India’s Telegram Ban Sparks VPN and Messaging App Surge
In an unexpected digital shift, India’s government temporarily blocked access to the messaging app Telegram to combat exam-related fraud, igniting a rapid rise in the usage of virtual private networks (VPNs) and alternative messaging platforms.
Record-Breaking VPN App Downloads
According to app intelligence firm Appfigures, the day India announced the ban marked the highest volume of VPN downloads since at least early 2025. The downloads soared by 49%, jumping from a daily average of 139,000 to an impressive 208,000 on that Tuesday alone.
Proton VPN and Turbo VPN emerged as the leaders in this surge. In the Apple App Store, Proton VPN downloads skyrocketed by 113%, while Turbo VPN grew by 85%. On Google Play, Proton VPN saw a 64% increase, and Turbo VPN’s downloads rose by 35%. Other significant players included NordVPN, with a 41% rise in App Store downloads, and ExpressVPN, which saw a 31% increase on Google Play.
Climbing App Store Rankings
The spike in VPN downloads had a notable impact on app rankings. Proton VPN leaped from 18th to 5th place in Apple’s Utilities category between June 16 and June 18, while its ranking in the Google Play Tools category jumped from 8th to 2nd.
Reason Behind the Ban
The government’s action came in response to concerns that fraudsters were using Telegram to exploit candidates for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) re-test, the largest entrance exam in India. The authorities cited the need to prevent the circulation of fake exam papers and scams linked to the examination process. Telegram countered this restriction in the Delhi High Court, advocating for targeted actions against specific content rather than a blanket ban. However, the High Court upheld the restriction.
An Outcry for Alternative Communication
This restriction led to a marked increase in signups for Proton VPN, which reported a staggering 120% spike in daily registrations above baseline levels. On the evening prior to the Telegram restriction, hourly registrations saw a 150% uptick. Canadian VPN provider Windscribe also noted a trend, stating that their signups surged approximately 100% above normal levels, while first-time downloads of their iOS app in India surged around 89%.
Broadening Messaging App Choices
In addition to VPN services, users were clearly looking for alternatives to Telegram. Downloads of Signal increased by 72% on Apple’s App Store and spiked a staggering 322% on Google Play post-restriction, while Viber experienced a 216% jump in App Store downloads.
The Telegram-affiliated app, iMe, recorded astonishing growth, with its Google Play downloads soaring from an average of about 827 to 50,900 on June 16.
Contradictory App Usage Trends
Interestingly, despite the bans, Telegram’s active user base in India grew by 17% on the same day the restrictions were announced—the most substantial increase since a major outage of Meta services in 2021. Various metrics indicated that users were making efforts to access Telegram, even after the ban. Cloudflare Radar data showed a sharp rise in DNS requests for Telegram domains in India, suggesting persistent attempts by users to reach the platform despite the block.
The Court’s Decision and the Bigger Picture
During the court proceedings, Telegram argued its commitment to cooperate with authorities by removing flagged channels, questioning the need for such a sweeping restriction that impacts over 150 million Indian users. On the other hand, government lawyers defended the ban as a necessary and temporary measure in response to specific events surrounding the NEET re-test. The High Court ruled that the authorities had adhered to proper procedures given the urgent nature of the matter.
A Global Trend in App Restrictions
This incident in India resonates with similar global patterns. For instance, when the U.S. briefly removed TikTok from app stores in 2025, VPN downloads increased by 40% week-over-week. Windscribe noted similar behaviors following restrictions in countries like Iran and Russia.
As debates surrounding digital freedom and access to information continue worldwide, the Indian government’s actions have sparked significant conversations about the balance between safeguarding security and ensuring user access.
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