Moscow Activists Say Telcos Disrupted Coverage, by Order of Police

Two days before Vladimir Putin's official inauguration into his fourth term as the president of Russia, protests broke out across the country. At the height of the protests, several activists reported that their mobile phone signals became weak or non-existent. Some said Russian telecom operators were intentionally degrading the quality of service or even delisting their numbers at the orders of the authorities.

Tele2 [one of Russia’s telecom operators] switched off both the cell phone coverage and the mobile internet access around Pushkinskaya square (our reporter felt it himself.) The operator blamed the disruptions on “quality of service improvement works” which happened to be held on May 5.

Activists also claimed evidence of Beeline, Russia’s second largest telecom operator customer, de-listing phone numbers. In a statement to the press, a Beeline representative denied de-listing phone numbers on police orders. The company blamed the disruptions on network overload.
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Cellular network can be degraded or disrupted by order of government officials, or may simply fail when usage is greater than the capacity of the network to handle the requested traffic.  In a case where communication is essential, one should not rely entirely on cell-phones.

Apps like FireChat can help maintain local communication when cellular service and Internet is disrupted.  Devices like goTenna Mesh pair to your phone to privately & automatically relay texts and GPS locations between devices, no service (or routers, towers or satellites!) necessary.

VHF/UHF radio communication may be an option in some areas. Operating on Amateur (HAM) Radio bands will require a license to remain legal, but even simple FRS/GMRS radios will provide communication and allow coordination of activities in a close area. It is also possible to set up Secure Voice Communications in an area using WiFi and a network of wireless routers.

When it come to communications - Have a Plan, and Have a Back-up Plan!