Details about how the RKN tested Russia’s “disconnection” from the Internet became known

Experts learned the details RKN exercises to disconnect the Runet from the international Internet, which took place on the night of July 4-5. Network security specialists said that the check concerned only mobile networks in the Central Federal District and lasted about 40 minutes, and not two hours, as it was announced. The purpose of the test was to identify the dependencies of Russian services on external resources.

During the exercise, there was a decrease in traffic, which affected two mobile operators of the Russian Federation. The RKN blocked part of the international traffic to determine the stability of the RuNet.

Sources in the mobile companies confirmed that the exercise was initiated by the ILV. They reported that they chose a time with minimal user activity and received a small number of complaints. The exercises were conducted only on mobile communication networks in the Central Federal District from three to five in the morning.

Subscribers of Rostelecom and Tele2 in Moscow and the Moscow region experienced problems with Internet access during the test, which lasted about 40 minutes. MTS, VimpelCom, Rostelecom, Tele2 and the Ministry of Digital Development refused to comment on the situation. MegaFon and Roskomnadzor did not respond to media inquiries.

The representative of the RKN recalled that the law on the stability of the Runet provides for the conduct of exercises at least once a year. He said that the exercises were successful, but did not specify what tasks were set for the organizers. The Government of St. Petersburg also confirmed that the sovereign Internet was tested in the city, but without disrupting the network. They explained that in order to ensure the stability of the Runet while it is isolated from the international network, a duplicate domain name registry and an autonomous system of DNS servers are used.

Russia is not the first and not the last country that cares about its digital sovereignty. There are many examples in the world when states restrict access to the international Internet or create their own national networks. For example, China, Iran, North Korea and others. This is due to the fact that the Internet is not only a source of information, but also an instrument of influence, propaganda and destabilization.