The Russian authorities have recently notified major telecom operators in the country that YouTube playback speeds on many Internet connections are being throttled to a mere 128 kbps. This speed is sufficient for normal audio listening but falls far short of streaming videos at resolutions above 240p, which is a far cry from high definition. This deliberate slowdown of YouTube in Russia has been confirmed by independent experts and is not, as the authorities claim, the result of aging Google Global Cache equipment.
In fact, it has been revealed that Roskomnadzor, the federal censor in Russia, is responsible for the significant loading delays experienced by YouTube users in the country. This crackdown on YouTube has gone so far that access on most home Internet connections is now capped at a mere 128 kbps, severely limiting the ability of users to stream videos on the platform.
On August 1, an anonymous anti-censorship software developer reported that YouTube playback speeds in Moscow had collapsed to 128 kbps over TCP connections and roughly 512 kbps over faster QUIC connections. This drastic reduction in speed was observed consistently, indicating that the throttling was widespread and not just a temporary issue.
Further confirmation of the state authorities‘ involvement in throttling YouTube came from a notification by the Moscow Internet provider ONS24, warning customers of the unacceptable slowdown in YouTube playback speeds. The company also hinted at the possibility of all Google services being disabled in Russia in the near future.
It has been confirmed that the Russian authorities are using special equipment installed on telecom operators‘ networks to throttle YouTube, rather than any issues with Google’s cache servers. This targeted throttling is controlled by Roskomnadzor and is part of a larger effort to restrict access to certain online platforms in the country.
The extent to which the Russian authorities plan to slow down YouTube remains unclear, but there are concerns that the service may become increasingly difficult to use in the future. Mobile access to YouTube is currently less affected, but there are signs of degradation. Both ordinary Internet users and telecom companies are closely monitoring the situation to see how it unfolds.
In conclusion, the deliberate throttling of YouTube in Russia is a concerning development that highlights the government’s efforts to control access to online content. The implications of this crackdown on YouTube remain to be seen, but it is clear that the authorities are willing to go to great lengths to restrict access to certain platforms in the country.