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As Networks Go Dark, Russian MP Wants Old Payphones With Internet Access
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A Russian lawmaker suggested bringing back old street payphones in a modernized form with internet access during communications shutdowns, according to TASS on March 13.
The proposal came from Igor Antropenko, a member of the State Duma committee on industry and trade, as mobile internet and phone disruptions continued in central Moscow.
He argued that public payphones, once common across Russian cities, could once again serve as a basic backup when mobile networks are restricted.
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Antropenko told TASS the return of payphones was “long overdue,” but in an updated format that would also provide internet access.
He linked the idea to repeated outages in Moscow and noted that residents in Russia’s border regions have lived with such restrictions for much longer.
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The proposal emerged as prolonged mobile internet disruptions continued to affect daily life in Moscow.
Prolonged mobile internet outages in Moscow disrupted daily routines, leaving residents struggling with navigation, messaging, deliveries, and other app-based services.
With mobile payments failing, many shops and customers switched to cash, while commuters used printed maps or asked for directions as ride-hailing and route planning became unreliable.
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