Suppliers reported discrimination to the FAS due to YouTube slowdown

The association points to “discriminatory conditions” for telecom operators due to the “uneven slowdown” of the YouTube video platform and other Google services. The letter claims that this slowdown has led to an increase in user complaints to providers.

According to the association, in recent weeks there has been a “significant deterioration in access” to YouTube on wired networks, while the slowdown on mobile networks remains minimal. This forces subscribers of mobile operators to actively use third-party services to improve the quality of the platform.

Rosteleset claims that YouTube’s slowdown is due to external influence through TSPU (technical means of countering threats), which are controlled by Roskomnadzor.

The association insists that such a slowdown is not provided for by law and calls on the FAS to recognise it as a violation. Roskomnadzor’s response to Rosteleseti’s request states that measures were taken against YouTube due to violations of Russian law.

Since the beginning of August, fixed-line Internet users have started complaining about problems with playing videos on YouTube, and the authorities have not yet made any official statements on whether this is due to a blockage or a slowdown. Roskomnadzor previously linked the deterioration of service to Google’s exit from Russia and an increase in blockages.

• On July 12, Rostelecom warned that YouTube would slow down because Google’s equipment had not been updated for the past two years. At the same time, the tech giant was quick to declare that it has nothing to do with the problems in the operation of video hosting in the Russian Federation.
• On July 25, State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein admitted that slowing down the service was a deliberate step to “breathe life” into YouTube.
• In August, operators began using solutions that overcome YouTube slowdowns. At the same time, Roskomnadzor’s GRFC sent a letter to operators demanding that they exclude the use of technologies that “distort, fragment and replace Internet traffic.”