Caucasus Regions Face Challenges in Adopting Gaming Networks
Modern-Day Internet Roadblocks in North Caucasus
For nearly two weeks, the North Caucasus Federal District has experienced a puzzling issue with accessing certain foreign internet resources. service providers, like M2Connect in North Ossetia, have reported incessant trouble reaching over 700 foreign platforms, including Steam, Ubisoft, and game servers like Teamspeak. Affected games include PUBG, Battlefield, League of Legends, and more.
Upon investigation, these providers found that the problem lies in the traffic filtering after the data passes through the technical means of the communication network. Despite submitting requests to resolve this issue, the causes remain unclear to them, leading them to ask authorities for assistance.
Mobile networks appear to be functioning normally, yet this issue significantly impacts a broadband internet subscriber base of approximately 1.3 million people in the North Caucasus. Locals have reported a hefty 25% drop in traffic, with select sites and services disappearing, especially those using Cloudflare and Amazon services.
Regional operators in Dagestan, Ingushetia, and Stavropol Krai have also reported similar issues, with renowned communication companies such as Megafon, TransTelecom, Vimpelcom, MTS, Rostelecom, and Er-Telecom declining to comment.
Authorities appear unmoved, with North Ossetia's digital development committee and Roskomnadzor stating that they lack the power to restrict internet access, referring queries to the federal communications regulator. Roskomnadzor, for its part, has not observed any issues with accessing foreign resources, yet recommends using domestic hosting providers for hosting information resources.
The ongoing blocked access to foreign internet resources in the North Caucasus leaves locals frustrated, with regional operators finding themselves hamstrung by bureaucracy and unable to offer explanations to subscribers.
While the exact reason for this access issue remains a mystery, it's worth noting that Roskomnadzor plays a significant role in enforcing internet restrictions in Russia. Reasons for such restrictions can include the dissemination of extremist materials, child pornography, data retention breaches, and violations related to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Instances of telecommunications disruptions have occurred in the North Caucasus region, potentially exacerbating internet availability issues.
Further investigation may be necessary to determine the parties responsible for the ongoing access issues in the North Caucasus.
- Despite several requests, it is intermittently unclear to M2Connect in North Ossetia, as well as other service providers in Dagestan, Ingushetia, and Stavropol Krai, what federal technology is causing the issue that prevents them from accessing foreign platforms, such as Steam, Ubisoft, and game servers like Teamspeak.
- The traffic filtering after the data passes through the technical means of the communication network in the North Caucasus Federal District, which is causing trouble reaching over 700 foreign platforms, has led service providers like M2Connect to ask authorities for assistance.
- Authorities, like North Ossetia's digital development committee and Roskomnadzor, have stated that they lack the power to restrict internet access, yet ruling out the involvement of parties such as Roskomnadzor in this ongoing access issue in the North Caucasus could be among the potential focus points for further investigation.
