Residents of St. Petersburg recently turned to the traditional telephone inquiry service with unprecedented frequency. This dramatic increase in calls is directly linked to recent drone attacks in the city, which caused widespread disruptions to mobile internet services. The surge in demand for information was so significant that dispatchers were required to work in two shifts, with some employees joining remotely to manage the high volume of inquiries.
When mobile internet becomes unavailable, people look for alternative ways to get information. St. Petersburg residents rediscovered the reliability of the telephone directory service. During the past weekend, as drone attacks led to mobile internet outages across the city, the use of the 007 telephone inquiry service by locals skyrocketed by an astonishing twenty times.
Denis Sorokin, founder of «Lenremont» and owner of the «Lenspravka» service, provided his perspective on this unexpected surge in calls:
«Predominantly, it was elderly people who utilized our free telephone inquiry service, seeking information on weather forecasts, current time, pension details, how Multifunctional Centers (MFC) operate, or how to schedule appointments—and previously, the call volume was indeed very low. However, an anomaly recently occurred, with an immense number of calls pouring in. It became evident that on August 23rd and 24th, during the drone attacks, the quantity of calls increased by twentyfold. In the Soviet era, there was a 09 service, and we have continued to maintain this type of service. It`s not profitable; it constitutes a significant expenditure. While it might be possible to generate income here, I`m currently unsure how.»
He was also asked during the interview:
— «Has the physical `Lenspravka` kiosk at Moskovsky railway station been retained?»
— «No, certainly not. We cannot afford such an investment, as it is a free service; it was historically provided by the state to care for its citizens. We have solely kept the telephone line, the free `Lenspravka` inquiry service 007.»
— «What types of questions do you typically answer? For example, providing an address or directions?»
— «Over the weekend, for instance, there was a very high demand for information regarding children`s events—where to take a child, details on children`s theaters, entertainment options, checking operating hours, and ticket availability.»
According to Sorokin, the dramatic rise in call volume necessitated a shift in operations, with dispatchers working in two shifts and several employees assisting remotely to cope with the increased workload.
