YouTube speed in Russia has reached a record low — the hosting has become almost 10 times slower.
The average time for a video to start playing for users on fixed networks has increased from 1.21 to 11.01 seconds. On mobile devices, the waiting time for the first frame to open has increased by 2.5 times.
On fixed networks, the proportion of YouTube users who do not wait for the video to open is five times higher than on mobile. This is due to the difference in the absolute value of the waiting time for the video to open.
In general, Russians have started using YouTube half as often, and in digital terms, total views have decreased by 52%. Now users are gradually switching to Russian counterparts, which are almost as good as the foreign online service. "VK Видео", RuTube, NUUM are becoming popular, said Denis Kuskov, CEO of Telecom Daily.
However, in the future, when the technical problems are resolved, interest in YouTube may return.
YouTube has already stopped occupying the top lines in search engine results. Now, when users request certain video content, domestic platforms and Russian online cinemas are offered first. A "without YouTube" button has even appeared in "Yandex" video search.
At the same time, a month ago, Mobile Research Group analyst Eldar Murtazin stated that the slowdown of YouTube in Russia should stop. He was sure that the situation would be resolved almost within a day.
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