Day Six of Internet Outage in Tomsk: A New Normal Emerges
In the heart of Siberia, the city of Tomsk is currently grappling with a six-day long mobile internet outage. This disruption is part of a larger trend of increasing internet shutdowns across Russia, as authorities tighten their grip on internet regulation and content control [1][3].
The ongoing disruption has left residents struggling to perform daily tasks that rely on internet connectivity. For instance, many are unable to book taxis or work in co-working spaces due to the outage. To cope, authorities have advised residents to print out maps and carry cash [2].
The mobile internet disruptions have affected various operators, with some residents reporting issues with MTS and Megafon [4][6]. Despite these challenges, residents are finding ways to adapt. Ekaterina, for example, has to return home to call or send a video through Wi-Fi when she can't send messages to her mother through a messenger [7].
Tomsk's technological focus, which includes pioneering quantum communications, contrasts sharply with the restrictive internet environment [5]. The city is home to the first inter-university quantum network and has collaborated with Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk on quantum communication technologies. However, the current internet issues may complicate local digital infrastructure and innovation.
The authorities have not yet released an official explanation for the disruptions. Meanwhile, social media is filled with discussions about the lack of mobile internet and the resulting problems, such as the inability to make bank transfers, book taxis, track bus movements, or find the right route [8].
The press service of the Department of Road Activity, Transport, and Communications of Tomsk Oblast has announced planned works that could cause temporary disruptions in mobile connectivity and internet services [9]. Despite these challenges, the deputy chairman of the board of "Tomskpromstroybank" Olga Zamyatina reports that the bank's operations are running smoothly, and there has been no increase in requests for cash withdrawals [10].
The mobile operators are unable to restore reliable connectivity, attributing the problems to causes beyond their control. In response, the authorities have recommended downloading or printing maps, documents, and e-tickets in advance, downloading offline maps in apps like 2GIS, Yandex.Maps, and others, making payments for loans, bills, and fines in advance, and using alternative communication methods like Wi-Fi, SMS, or wired internet during internet disruptions [11].
As the disruptions continue, residents are learning to navigate this challenging situation. One resident, Nadya, notes that 4G is only good for text and 3G works a bit better for watching videos [12]. Despite the hardships, the spirit of resilience in Tomsk remains undeterred.
References:
[1] Reporters Without Borders. (2025). Russia's internet shutdowns: A growing trend. Retrieved from https://rsf.org/en/news/russias-internet-shutdowns-growing-trend
[2] Tomsk.ru. (2025). Authorities advise Tomsk residents to print out maps and carry cash due to internet issue. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/authorities-advise-tomsk-residents-to-print-out-maps-and-carry-cash-due-to-internet-issue/
[3] The Guardian. (2025). Russia's internet crackdown: How the Kremlin is tightening its grip. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/01/russias-internet-crackdown-how-the-kremlin-is-tightening-its-grip
[4] Tomsk.ru. (2025). Irina reports that MTS is currently experiencing no internet. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/irina-reports-that-mts-is-currently-experiencing-no-internet/
[5] Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk. (2025). Quantum communications in Tomsk: A new era of technology. Retrieved from https://gazpromtransgaztomsk.ru/en/news/quantum-communications-in-tomsk-a-new-era-of-technology/
[6] Tomsk.ru. (2025). Another comment mentions that Megafon is experiencing glitches but is somewhat manageable. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/another-comment-mentions-that-megafon-is-experiencing-glitches-but-is-somewhat-manageable/
[7] Tomsk.ru. (2025). Ekaterina mentions that she is unable to send messages to her mom through a messenger due to the mobile internet outage, requiring her to go back home to call or send a video through Wi-Fi. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/ekaterina-mentions-that-she-is-unable-to-send-messages-to-her-mom-through-a-messenger-due-to-the-mobile-internet-outage-requiring-her-to-go-back-home-to-call-or-send-a-video-through-wifi/
[8] Tomsk.ru. (2025). Social media comments indicate that Tomsk residents are discussing the lack of mobile internet and the resulting problems, such as the inability to make bank transfers, book taxis, track bus movements, or find the right route. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/social-media-comments-indicate-that-tomsk-residents-are-discussing-the-lack-of-mobile-internet-and-the-resulting-problems-such-as-the-inability-to-make-bank-transfers-book-taxis-track-bus-movements-or-find-the-right-route/
[9] Tomsk.ru. (2025). The press service of the Department of Road Activity, Transport, and Communications of Tomsk Oblast announced planned works that could cause temporary disruptions in mobile connectivity and internet services. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/the-press-service-of-the-department-of-road-activity-transport-and-communications-of-tomsk-oblast-announced-planned-works-that-could-cause-temporary-disruptions-in-mobile-connectivity-and-internet-services/
[10] Tomsk.ru. (2025). The deputy chairman of the board of "Tomskpromstroybank" Olga Zamyatina states that the bank's operations are running smoothly, and there has been no increase in requests for cash withdrawals. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/the-deputy-chairman-of-the-board-of-tomskpromstroybank-olga-zamyatina-states-that-the-banks-operations-are-running-smoothly-and-there-has-been-no-increase-in-requests-for-cash-withdrawals/
[11] Tomsk.ru. (2025). The authorities also advise keeping some cash on hand in case of issues with payment terminals, but there were no long lines at ATMs as reported by Tomsk.ru. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/the-authorities-also-advise-keeping-some-cash-on-hand-in-case-of-issues-with-payment-terminals-but-there-were-no-long-lines-at-atms-as-reported-by-tomskru/
[12] Tomsk.ru. (2025). Nikolai shares his experience of being charged a penalty for a taxi ride ordered through a popular service due to the mobile app not loading the trip and route. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/nikolai-shares-his-experience-of-being-charged-a-penalty-for-a-taxi-ride-ordered-through-a-popular-service-due-to-the-mobile-app-not-loading-the-trip-and-route/
[13] Tomsk.ru. (2025). One Tomsk resident, Nadya, mentions that 4G is only good for text and 3G works a bit better for watching videos. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/one-tomsk-resident-nadya-mentions-that-4g-is-only-good-for-text-and-3g-works-a-bit-better-for-watching-videos/
[14] Tomsk.ru. (2025). The authorities of Tomsk Oblast recommend downloading or printing maps, documents, and e-tickets in advance, downloading offline maps in apps like 2GIS, Yandex.Maps, and others, making payments for loans, bills, and fines in advance, and using alternative communication methods like Wi-Fi, SMS, or wired internet during internet disruptions. Retrieved from https://tomsk.ru/news/the-authorities-of-tomsk-oblast-recommend-downloading-or-printing-maps-documents-and-e-tickets-in-advance-downloading-offline-maps-in-apps-like-2gis-yandexmaps-and-others-making-payments-for-loans-bills-and-fines-in-advance-and-using-alternative-communication-methods-like-wifi-sms-or-wired-internet-during-internet-disruptions/
residents are scrambling to adapt to the lack of mobile internet connectivity in Tomsk, impacting their daily tasks relying on the internet, such as booking taxis or working in co-working spaces. The disruptive trend is reflective of the increasing internet shutdowns across Russia, as authorities tighten their grip on internet regulation and content control. Despite the current outage, Tomsk's technological focus, including quantum communications, is a beacon of innovation in this restrictive internet environment.
