In the coming months, Russia plans to conduct an experiment that will test whether the country can maintain internet functionality while disconnected from the global network.
A draft law within the broader Digital Economy national program is pushing internet service providers (ISPs) to demonstrate resilience in the face of potential isolation by foreign actors. The legislation would require ISPs to prepare for scenarios in which external access to the internet is cut off.
The international Domain Name System (DNS), which translates domain names into IP addresses, is administered by organisations located around the world, none of which are based in Russia. Because of this, Russian authorities say the country could theoretically be severed from the global DNS and lose normal internet access.
Amid tensions with Western nations—some of which have accused Russia of cyberattacks and political interference—international alliances are strengthening cyber policy frameworks. NATO, for example, has been developing principles for cyber operations and responses to hostile activity.
One measure under consideration in the draft Russian law would see the country build a domestic DNS infrastructure so that essential internet services can keep functioning if connections to foreign servers are disrupted. A domestically controlled DNS would reduce reliance on external authorities for domain resolution and provide an alternative routing system during a cutoff.
In a second part of the planned experiment, ISPs are expected to show they can reroute internet traffic toward government-controlled routing points. This capability would enable authorities to filter, monitor, or block traffic between Russian networks and foreign servers—functionality resembling the centralized controls used in other countries.
ISPs have generally signaled support for the bill’s objectives but are divided over technical approaches and implementation. Industry representatives have warned that forcing rapid changes to routing and DNS architecture could cause major connectivity disruptions if not managed carefully.
The test has not been assigned a fixed date but is anticipated to occur before April 1, 2019. The Russian government has allocated funds to help ISPs cover costs associated with preparing for and participating in the trial.
(Photo by Serge Kutuzov on Unsplash)
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