India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has sparked international controversy with the technical methods used to block Telegram. Network analysis firm Kentik’s internet analysis director, Doug Madory, recorded that Indian telecom operator Reliance (AS18101) launched a BGP hijack against Telegram’s routes — BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is the fundamental protocol for global internet traffic routing, and after the hijack, the associated traffic was directed into a black hole. This action caused severe collateral damage, leaving users in countries like the United Arab Emirates unable to access Telegram normally. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov publicly condemned the operator for “deliberately disrupting global access” and called on network operators worldwide to reject these unauthorized route announcements. Meanwhile, Proton VPN General Manager David Peterson disclosed that the service’s hourly registrations from India surged by +150% on the night the blockade took effect, as millions of users tried to circumvent restrictions via VPN. Telegram has filed a lawsuit against the block order at the Delhi High Court, seeking restoration of services.
This Indian blockade has a broader context: Surfshark research data shows that since 2015, India has implemented at least 170 internet control measures, ranking first globally; in June 2026 alone, the government imposed partial internet shutdowns in Uttarakhand, Jaipur, and Haryana. The phenomenon of technical blocks triggering a VPN surge is not isolated: previously, when Iraq blocked Telegram, VPN usage surged by 1200%, and after partial network restoration in Iran, Proton VPN registrations soared by 6000%. The block order is set to remain in effect until June 22, aligned with the NEET medical entrance retake exam date.