U.S. provider of Internet to Russia is cutting service there, citing 'unprovoked invasion of Ukraine
A leading American Internet service provider, Cogent Communications, is preparing to sever relations with Russian customers on Friday, according to people familiar with the company’s decision, a move that would give Ukrainian officials another victory in their campaign to isolate Russia online.
Cogent, based in Washington, D.C., is one of the world’s largest providers of what’s known as Internet backbone — roughly comparable to the Interstate highway system, providing the primary conduit for data flows that local companies then route to individual domains. Among its customers in Russia is state-owned Rostelecom, the largest Internet provider in Russia whose customers include many government sites.
Russia, like most nations, is connected to the world by several backbone providers but Cogent is among its largest. Friday’s action, due to take affect at noon Eastern time, is likely to cause some disruptions and diminished performance in Russia, though it won’t be enough to knock the nation offline, say people familiar with the company’s actions, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss matters not yet public.
Cogent officials did not respond to requests for comment.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/key-us-provider-of-internet-to-russia-plans-to-cut-service-there-citing-unprovoked-invasion-of-ukraine-sources-say/ar-AAUCeIA