Internet Access In Belarus: A Restricted Online Environment

Belarus has a population of 9.44 million, with 8.03 million internet users as of January 2022. This gives the country an internet penetration rate of 85.1%. The average download speed of fixed internet connections in Belarus was measured at approximately 50.3 Mbps as of November 2022, while mobile internet connections were nearly five times slower, at 11.7 Mbps.

In August 2020, Belarus experienced a country-wide internet shutdown lasting several days. This was attributed to a massive DDoS attack on BY-NET infrastructure, although some sources claim it was due to political reasons and censorship.

Belarus's internet shutdown in 2020

Overview

In August 2020, Belarus experienced a country-wide internet shutdown lasting several days. This was the first time the country had faced a complete shutdown, with users reporting difficulties accessing the internet and popular social media and messaging platforms. The shutdown coincided with the country's presidential election and subsequent protests, which saw clashes between opposition supporters and police.

Causes

The Belarusian government attributed the shutdown to foreign interference and "DDoS attacks", claiming that the internet was cut off from abroad to cause public dissatisfaction. However, independent experts disputed this, stating that such attacks are usually successfully repelled and do not result in a complete shutdown. They believed that the shutdown was planned by the authorities in advance to censor content and control information flows during the election and protests.

Impact

The internet shutdown had a significant impact on Belarusians, with many unable to access news and social media platforms. Protest groups had difficulty coordinating their actions and were forced to rely on limited access to messaging services like Telegram. The shutdown also disrupted digital banking, taxi services, maps, and online shopping, resulting in economic losses for the country.

Responses

The internet shutdown in Belarus sparked reactions from various entities:

• Domestic Response: Court hearings on the absence of internet access were held but failed to provide new information or hold anyone accountable. Belarusian authorities later introduced draft amendments to the law "On Telecommunications," giving more power to restrict or suspend telecommunications networks.
• International Response: International human rights organizations and the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression condemned the internet shutdown, emphasizing that it violated human rights and freedom of expression.
• Technical Response: To circumvent the shutdown, Belarusians used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and proxy servers. Applications like Psiphon, which allows users to bypass censorship, saw a significant increase in usage, with almost one-third of the country's internet users turning to it during the shutdown.

Aftermath

The internet shutdown in Belarus during the 2020 election and subsequent protests highlighted the vulnerability of the country's internet infrastructure and the government's willingness to restrict access to control information. It also underscored the importance of digital rights and the need for international cooperation to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Internet censorship in Belarus

Belarus has a history of internet censorship, particularly during elections and periods of civil unrest. The government controls the country's internet gateway and regulates the telecommunications and media market heavily. While the internet in Belarus is not as restricted as in China or North Korea, certain websites are blocked, and a virtual private network (VPN) is required to access them.

History of Internet Censorship in Belarus

The Belarusian government has a history of restricting internet access and censoring online content, particularly during elections and periods of civil unrest. In the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, there were reports of independent websites, primarily media outlets, being blocked. During the election and subsequent protests, the internet in Belarus was partially blocked. The government claimed the reason was a heavy distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, but independent IT specialists asserted that Belarusian state internet monopoly Beltelecom and affiliated state agencies deliberately used Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology or traffic shaping.

Legal Framework for Internet Censorship in Belarus

While the Belarusian constitution prohibits censorship, it is enforced by several laws, including those that make insulting the president punishable by up to five years in prison and criticizing Belarus abroad punishable by up to two years in prison. The Ministry of Information, established in 2001, serves as the country's media regulator, and licensing and registration procedures are opaque and politicized. Since 2009, all media outlets, including websites, must register or face blockage. Independent publications have been forced to use foreign-based internet domains, and outlets that "threaten the state's interests" can be denied accreditation and shut down.

In 2014, the government established a state commission to evaluate whether media outlets contain "extremist" materials, which could lead to a ban under a 2007 counter-extremism law. The same year, dozens of freelance journalists were fined for working with foreign media without official state accreditation from the Foreign Ministry, in violation of Article 22.9(2) of the Belarusian Code on Administrative Offence.

Examples of Internet Censorship in Belarus

• In August 2020, during the presidential election and subsequent protests, the internet in Belarus was partially blocked. Popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram became inaccessible, and messaging apps such as Telegram, Viber, and WhatsApp stopped working.
• In May 2021, the news site Tut.by, which was read by approximately 40% of internet users in Belarus, was blocked, and several of its journalists were detained.
• In July 2021, the Nasha Niva news site was blocked, and its editors were detained. The editorial office of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Minsk was searched, and the homes of several of its journalists were also raided.
• In June 2022, the website of the independent media outlet Belarusian Investigative Center was blocked.
• In October 2022, information products of the Belarusian Investigative Center, as well as logos containing the abbreviation "BIC" and the words "Belarusian Investigative Center," were recognized as "extremist materials" by the Minsk city prosecutor's office.

Circumventing Internet Censorship in Belarus

Belarusians have used VPNs and proxy servers to bypass internet censorship and access blocked websites and services. However, the use of VPNs is against Belarusian law and can lead to further charges if discovered.

Internet speeds in Belarus

In 2006, broadband access was primarily available in major cities like Minsk, where there were several private Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Outside of these urban centres, the options were limited to dial-up connections from Beltelecom or GPRS/cdma2000 from mobile operators. As of 2008, Byfly, Beltelecom's ADSL service, was available in all administrative centres across Belarus. Other ISPs have also been expanding their broadband networks beyond the capital.

In recent years, Belarus has invested in improving its telecommunications infrastructure. Minsk, for instance, has a digital metropolitan network. Additionally, the country has developed a fibre-optic backbone system that currently serves at least 13 major cities. This fibre-optic network forms synchronous digital hierarchy rings through the systems of neighbouring countries, providing international connectivity. Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe Fibre-Optic Line (TAE), and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL).

Despite these advancements, rural areas continue to be underserved. According to a 2006 survey, internet usage in Belarus was predominantly urban, with 60% of users residing in the capital, Minsk. This disparity in access between urban and rural areas may contribute to the variation in internet speeds across the country.

When it comes to mobile internet speeds, Belarus has made significant strides as well. As of November 2022, the average download speed for mobile connections was 11.7 Mbps. This is nearly five times slower than fixed internet connections but still represents a notable improvement from previous years. Belarus has three GSM/UMTS mobile operators – A1, MTS, and life:) – who provide 4G data services using the infrastructure managed by the state operator, beCloud.

Social media statistics for Belarus

Overview

Belarus has experienced significant internet disruptions, including a complete shutdown during the 2020 presidential election. Despite these challenges, social media remains an important platform for Belarusians to access information and connect with others.

User Statistics

As of 2023, Belarus has a population of approximately 9.3 million people. While there are no recent figures on the number of social media users in the country, a 2006 survey found that around a third of Belarusians used the internet, with higher usage among the urban population (38%) compared to rural residents (16%).

Popular Platforms

• Instagram: Instagram is one of the most visited social media platforms in Belarus, accounting for over 26% of social media site visits in 2023.
• Pinterest: Pinterest ranked second among social media platforms in Belarus in 2023, with over 17% of Belarusian social media site visits.
• Other Platforms: While specific user numbers are not available for all platforms, Facebook, Telegram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok are also popular in Belarus and have been used for news dissemination, particularly during times of internet disruption.

Impact and Usage

Social media platforms have played a crucial role in providing alternative sources of information and facilitating communication during periods of internet censorship and political unrest in Belarus. For example, during the 2020 internet shutdown, Telegram became the most popular messenger and social media platform in the country, with news outlets using it as a full-fledged resource to broadcast updates.

E-commerce

There is limited recent data on e-commerce usage in Belarus. However, as of 2019, Belarus had a growing e-commerce market, with an increasing number of online shoppers and a preference for online shopping among younger generations.

Mobile connections in Belarus

As of 2019, Belarus had 11,559,473 mobile/cellular subscribers. The country has three mobile operators: A1, MTS, and life:). These operators provide mobile internet services using 3G and 4G networks. For 4G data, operators use the infrastructure managed by the state operator beCloud.

Mobile Operators

A1

A1 is one of the GSM/UMTS operators in Belarus and offers 4G data services using the infrastructure of the state operator beCloud. It also offers VoLTE services, which are currently only available with A1.

MTS

MTS is another mobile operator in Belarus, offering a range of tariff plans for both businesses and individuals. Their business tariffs include a combination of mobile internet data, unlimited calls to colleagues, and minutes for calls within the MTS network.

Life:)

Life:) is the third mobile operator in Belarus and also provides mobile internet services.

Getting a Belarusian SIM Card

To get a Belarusian SIM card, one needs to visit one of the mobile phone stores of the three operators: MTS, life:, or A1. After selecting a tariff plan, the SIM card is installed in the device, and it gets activated within a few minutes to 24 hours.

Mobile Internet Restrictions

In August 2020, Belarus faced a country-wide internet shutdown, including mobile internet services, for several days. This was reportedly due to a massive DDoS attack on the BY-NET infrastructure. However, experts believe that the shutdown was planned by the authorities to restrict access to certain websites, messengers, and VPN services.

During peaceful protests, the authorities have also been known to disable mobile internet services or reduce the speed of the mobile network. Mobile operators have complied with these requests, citing national security reasons, despite facing criticism and customer dissatisfaction.

Mobile Internet Usage

Mobile phones are widely used in Belarus, not only by young people but also by the older generation. This has led to an increase in the use of social networks and instant messaging services.

Mobile Internet and Censorship

The Ministry of Telecommunications controls all telecommunications within Belarus, including mobile operators. The country has faced criticism from human rights groups for limiting civil rights and freedom of expression. The government has blocked access to certain websites, especially during presidential elections, and several opposition media outlets are broadcast from nearby countries to provide alternative viewpoints.

Frequently asked questions