Fifth-generation mobile networks have been launched in Russia for the first time. In the initial phase, 5G services have gone live in 16 cities, providing around 10 million people with access to high-speed mobile internet. This was reported on the
website of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media.
In Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Ekaterinburg, all four mobile network operators have launched 5G, whilst in the other cities, between one and two operators have done so. Plans are underway to roll out the technology in a further 50 cities by the end of 2026.
“In the initial phase, we are utilising existing infrastructure, which already allows us to increase data transfer speeds by 20–25 per cent. We will then move to new frequencies, which have already been allocated to telecoms operators. At the same time, we will gradually increase the proportion of domestically produced equipment. Our aim is to bring the proportion of Russian-made 5G base stations up to 100 per cent,” said Dmitry Grigorenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Russian Government Staff.
In addition, operators have been allocated new frequency bands in the 4.63–4.99 gigahertz range, in equal quantities and free of charge.
5G technology is a comprehensive ecosystem for the digital transformation of the economy. Fifth-generation networks can be used for the digitalisation of industrial enterprises, the control of autonomous vehicles and robotic systems, the development of telemedicine, the operation of smart city systems, the connection of Internet of Things devices, and the creation of private technological networks at industrial sites.
Mobile internet traffic has more than tripled over the past six years. The roll-out of 5G is particularly important for large cities, where network load is at its highest.