Mobile Internet disruption in Tomsk due to cyber threats explained
In the Tomsk region of Russia, mobile internet disruptions have been causing inconvenience for residents since early August. According to representatives of the Tomsk region's Department of Transport, Road Activity and Communications, these disruptions are linked to planned works on communication networks.
The department, responsible for the region's communication networks, has previously attributed the mobile internet disruptions in Tomsk to these planned works, but did not specify their start and end dates. However, as of August 20, 2025, no publicly available data indicates ongoing planned network works causing mobile internet disruptions in Tomsk, nor any announced completion date for such works.
The mobile operators in Tomsk have stated that the problems are not on their side, and the department's comment was made in response to queries from Tomsk residents about the resumption of normal internet operation. Enhanced measures to protect against network threats are also a factor in the disruptions.
Interestingly, the information about the "white list" was not mentioned in the earlier reports about the mobile internet disruptions in Tomsk. The Ministry of Digital Development and mobile operators in Russia have agreed on a scheme for accessing a "white list" of services during mobile internet outages. This list will include all necessary resources for daily life, such as marketplaces, delivery services, taxis, and others.
While the exact nature and cause of the mobile internet disruptions in Tomsk remain unclear, it is worth noting that localized internet and cellular data shutdowns have been a common occurrence across many regions of Russia since June 2025. However, no direct reference to scheduled network works or specific disruption details in Tomsk were found.
In a positive development, no incidents or reports of disruptions were recorded on major data center monitoring services as of August 16-20, 2025, suggesting operational network stability at the infrastructure level. Additionally, quantum networks and related advanced communication technologies, such as the first quantum video call in April 2025 within the inter-university quantum network, have been actively developed in Tomsk but are not reported to cause mobile internet disruptions.
As the situation evolves, it is crucial for the Tomsk region's Department of Transport, Road Activity and Communications to provide clear and timely updates to the public regarding the status and expected completion dates of the planned works, if applicable, and the measures being taken to restore normal mobile internet services.
- The department in charge of Tomsk's communication networks has attributed the mobile internet disruptions to planned works, but they have not specified their start and end dates.
- Enhanced cybersecurity measures, including a "white list" of services during mobile internet outages, have been introduced as a factor in the mobile internet disruptions in Tomsk.
