Research on mobile operators shows that Russians are increasingly using instant messengers, especially Telegram, and WhatsApp* also remains popular, but Telegram’s growth is more pronounced. In the first nine months of 2023, Telegram traffic increased by 80% compared to 2022. Beeline also recorded a 1.4-fold increase compared to last year, MTS showed a 35% increase, and Tele2 surprised with a double growth of almost 100%.
WhatsApp* usage is also increasing, but at a slower pace. According to Megafon, the use of this messenger has increased by 50% compared to last year. MTS and Tele2 also reported annual growth of 29% and 20% respectively in the January-September period. Beeline has not shown any significant changes in this regard.
Overall mobile Internet consumption in Russia has increased by 10% since the beginning of 2023; This has greatly affected the popularity of instant messengers, news services and online cinemas. It is worth noting that Telegram has surpassed WhatsApp.Based on traffic volume in 2022. But Telegram’s multitude of features may encourage users to turn to WhatsApp For personal correspondence, the battle for leadership continues in messengers.
*Belongs to Meta, who is recognized as an extremist and banned in the Russian Federation
Source: Ferra
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