Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has publicly leveled serious accusations against Reliance, an Indian telecom giant, alleging deliberate disruption of Telegram access for millions of users outside India, including in the UAE. Durov claims this is being achieved through a 'rogue method' known as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) hijacking.
What is BGP Hijacking?
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) functions as the internet's routing system, directing data packets between different networks to ensure they reach their intended destination, such as Telegram's servers. When you send a message or download a file, BGP helps guide that data efficiently.
BGP hijacking occurs when a network falsely advertises itself as the optimal route to a specific destination. This can trick other networks into sending traffic through the incorrect path, leading to data taking longer routes, failing to reach its destination, or being dropped entirely. This results in connection failures, outages, or complete service disruption for users.
Durov's Allegations and Suspected Motives
Durov stated, "Such abuse of global Internet routing is alarming," and explicitly called the sabotage "intentional." He further hinted at a competitive angle, pointing to Reliance's partial ownership by Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.
"This may be part of a competitive war, as Reliance is partially owned by Meta — the company behind WhatsApp," Durov wrote.
The allegations surface amidst a temporary ban on Telegram in India until June 22, 2026, linked to alleged paper leak channels concerning the NEET-UG exam. Durov also suggested that Reliance and WhatsApp might be behind recent lobbying efforts to ban Telegram within India.
Call to Action and Current Status
The Telegram chief urged other network operators to reject unauthorized BGP announcements originating from Reliance (specifically AS18101) to prevent route hijacks and ensure stable internet access for their users.
As of now, Reliance has not issued a public statement regarding these accusations, and there has been no independent confirmation of Durov's claims.