Introduction
Supabase, a rapidly growing developer database platform, is currently facing significant disruptions in India—one of its most vital markets. Following a government directive, internet service providers have begun blocking access to Supabase’s website, resulting in unreliable service for users across the country.
Details of the Blocking Order
The blocking order, issued on February 24 under Section 69A of India’s Information Technology Act, enables the government to restrict public access to online content. Notably, the Indian government has not publicly disclosed the reasoning behind this decision, leaving the exact cause—be it a cybersecurity concern, copyright issue, or another reason—ambiguous. The duration of these restrictions also remains uncertain.
User Impact
Reports indicate varying levels of access to Supabase over the past week, with users experiencing considerable difficulties. Supabase acknowledged these issues on social media, highlighting that access first became problematic on Reliance Industries’ JioFiber network before complaints arose from other providers as well. In a now-deleted post, Supabase even reached out to India’s IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging intervention to restore services.
An Indian entrepreneur, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, shared that user sign-ups from India have dropped sharply since the block was enforced. Similarly, a technology consultant serving local startups expressed frustration over their inability to reliably access Supabase for both development and production tasks.
Proposed Workarounds
Although Supabase has suggested potential workarounds such as modifying DNS settings or utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to circumvent local restrictions, these solutions may not be practical for many end users. The sporadic nature of the blocks has only added to the confusion, as some users on different networks reported continued access.
Ongoing Developments
As of the latest reports, access to supabase.co remains blocked on various networks, particularly in New Delhi. Contrarily, some users in Bengaluru have reported uninterrupted service, suggesting that the enforcement of the blocking order may not be consistently applied across the country.
Broader Implications
Supabase is a significant player in the global developer space, accounting for 9% of its traffic from India, which translates to about 365,000 visits—highlighting potential risks for the local developer ecosystem. Its global traffic surged by over 111% year-over-year, emphasizing its rapid growth trend, particularly in markets like India.
Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia Pacific policy director at Access Now, raised alarms regarding the consequences of such blocking measures. “You don’t know where you can safely run projects without the danger that something might happen where it gets blocked, and suddenly you’re scrambling to find a way,” he remarked, emphasizing the unpredictability faced by developers in India.
The Future of Supabase in India
Founded in 2020 by CEO Paul Copplestone and CTO Ant Wilson, Supabase has carved a niche as an open-source alternative to Firebase, built upon PostgreSQL. The company has enjoyed tremendous growth, raising approximately $380 million across three funding rounds, lifting its valuation to around $5 billion.
However, with ongoing uncertainties surrounding infrastructure access, questions remain about Supabase’s operational future in a market that has previously seen similar restrictions, notably affecting other platforms like GitHub.
As of now, neither the Indian Ministry of Electronics and IT nor the involved telecom providers have responded to inquiries regarding this matter. Similarly, both Supabase founders have remained silent on the ongoing issue.
A screenshot showing Supabase’s access blocked on ACT Fibernet
Image Credits:Screenshot / Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch
For continued updates on this situation and its implications for the developer community in India, visit the original article Here.
Image Credit: techcrunch.com
