Digital isolation: Russia cuts off internet access in its own villages
8 February 21:15
Residents of dozens of settlements in the Russian Federation are forced to use only mobile communications with traffic limits and a sharp drop in speed after they are exhausted. The problem of access to high-speed internet is becoming more acute in Russia: a significant part of the fiber-optic networks has reached the end of its service life, and new fiber is practically not being directed towards civilian needs.
This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine on Sunday, February 8, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
In 2025, the warranty period will expire for more than half of the trunk cables on the West-East route.
The agency noted that by 2030, Russia will need to replace more than 400,000 km of fiber optic lines laid in the early 2000s. The cost of upgrading the infrastructure is estimated at hundreds of billions of rubles, while the capacity of key trunk lines is already approaching critical limits.
As noted in the report, against this backdrop, fiber optic supplies from China have risen sharply. In 2025, Russia consumed about 10% of the world’s optical fiber, largely due to the mass production of FPV drones controlled by cable, which are resistant to electronic warfare.
Meanwhile, the Russian civilian population, especially in rural areas, remains without normal internet access. Residents of dozens of settlements are forced to use only mobile communications with traffic limits and a sharp drop in speed after they are exhausted.
