Telegram That Isn't Afraid of Blocking: Russian Man Assembled a "Pager" for the Messenger

Russian developer Igor Fedorov figured out how to read Telegram without a mobile network or home internet. He assembled a compact device based on Raspberry Pi that connects to the messenger via mesh networks — and essentially bypasses any communication restrictions.

The gadget looks like a pager from the 90s: a small screen, minimal interface, and text instead of media. But inside, there is a full-fledged bundle of Telegram API and a radio network. One module remains at home and is connected to the network, the second is portable, through which the user sends commands and receives the latest posts from channels.

In the current version, the device can download the latest publications and scroll through them directly from the screen. Everything works in text format — without pictures or videos. To fit more information, the author even translated the messages into translit.

The system is built on a bundle of Meshtastic and the Telethon library: the first is responsible for data transmission over the mesh network, the second is responsible for working with Telegram. In fact, this is a bridge between the messenger and radio communications.

The main thing is that this scheme does not depend on telecom operators. Even with internet problems or blockages, access to channels is maintained.

The project remains an experiment for now, but Igor Fedorov is already testing support for personal messages and replies. The plans include a more advanced version with a keyboard, a larger screen, and voice input capability.

The source codes are promised to be made publicly available — so anyone can assemble such an "anti-blocking pager" if they wish.