A damaged fiber-optic cable in central Russia has caused widespread internet disruptions, affecting nearly 4 million customers across 21 regions, authorities reported on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident comes on the heels of a significant internet outage that had already impacted telecom providers and global platforms like Google, WhatsApp, and TikTok the day before.
According to Russia’s state media regulator, Roskomnadzor, the fiber-optic cable damage occurred in the republic of Tatarstan, a region in the Volga Federal District.
The agency’s network monitoring center confirmed that the damage led to a degradation of broadband access services, which impacted around 3.8 million customers across the affected regions. The regions affected were not disclosed by Roskomnadzor.
The damage to the cable follows a widespread internet outage on Tuesday, which also disrupted services for millions of users across the country. Key telecom providers and platforms such as Google, WhatsApp, and TikTok were among those affected.
Roskomnadzor described Tuesday’s disruption as a “short-term disruption in connectivity,” but did not provide additional details about the cause.
Some experts have speculated that the outage may have been linked to Roskomnadzor’s ongoing efforts to install censorship tools, which could have interfered with internet services.
The Tuesday outage raised concerns regarding Russia’s internet infrastructure, especially as the country has been facing growing efforts to tighten control over online content.
As part of these efforts, Roskomnadzor has been increasing its capacity to block websites and regulate internet services more strictly. However, it remains unclear if these actions directly contributed to the outages, and authorities have yet to confirm any connection.
Wednesday’s cable damage has further compounded the issues, with millions of internet users left without access to crucial services and platforms.
Roskomnadzor’s statement did not provide a detailed breakdown of which specific regions were most affected, leaving many customers uncertain about the extent of the disruptions in their areas.
However, the agency assured the public that repair work was underway, with expectations that the situation would be resolved by Wednesday evening.
The quick response to fix the damaged cable indicates the urgency authorities placed on restoring broadband services to the affected regions.
As of Wednesday afternoon, it was unclear whether the damage to the cable was accidental or caused by external factors, such as deliberate interference.
The ongoing disruptions highlight the vulnerabilities in Russia’s telecommunications infrastructure, especially as the country seeks to strengthen its control over online activity.
With the government’s increased reliance on internet censorship tools, users have raised concerns about the long-term impact of these efforts on connectivity and access to global platforms.
As Roskomnadzor works to restore normal internet services, millions of customers remain in limbo, waiting for full access to be reinstated.
The event has sparked debate about the resilience of Russia’s internet infrastructure and the broader implications of the government’s growing influence over online platforms and services.