After imposing restrictions on messaging services in Russia, there was an increase in mobile phone traffic in the country

Russia has seen a significant shift in voice traffic patterns over the past few months, with a notable increase across the country. By the end of August, voice traffic across Russia increased by 9%, with some regions experiencing an even more substantial rise of up to 30%. This surge in voice traffic comes after the blocking of voice calls in popular messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp.

Analysts predict that this trend will continue, with intra-city and intra-regional telephone traffic expected to increase by at least 50% and 15-20% respectively. The Russian telecommunications operators MTS, Beeline, and MegaFon had proposed this blocking of voice message transmissions in foreign messenger applications back in May 2025, citing the need to prevent the spread of misinformation and maintain information security.

This shift in communication methods has led to an increase in regular mobile-to-mobile calls. Users, seeking alternative communication channels, may find themselves facing increased expenses on communication, with estimates suggesting a potential increase of approximately 7% by the end of the year.

The "Big Four" telecommunications operators in Russia, including MTS, Beeline, and MegaFon, requested the blocking of voice calls in foreign messengers in May of this year. In the first days of the mass blocking, voice traffic among mobile operators grew by around 10%.

However, not all regions in Russia have equal access to mobile connectivity. For 7% of the population in remote areas, mobile connectivity is completely inaccessible. This is a concern, particularly in the context of auto tourism, which accounted for 40% of all domestic tourist trips in 2024 and is expected to grow to 43% year-on-year by 2025.

Interestingly, 90% of surveyed Russian automotive and railway routes are not covered by mobile connectivity. This highlights the need for improved infrastructure in remote areas to ensure seamless communication for travellers.

Despite these changes, radio remains a reliable source of information, particularly in emergency situations. It continues to hold the position of the media with the widest audience reach, and works even when there is no internet, mobile connectivity, or electricity. Russian radio stations have called for the mandatory installation of FM receivers in car audio systems and the pre-installation of the Russian industrial radio player on all new domestic and imported cars.

The average cost of mobile communication in Russia in July was 678.56 rubles per month. In addition, new fines for violations in handling personal data have been introduced, with amounts already in the millions. The Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBRF) has also named signs of fraud and ordered banks to assess the actions of each client.

There are currently disruptions in dialing in mobile networks due to increased load on networks and the transfer of radio frequencies from 2G and 3G networks to the 4G/LTE network. This issue has led to international calls remaining primarily in the internet due to their high cost, with growth not exceeding 5%.

In conclusion, Russia is experiencing a shift in its communication landscape, with increased voice traffic and mobile usage. While this brings challenges, particularly in terms of costs and infrastructure, it also presents opportunities for growth and improvement in the telecommunications sector.

After imposing restrictions on messaging services in Russia, there was an increase in mobile phone traffic in the country