Key facts
- Russian state companies tripled landline phone spending in Jan-Aug 2026.
- Mobile internet outages affected nearly 80% of Russia.
- Procurement spending reached 118 million roubles (€1.26 million).
- Purchase tenders for landlines rose 12.5%.
Russian state-owned companies significantly increased their expenditure on landline telephones in the first eight months of 2026, a move driven by widespread mobile internet disruptions. Spending on landlines tripled compared to the same period in 2025, reaching 118 million roubles (€1.26 million), with a 12.5% rise in purchase tenders, according to data cited by the Russian business daily Vedomosti.
The surge in landline procurement is attributed to ongoing mobile internet shutdowns, which have affected nearly 80% of the country, pushing ministries and businesses to seek reliable communication alternatives. Market participants also noted a shift by Russian entities towards domestically produced software-based PBX systems following the withdrawal of Western vendors after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and a demand for secure communication channels.
Russia began systematic mobile internet shutdowns in May 2025, initially around Victory Day celebrations, which have since become routine. An independent monitoring project recorded a sharp increase in outages, from 655 in June 2025 to 2,099 in July 2025. These disruptions have impacted various sectors, including banking, taxi services, and food delivery, particularly in rural areas.
Authorities have stated the shutdowns are a defense measure against Ukrainian drones, which they claim are guided via mobile internet signals. However, experts have questioned this justification, noting that drones can operate on preset routes without network connectivity and that shutdowns have occurred in regions far from the front lines.
In response to the restrictions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the presidential administration uses landline telephones. Shortly after, Mikhail Oseyevsky, the head of state telecoms company Rostelecom, advised Russians to maintain landline phones at home, likening them to a fire extinguisher.