Russian Mobile Operators Offer Unlimited Data for Domestic Messaging App Max

The surge in users of the homegrown app Max is prompting Russian carriers to eliminate data limits, signaling a shift in the country’s digital priorities.

Russian telecom company T2 has launched unlimited data plans for users of the domestic messaging app Max. The move comes amid a sharp spike in the platform’s popularity, which has attracted millions of new users in recent months.

According to the company’s press service, unlimited access to Max will be included in several popular mobile plans. Customers can use the app to chat, make calls, and send money—without using up their regular data allowance or paying extra fees.

Interest in Max began to surge in early June after the Ministry of Digital Development announced it was working on a national digital platform. By June 5, the number of users had increased fivefold, and by June 11—after news broke about the creation of a national messenger integrating government and commercial services—the app’s audience had grown sixteenfold compared to May. By the end of June, Max had welcomed its one-millionth user, cementing its position as a major digital project in Russia.

Beyond messaging, Max offers integrated business tools including payments and mini-apps. The decision to support the platform with unlimited data may accelerate its adoption as a core part of the country’s digital infrastructure.