Telegram is moving toward becoming a video platform, according to statements from the service’s founder, Pavel Durov. A message shared in a Telegram channel explained that the company is steering the app toward a new direction focused on video support and streaming. The note signals a broader shift in how users interact with media inside chats and channels. The move comes as Telegram continues to balance speed, reliability, and wider media capabilities for daily use in North America, including Canada and the United States, where many users rely on mobile networks that vary in strength and consistency.
Durov explained that until now videos appeared exactly as posted in chats and channels, which meant users had to endure lengthy downloads before anything would play. Large video files could take ages to arrive, and even short clips sometimes stalled or buffered, interrupting the viewing flow. This frustration was most noticeable on slower connections or crowded networks, where waiting for a file to load could disrupt conversations, collaborations, and quick sharing in both personal chats and public channels.
With the latest update, Telegram servers will compress widely viewed videos into several quality tiers and optimize them for smooth streaming. The system is designed to deliver a version suited to each device and each connection, reducing wasted data and speeding up startup times. In practice, this means a video posted in a channel may start playing almost immediately at a lower resolution if the connection is weak, then automatically upgrade to a crisper version when bandwidth allows. The approach includes adaptive streaming logic that assesses network conditions on the fly and selects the best available quality for immediate playback.
Durov explained that the feature uses dynamic delivery, so the player can decide the optimal quality as playback begins, based on the device’s internet speed and current network stability. In effect, viewers experience fewer interruptions and less buffering, making videos feel native to Telegram rather than a separate download ordeal. This evolution should especially benefit users in Canada and the United States, where varying carrier performance can swing significantly between urban centers and more remote areas, ensuring a smoother viewing experience across chats, groups, and channels.
Beyond video handling, the update introduces new capabilities for post management. Users will be able to see when a post was edited and, if needed, send media after the initial message has already gone out. In practice, this means a creator can update content without forcing a resend or clogging chats with multiple messages. The change aligns with Telegram’s goal of giving people more flexible media sharing and more transparent editing history, reducing confusion in fast-paced conversations. Earlier, Telegram broadened the list of grounds for reporting content across chats and channels, reinforcing moderation tools and signaling a commitment to safer spaces while keeping the platform lightweight and responsive for everyday use.