Osegi
Other·2 min read

Russia's Internet Traffic Set to Grow 20% in 2026 as Mobile Falls

Russia's internet traffic may rise 20% in 2026, but users are not online more. Mobile traffic is shrinking while fixed networks and domestic routes absorb the load.

Illustration of data network lines and glowing connections symbolizing internet traffic flows.
Image: 3DNews - Daily Digital Digest
SUMODialoediviewergiftdetect

Internet traffic in Russia could grow by at least 20% in 2026, experts say. The figure does not mean Russians are spending more time online: it reflects a broad reshuffling of network infrastructure, with mobile traffic declining and load shifting to fixed networks and internal routes.

Exchange points and routes

Traffic through major exchange points is up. The Piter-IX network hit 1.3 Tbit/s in September, 24% more than a year earlier. MSK-IX grew 13–17% from January to September, with peak traffic rising from 8.3 to 9.4 Tbit/s. Transtelecom reported 14% annual growth in client traffic over three quarters, with the share of foreign traffic rising from 29% to 32%.

The European direction has stalled. Inbound traffic rose 20% (from 5 to 6 Tbit/s) and outbound 15–25% (from 3.6 to 4.3 Tbit/s) over the year, but growth came mainly in 2025, and in 2026 it reached a plateau, according to Globalnet. Experts suggest a capacity ceiling rather than waning interest: about 20 operators have agreed to a moratorium on expanding links to Europe. The Russian segment grew far faster, with inbound up 55% (3.8 to 6 Tbit/s) and outbound up 40% (6 to 8.3 Tbit/s).

Mobile down, fixed up

Mobile traffic is falling because of regular access restrictions. Experts tie the decline to limits on WhatsApp and Telegram, the latter used heavily for media consumption; Max and other apps have not shown proportional gains. The Ministry of Digital Development counted a 7.8% mobile drop in Q1 and 6% in Q2, while fixed traffic jumped 55% in Q2. A full-year mobile decline of 5–10% is possible.

Foreign traffic may be fuelled by software repositories, leading AI models from China and the US, and Android and iOS apps and updates. GTA VI launches on November 19 and could dominate traffic in the following days. Domestic traffic is growing thanks to Russian AI services, camera networks and new resources; local services often lack caching servers, so data can travel longer routes. Transit traffic between Europe and Asia may also pass through Russia, though operators do not know exact volumes.

The growth is in line with global trends: Cloudflare estimates worldwide traffic rose 19% in 2025, TeleGeography puts annual international growth at 24% over four years, and the Frankfurt exchange gained 15% in ten months.

Apps worth a look

SUMO: the number puzzle

Tap the right tiles, add them up, hit the target. Easy to learn, hard to master. Free, for all ages.

Tags:russiainternet trafficmobile internettelecomgta vimsk-ix

More from this day

See all →

More in: Other

See all →