National Messenger MAX Will Connect Millions of Apartment Buildings
The Russian government is launching a nationwide effort to migrate all apartment‑building communication channels into MAX, a domestic messenger platform that is set to become a core element of the country’s utility and housing infrastructure. The initiative reflects Russia’s broader strategy to strengthen digital sovereignty and modernize public‑facing services.
MAX as a Tool of Digital Sovereignty
Russia’s Ministry of Construction and Housing has ordered that communication for roughly one million apartment buildings move from foreign messengers to chatbot‑based channels inside MAX. The messenger, which became a mandatory preinstalled app on all new devices starting September 1, 2025, represents a central pillar of the nation’s effort to build an independent IT ecosystem.
MAX is designed not just as a communication tool, but as a multifunctional platform that integrates messaging, payments, commercial services, and government functions. This transforms it from a basic chat app into a full digital interface between residents, service providers, utilities, and public agencies.
A Unified Channel for Residents and Utilities
For residents, the transition means a single, standardized communication channel with building managers and utility providers. A chatbot inside MAX will allow users to submit maintenance requests, receive urgent notices, and participate in discussions about building‑level decisions.
For property‑management companies and homeowners associations, MAX enables deeper automation. It creates the foundation for future integration with utility‑management systems, smart‑home platforms, and IoT sensors—moving toward real‑time monitoring of housing infrastructure.
From Fragmented Chats to a Structured System
For years, building chats in Russia existed informally on foreign platforms—scattered, unmanaged, and lacking any integration with municipal systems. Most of them served as resident‑to‑resident channels, with little involvement from professional managers.
The initiative to bring these chats into MAX continues Russia’s systematic push toward digital sovereignty. The model resembles China’s WeChat: a super‑app environment that unites communication, payments, public services, and community‑level tools. Russia is moving in a similar direction by turning MAX into a universal platform for everyday tasks.
From Messenger to Service Ecosystem
Within the next year, most households are expected to complete the formal migration from Telegram and WhatsApp to MAX. In the medium term, the app could evolve into a full‑scale building‑management system, enabling service requests, analytics, and IoT‑driven diagnostics.
Over the long term, MAX may form the backbone of smart‑residential‑complex ecosystems—combining communication, payment processing, energy‑tracking tools, automated maintenance, and secure identification.
The transition is more than a change in digital venue. It represents a structural shift in how Russia manages its housing infrastructure, improving oversight, communication, and service quality for millions of residents while strengthening domestic IT capabilities.
