In Russia, communication usage has significantly changed. According to market participants, in the first half of 2026, voice traffic in mobile networks grew by approximately 25–30%, while mobile internet volume began to decline for the first time.
Experts primarily attribute this to regular mobile internet restrictions. Users are increasingly returning to regular calls, and data transfer is shifting to home and office Wi-Fi. As a result, mobile traffic decreased by approximately 10–15%, while fixed-line traffic, on the contrary, grew by about 18–20%.
It's more about traffic redistribution than a decline in interest in the internet.
Video, AI services, and smart home devices create additional load on wired networks. Companies are also actively switching to fixed internet, using it for cash registers, internal systems, and Wi-Fi for visitors.
Read more on the topic:
- Russians Massively Returning to Home Internet Amid Mobile Communication Disruptions
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- Voice traffic in Russian mobile networks increased by 20-30% after restrictions on calls in messengers