Due to an internet outage: pager sales have skyrocketed in Moscow
14 March 13:25
In Moscow, amid widespread internet outages, demand for alternative means of communication has surged.
This was reported by Russian propaganda media, citing a representative of the Wildberries marketplace, according to [Komersant].
According to the platform, from March 6 to 10, the number of purchases of pagers for communicating with customers and staff rose by 73% compared to the same period in February. Demand for walkie-talkies also increased—by 27% month-over-month—while sales of landline phones rose by 25%.
Mobile internet and voice communications in Moscow began to be actively jammed starting March 3. In some areas, mainly in the city center, the network disappeared completely, while in others, users could only access sites from the so-called “whitelist.”
The restrictions have already impacted business operations, particularly courier services, taxis, car-sharing, and retail. According to a Kommersant source in the IT market, losses from these measures could reach about 1 billion rubles per day.
Amid connectivity issues, residents and visitors to the capital have also begun buying paper maps and guidebooks more actively. According to the “Chitai-Gorod” network, sales of these items rose by 48% from March 6 to 10 compared to the previous week.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that the Kremlin still has an official Telegram channel and there are no issues with its operation.
