Russia Goes Without the US Speedtest Service

A Risky App

In the summer of 2025, Russia blocked access to the internet speed measurement service Speedtest, owned by the US company Ookla. The decision was driven by national security concerns, as the application collected data about users inside the country. For end users, however, the move caused little disruption due to the availability of multiple alternatives developed by Russian specialists.

Immediately after the Speedtest block, users were advised to switch to the ProSet app, developed by experts at the Center for Monitoring and Management of Public Communications Networks. In addition to measuring connection speed and quality, the application identifies packet loss and checks the availability of web resources.

Functional and User-Friendly

Yandex announced the release of an updated version of its Internetometer service. Alongside a fully redesigned interface, the service transitioned to a more accurate technology for measuring connection speed.

The new Internetometer measures internet speed using Yandex’s CDN server network. These servers are distributed across the country and are embedded within internet service providers’ infrastructure. Their primary function is to cache large volumes of Yandex content. Using them for speed testing makes it possible to obtain highly accurate, localized results. Importantly, Internetometer polls not just one but several nearby CDN servers, producing a more objective measurement.

Internetometer measures not only download and upload speeds but also ping, which reflects network latency. This parameter is particularly important for users who spend significant time on online gaming. From an interface perspective, the service presents results in a highly accessible format. Connection quality is rated on a five-point scale, and technical results are translated into plain language, with short messages such as “suitable for streaming video in 1080p.”

Restricting access to Speedtest is not a mere formality. It addresses a real threat to the security of Russia’s telecommunications infrastructure. Although the service appears to be a simple internet speed testing tool, it collects highly sensitive technical data on network operations, routing, and connection parameters

Anton Nemkin

member of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy

In addition, Internetometer provides technical details about the connection, including IP address, browser version, and screen resolution. This information can be useful, for example, when communicating with technical support teams.

A Tool to Address the Digital Divide

Later in the year, information emerged about the launch of another internet speed measurement tool on the Gosuslugi public services portal. The service is built on domestic software developed by Megabitous. According to its creators, this is the first speed measurement service of its kind to be launched on one of Russia’s most widely used government platforms.

Development of the solution began in 2024. The service includes functions for measuring internet speed as well as network latency. It also aggregates data from all user measurements to identify regions with serious connectivity issues. In other words, it serves as an additional instrument for reducing digital inequality.

“Anonymized data from internet access quality measurements collected through the Gosuslugi application will be transmitted to the Ministry of Digital Development. Authorities will be able to monitor changes in real time and over time, and work together with operators on measures to improve connectivity. Users can submit one-time requests or, by enabling a special option, make regular measurements from their devices,” explained Denis Kuskov, CEO of Megabitous.

What Comes Next

As a result, the blocking of Speedtest produced no critical consequences for residents. Russian developers have already created a full set of tools that not only match the US service but surpass it in certain parameters.

It is also important to note that this overview covers only what was delivered during 2025. There is little doubt that the ecosystem of internet speed measurement tools will continue to expand, including through integration with popular applications such as the MAX messenger, the VKontakte social network, and other digital services.