Russia is preparing to implement a major slowdown for YouTube's loading speeds on desktop computers, with reductions potentially reaching up to 70% by the end of next week.
Will Not Affect Mobile Users
This move, announced by Alexander Khinshtein, head of the State Duma’s committee on information policy, is part of a broader effort to address ongoing tensions between Russian authorities and the American tech giant, Google, according to Lenta.
Khinshtein stated that the slowdown is a strategic measure aimed at compelling YouTube to comply with Russian regulations. The decision to target the summer months, when many users are on vacation and using mobile devices, was deliberate.
He assured that the degradation would not affect mobile users, emphasizing that the goal is to signal to YouTube that Russia is taking concrete actions.
Outdated Equipment
The issue stems from complaints about deteriorating video quality on YouTube, particularly in high-definition formats.
The Russian telecommunications company Rostelecom has highlighted that Google has not updated its equipment in Russia since 2022. This lack of maintenance has led to problems with Google’s Global Cache system, which is crucial for caching and accelerating data delivery.
The outdated equipment is struggling to handle the increased internet traffic, affecting users across all Russian internet service providers.
Despite these measures, Russian officials, including Senate committee chair Alexei Pushkov and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, have ruled out plans to block YouTube entirely. They acknowledge the equipment issues but insist that blocking the platform is not under consideration.
In response to the situation, Khinshtein suggested that Russian platforms like Rutube and VK could benefit from YouTube's troubles by attracting more content creators and viewers. Additionally, a new Russian video hosting service, "Plataforma," developed by Rteam, offers a similar interface and features to YouTube, including recommendation systems and analytics. This new service is positioned as a viable alternative for Russian users.
