New Delhi, June 17: Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has alleged that Reliance and WhatsApp may have been behind efforts to ban the messaging platform in India, while also accusing Reliance of disrupting Telegram’s internet access for users outside the country through alleged routing interference.
In a post on social media platform X, Durov claimed that an Indian telecom operator identified as Reliance had been “sabotaging” Telegram’s connectivity for millions of users outside India, including in the UAE, through a method known as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) hijacking.
He alleged that the disruption appeared intentional and claimed that repeated reports had been ignored. Durov further suggested that the alleged actions could be linked to competition, stating that Reliance is partially owned by Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp.
He also said he would not be surprised if “Reliance/WhatsApp” were behind recent lobbying efforts to ban Telegram in India.
However, a senior telecom industry source dismissed the allegations as “fake news”, saying Durov had confused Reliance Communications with Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).
The source clarified that while Meta holds a minority stake in Jio Platforms, the digital arm of Reliance Industries, the subsea cable infrastructure referred to by Durov is operated by Reliance Communications, a separate company that is not part of the Reliance Industries Group.
Durov also urged network operators to reject unauthorised BGP announcements from Reliance (AS18101) to prevent route hijacking and ensure stable internet connectivity for Telegram users. (Agencies)
