Launched six years ago, on August 14, 2013, Telegram has already ensured its place in history as one of the biggest tech success stories from Russia.
The instant messenger quickly asserted itself as one of the world’s most popular messaging systems. Users appreciate its focus on security and speed, its convenient message editing function and end-to-end encrypted voice calls. A vibrant ecosystem has emerged from Telegram’s groups, which can gather up to 200,000 people, and its channels, which allow anyone to broadcast to unlimited audiences.
The messenger touts itself as being totally free for users – and free from any government interference. The Russian authorities have made attempts to block it, with little success so far, since Telegram refused to provide them with encryption keys to access user content.
Telegram’s founders Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai previously created Vkontakte (VK), Russia’s most popular social network, initially a copycat of Facebook and ultimately a property of Mail.ru Group. Telegram is independent from VK.
While most of the developers behind Telegram are from St. Petersburg, the team had to leave Russia due to local IT regulations and Pavel Durov’s own conflict with the Russian authorities. After trying several locations, including Berlin, London and Singapore, Telegram’s core team is now in Dubai – but “ready to relocate again if local regulations change,” the organization claims.
Telegram states it does not aim to make profit but does not disclose much about the way it is structured.
To celebrate its sixth anniversary, the Telegram team has compiled a brief history. However, this history has been full of surprises and controversies, as reported by East-West Digital News. Here is a selection of our stories on Telegram since 2013:
- Aug. 29, 2013: VKontakte founder launches Telegram, a new instant messenger service
- Mar. 7, 2014: ICQ quickly loses users, Telegram gets global traction
- Aug. 10, 2015: Telegram exposed to competitors’ complaints and large-scale DDOS attacks
- Nov. 18, 2015: Telegram is the “new hot thing among jihadists,” says cyber security expert
- Feb. 24, 2016: Telegram passes 100 million monthly active users “with zero marketing budget”
- Aug. 3, 2016: Hackers break into Telegram, revealing 15 million users’ phone numbers
- June 5, 2017: Telegram introduces payment via chatbots
- Aug. 17, 2017: Telegram founder Pavel Durov unleashes storm of shirtless Russian men
- Sept. 20, 2017: A lawsuit raises questions about Telegram’s operations in Russia
- Sept. 28, 2017: Telegram refuses to comply with FSB demand to access encryption keys
- Apr. 17, 2018: Russia battles to block access to Telegram; Durov pledges millions of dollars to “support Internet freedoms”
- May 3, 2018: Telegram has raised $1.7 billion in private token sale for new crypto project
- Aug. 29, 2018: Telegram agrees to share some user data for governments “to fight terrorism”
- Nov. 30, 2018: How the Kremlin conquered Russia’s Telegram channels
- Apr. 29, 2019: One year after ban, Telegram still accessible from Russia with growing audience
