Residents of villages in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia are expressing their frustration over the complete loss of mobile internet access, affecting over 1,500 individuals. Local news outlet NN.ru reported this situation on Thursday.
Recent months have seen repeated disruptions to mobile internet services across various regions in Russia, attributed to government-imposed cuts for security purposes related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The seven villages impacted in the Volodarsky district lack fixed-line internet options, forcing inhabitants to depend on mobile signals and booster devices. However, this year’s government-mandated mobile internet outages have made these alternatives futile.
Maria Gayevskaya, a local resident, shared her struggles, saying, “Our oldest child is pursuing a programming course, and it’s extremely challenging without internet access.” She went on to highlight her family’s situation, stating, “My husband and I are enrolled in a master’s program. I wish to work online, but that’s impossible. My husband is currently the sole breadwinner. With our house constantly under construction, we urgently need funds. At this point, we are merely getting by.”
On Thursday, villagers held a public assembly in Krasnaya Gorka to raise their concerns. Resident Nadezhda Shkenina remarked, “We have been waiting for gas for three decades. Although utility poles indicate the presence of fiber optic cables, we do not have any connection. Lacking internet access, we’ve all come together here.”
They attempted to send a video message to Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin in November but were unable to transmit it due to connectivity issues, leading some residents to travel to the nearby city of Dzerzhinsk to voice their grievances.
“While mobile internet was operational, we managed to cope. Now, with no service at all, we feel entirely isolated. In some areas, we even lack basic communication at home,” expressed the villagers.
Only a handful of applications from the government’s approved list of services remain usable.
The villagers have gathered 570 signatures and are preparing to send letters to the federal government, the prosecutor’s office, and telecom companies, as reported by NN.ru.
During a televised call-in session last week, President Vladimir Putin was questioned about the widespread mobile internet outages throughout the country. He justified the measures as necessary for security in light of potential Ukrainian drone attacks, suggesting that foreign internet services assist enemies in identifying strike targets. However, Putin did not provide any solutions regarding the outages.
Despite the ongoing disruptions, Russian telecom providers have cautioned that internet and mobile service prices are expected to see a significant increase by 2026.
