov states is due to enhanced security measures. Similar restrictions have been in place in the Tyumen region since Thursday, also cited as a citizen safety initiative. Residents of the Sverdlovsk region recently reported widespread network access issues. It`s important to note that these limitations apply only to mobile internet; voice calls and SMS services remain operational.
Lina Emmerich, a designer from Barnaul, shared that she only recently had to sign a contract for wired internet installation in her office, a necessity she hadn`t considered months ago. Authorities in the Altai Krai announced temporary mobile internet slowdowns or complete outages in certain locations, citing changes in operational circumstances and the prevention of network threats. However, according to Emmerich, disruptions began much earlier. She describes her current workflow: “The most frustrating part is when you need to send information from the office. I draw a project at my office, then transfer it to a flash drive, drive a few streets over to a friend`s office, and send it via email from there. That`s how projects reach clients. From my phone, I can`t access WhatsApp or email; connectivity frequently drops.” Regarding the cost of wired internet, she noted that while installation was free in March, it now costs 3,000 rubles for the technician`s visit, 3,000 for the Wi-Fi modem, and 1,900 rubles monthly.
Taxi driver Alexander Mamykin, specializing in interregional transport, faces challenges due to unstable internet connectivity. While internet in his hometown of Tetyushi (Tatarstan) is stable, he frequently encounters disruptions in the Ulyanovsk region and Chuvashia, where he drives. To mitigate these issues, he now exchanges phone numbers with passengers and uses offline maps for navigation. For payments, Mamykin asks clients to transfer money immediately after starting the trip or to carry cash. He recalls an incident:
Once, neither my passengers nor I were prepared for such a situation, and we had to run around town, searching for an ATM, asking passersby for directions, just to withdraw cash at the nearest available spot. Now, I warn them in advance that transfers are only possible within Tatarstan where there`s internet, or they must have cash. As for ATMs, I`ve downloaded an offline navigator, so finding them is no longer an issue.
Alexander Mamykin, Taxi Driver
In Balashikha, a suburb of Moscow, calling a taxi has become a significant problem; “Business FM” staff residing there report that finding a car through aggregators can take up to 20 minutes, with orders often being picked up by drivers from Moscow, as local taxi drivers apparently don`t see them due to connectivity issues. Local small businesses are adapting: Wi-Fi has been installed at marketplace pickup points, and small fruit and vegetable shops now prefer cash or suggest customers pay via transfer once they`re home.
A similar situation is unfolding in Tula. A week ago, at a governor`s meeting, complaints about mobile internet outages, presumably caused by drone attacks, were discussed. In response, new public Wi-Fi hotspots are being installed in the region. Nevertheless, local residents are once again actively using cash. Tula resident Lyudmila notes:
There`s a sign right on the shop saying `Cash Only,` so you have to go to the bank, withdraw money from an ATM, and only then go shopping. That`s the only way. However, major chain stores like `Pyaterochka` and `Magnit` still accept cards.
One of the most critical situations has unfolded in Krasnoyarsk, where mobile internet has been unavailable for over four days. This has led to a significant increase in taxi fares and prevented many drivers from connecting to aggregators. On public transport, card payments are only possible on electric buses equipped with Wi-Fi. According to “Business FM Krasnoyarsk,” some restaurants are using the situation for marketing, inviting customers for coffee and free internet access. Other establishments, facing customer decline, are quickly switching their payment terminals to Wi-Fi. The issues primarily affect small businesses, as large companies rarely use mobile internet for acquiring services. Nevertheless, consumers in both restaurants and stores often face difficulties, for example, with earning loyalty program bonuses. Taisiya Golubeva, Director of External Communications for the “Baton” and “Krasny Yar” retail chains, commented:
The presence or absence of mobile internet does not affect the operation of cash registers. Indeed, some customers experience payment difficulties because they are accustomed to using QR codes, which require mobile internet. There are also issues with mobile applications, including our loyalty program. But this is an entirely manageable situation, which, as a rule, is resolved on the spot in 90% of cases.
Taisiya Golubeva, Director of External Communications, Baton and Krasny Yar retail chains
Internet disruptions are also affecting the hospitality sector, particularly in remote areas where fiber-optic cable installation is challenging. Tourists expect constant network access even while on vacation. A boutique hotel in Pushkinskiye Gory, Pskov region, where mobile internet has been periodically restricted for two months, reported:
Mobile connectivity is becoming increasingly dire. When helicopters take off in Ostrov, the internet is shut down. Our Wi-Fi doesn`t run on fiber optics; it`s mobile internet with special amplifiers, so it`s also dependent on the mobile network.
While Wi-Fi often helps resolve some issues, it introduces new security concerns. Public Wi-Fi networks are vulnerable to hacking, and fraudsters create fake access points that mimic legitimate ones. Even with a home network, doubts arise: how will someone you`ve given the password to use your internet? A “Business FM” listener shared that mobile internet has been intermittently unavailable in the lower part of Nizhny Novgorod for a month. He recounted an incident where a courier picking up a washing machine needed internet to process the request and asked for his home Wi-Fi password. As a result, his friend decided to create a guest network.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth