Telegram in 2022 for the first time surpassed WhatsApp in terms of traffic volume

According to Vedomosti, referring to the operators of the "big Four", Telegram messenger was ahead of WhatsApp in terms of traffic for the first time last year. In the coming year, it may compete with the Meta messenger company (recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation and banned) and by monthly audience. 

To date, there is "no growth or decline" in WhatsApp traffic, and the volume of Telegram traffic in 2022 exceeded WhatsApp's indicators and continues to grow. The interlocutor said that in the first two weeks of January 2023, the growth was 68% year-on-year. 

"The volume of traffic reflects not only the popularity of the service, but also how much heavy content users transmit through it – primarily video", — said the representative of Vimpelcom.

Currently, the share of Telegram was about 80%, and in terms of user activity, it bypasses WhatsApp, MTS indicated. A representative of Megafon said that Telegram has maintained its leading position in traffic since March last year. In the last two weeks of December, its share in the total volume of traffic in messengers was 61%, WhatsApp - 28%. In January 2023, Telegram's share continued to grow — up to 62% against WhatsApp's 27%, the source noted.  

Last week it became known that Roskomnadzor banned banks from transferring important payment documents via a foreign Telegram messenger. Recall that at the end of 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin amended the law "On Information".

From March 1, 2023, a number of organizations in Russia "will be prohibited from using such messengers to transfer payment documents and personal data when providing services".