Reliance Jio Infocomm has rejected claims by Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov that its network was involved in a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) incident that allegedly affected Telegram’s accessibility for users outside India.
The telecom operator clarified that it was wrongly linked to the alleged routing issue following posts on X. Jio stated that its network, identified under AS55836, was not involved in the incident and that its infrastructure continues to follow established global standards for internet routing, security, and operational reliability.
The allegations stemmed from Durov’s claim that a Reliance network was announcing unauthorized BGP routes, potentially disrupting Telegram services for users in regions including the UAE. He urged internet operators to block the disputed announcements associated with AS18101.
However, industry sources indicated that the autonomous system number referenced in Durov’s allegations does not correspond to Reliance Jio. Publicly available routing records suggest it may be linked to Reliance Communications, highlighting a distinction between the two separate entities.
The dispute emerged shortly after the Indian government temporarily blocked Telegram access until June 22, 2026, during the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination. Authorities cited concerns over coordinated cheating operations and the spread of misleading information related to the examination.
Durov criticized the temporary restriction, arguing that it impacted more than 150 million Telegram users in India while those responsible for the examination leaks had moved to other platforms.
Jio did not address Telegram’s temporary suspension or the wider regulatory issues surrounding the platform, limiting its response to denying any connection with the alleged BGP routing event.
BGP hijacking involves false or incorrect announcements of internet routing paths that can redirect network traffic and affect online services. However, reports available so far have neither confirmed that a hijacking event took place nor identified the party responsible.
Recent posts on X have led to speculation regarding Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (AS55836) and a BGP route misconfiguration. We categorically clarify that Jio has not been involved in any such incident. Jio continues to operate its network in accordance with global Internet…
Recent posts on X have led to speculation regarding Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (AS55836) and a BGP route misconfiguration. We categorically clarify that Jio has not been involved in any such incident. Jio continues to operate its network in accordance with global Internet…
— Reliance Jio (@reliancejio) June 17, 2026
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