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Reliance Jio has denied allegations that it disrupted Telegram’s access via internet routing manipulation, pushing back against claims from Telegram founder Pavel Durov.
The controversy emerged after Durov alleged that a Reliance-linked network had interfered with Telegram traffic outside India by hijacking Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routes. This routing issue can redirect internet traffic through unintended networks.
In a post on X, Durov claimed that Telegram users in countries including the UAE faced connectivity issues because unauthorized internet routes were being announced through a Reliance-associated network.
He referred to it as an example of BGP hijacking and speculated that it could be linked to the broader regulatory campaign targeting Telegram in India.
BGP is the protocol through which data traffic flows across the Internet globally. Errors in route advertisements can affect Internet users’ access to services.
Jio Communications denied the charges, explaining that it was not involved in any routing issue with Telegram. The company pointed out that its network follows globally accepted routing practices and that there is nothing linking it to such an incident.
Based on the information provided by the company, all accusations against Jio are false.
Industry experts have also questioned the allegations, noting that Durov may have conflated different Reliance group entities. Sources familiar with internet infrastructure pointed out that separate entities handle international routing and subsea cable operations and may not be directly connected to Jio’s mobile network operations.
The dispute comes as Telegram faces increased scrutiny in India. The government has temporarily banned the app following concerns that organized cheating groups were using it during the NEET-UG retest process.
In addition, the authorities have temporarily restricted Telegram’s message-editing function to stop the spread of misleading information about the paper leak.
The Telegram founder has condemned such restrictions, noting that many other users of the app do not engage in any wrongdoing. Regardless, the Indian government maintains that the restrictions are essential for the proper conduct of the examinations.
So far, no independent technical investigation has publicly confirmed Durov’s allegations against Jio. Nevertheless, the dispute has drawn attention to the growing animosity among technology companies, telecom operators, and regulatory authorities amid government interest in online messaging platforms.
