‘Reliance is sabotaging access to Telegram’: CEO Pavel Durov on network disruption claims

Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, has made explosive claims against Reliance, accusing the telecom giant of intentionally disrupting access to the messaging platform for users outside of India. He alleges that this disruption is being executed through a method known as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) hijacking, potentially harming Telegram's global connectivity. In a recent statement, Durov expressed his concerns, stating, "Indian telecom Reliance is sabotaging access to Telegram for millions of users OUTSIDE India (including the UAE) via a rogue method called BGP hijacking." He described the actions as seemingly intentional, adding a layer of urgency to his accusations. This revelation comes in the wake of a temporary ban on Telegram in India, which is set to last until June 22, 2026, due to alleged links to paper leak channels associated with the NEET-UG exam. While the ban is temporary, it poses a significant challenge to millions of users in the country. Durov further hinted at competitive motives behind the disruption, referencing Reliance's ties to Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp. He suggested, "This may be part of a competitive war, as Reliance is partially owned by Meta — the company behind WhatsApp." To explain BGP hijacking, Durov noted that the Border Gateway Protocol functions like a GPS for the internet, directing data to its appropriate destination, such as Telegram's servers. However, if a network falsely claims to be the best route, it can mislead traffic, resulting in slower connections or even complete service outages. Durov remarked, "Such abuse of global Internet routing is alarming," and speculated that Reliance or WhatsApp might be involved in lobbying efforts against Telegram in India. He urged network operators to reject unauthorized BGP announcements from Reliance to safeguard stable internet access for users. As of now, Reliance has not issued a public response to these serious allegations, and independent verification of Durov's claims remains pending.