Payment Issues Loom Due to Network Limitations in Moscow: BSP Alerts
Heads Up! Internet Issues Loom in Moscow for May 7-9
Get ready, Muscovites! You might face some payment and transfer troubles from May 7 to 9. That's according to the System of Quick Payments (SQP), who've warned about potential obstacles due to potential internet access restrictions in the city.
The SQP's Communications Department broke the news via their Telegram channel, stating that difficulties in transferring funds between accounts and making payments via SQP, as well as temporary issues in accepting card payments at retail stores and online, might pop up in the capital and the region.
Apologies from the SQP are on the way for any inconvenience this brings.
Now, you might be wondering why is this happening? Well, Moscow's had a heads-up about possible internet issues since May 5. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) issued a warning concerning potential internet access issues due to security measures for the holiday events.
Over the same day, a number of complaints poured in about disruptions in mobile internet and mobile networks, affected by operators like T2, MTS, Megafon, Yota, Beeline, as well as messaging apps Telegram and WhatsApp (owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in Russia). Most of these complaints came from Moscow itself, and it's all reported to be connected to last Saturday's military rehearsals for the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War.
Financial institutions, namely Sberbank and VTB, have also weighed in, alerting about possible disruptions in the operation of their facilities. A Sberbank representative informed RBC that at the moment, mobile internet restrictions are in place in Moscow and the Moscow region, which might make the bank's application temporarily unavailable.
Both banks acknowledge the possibility of disruptions in the operation of some ATMs and POS terminals. They advise customers to switch to Wi-Fi or reschedule operations when issues arise.
With these potential internet and financial instability looming, it's all hands on deck to devise alternative strategies to protect our payments and communications. Be prepared, Muscovites, and stay tuned for updates!
[1] Based on recent events, internet issues in Moscow may be due to a combination of factors, such as Ukrainian drone attacks, significant disruptions at the capital's airports, and cellphone internet outages. These factors might cause difficulty in maintaining service continuity for various financial and communication systems.
In light of the potential internet issues in Moscow from May 7-9, it's essential to be prepared for potential problems with financial transactions, such as transferring funds and making payments, due to the predicted disruptions in internet access. The warning from the System of Quick Payments (SQP) indicates that these issues might extend to card payments at retail stores and online as well. Furthermore, these concerns come in the wake of recent reports about disruptions in mobile internet and mobile networks by operators and messaging apps, thought to be connected to security measures for holiday events in Moscow.
