Major US Internet Backbone Provider Terminates Service With Russia
The war in Ukraine is causing a major internet backbone provider to terminate business with its Russian customers, which is expected to disrupt and slow down internet connectivity across Russia.
US-based Cogent Communications began halting its business with Russian customers on Friday, according to The Washington Post. The company is doing so to prevent the Kremlin from using Cogent’s fiber networks to launch cyberattacks and spread propaganda justifying the government’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Our goal is not to hurt anyone. It’s just to not empower the Russian government to have another tool in their war chest,” Cogent’s CEO Dave Schaeffer told the newspaper.
The company also told PCMag that “Cogent has terminated its contracts with customers billing out of Russia,” citing the European Union’s recent effort to ban Russia’s state-sponsored media outlets, such as RT and Sputnik News, from spreading disinformation.
“Cogent is not otherwise restricting or blocking traffic originating from or destined for Russia. Cogent continues to provide services to Ukraine,” it said a statement.
Still, the company is effectively kicking off all Russian corporate customers from using its internet backbone services. According to the Post, Cogent has “several dozen customers in Russia,” including the state-owned telecommunications company Rostelecom, which markets itself as the country’s largest digital services provider. Two other customers include the Russian mobile carriers Megafon and Veon.
Cogent points out its Russian customers can migrate to other internet backbone providers. Nevertheless, the service termination is expected to drag down internet connectivity for Russian users over the ensuing days and weeks.
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