Experts Map Out How Russia’s Telecoms Market Is Set to Grow Next Year
The main growth drivers are expected to be the rapid expansion of business support systems and the wider adoption of artificial intelligence.
Growth Set to Continue
Experts expect Russia’s telecommunications services market to maintain steady growth next year. Its trajectory will be shaped by several major factors linked to the broader evolution of information technologies.
Confidence in continued positive momentum is shared by analysts at Nexign, a Russian company developing high-tech enterprise solutions for multiple sectors of the economy. According to its experts, average annual growth is expected to be around 6%. By 2027, the total volume of the telecoms services market is projected to reach approximately 2.5 trillion rubles (about $30 billion).
One of the main growth engines will be BSS platforms (Business Support Systems). Over 2026–2027, 61% of operators in Russia and the CIS plan to increase investment specifically in this area. There is also a growing likelihood that regulators may classify BSS platforms as critical infrastructure assets. That possibility reflects the fact that modern BSS systems process vast volumes of financial transactions and personal data, making their reliability and security strategically important.
Focus on BSS
The development of satellite communications based on low-Earth-orbit constellations will also play a significant role. These technologies are reshaping requirements for BSS platforms and creating new operational demands. Operators are investing in support for satellite connectivity and exploring options to integrate satellite services into their tariff portfolios. At the same time, substantial funding is being directed toward BSS components responsible for product management, monetisation, and automated customer engagement.
Another key direction will be the continued rollout of artificial intelligence capabilities. According to Nexign research, 80% of surveyed telecoms players are either developing or already deploying generative-AI-based chatbots. Meanwhile, 44% of respondents are using autonomous AI agents within customer interaction systems.
Artificial Intelligence Cuts Costs
Next year, the range of AI applications in telecoms is expected to expand further. Companies plan to enhance traditional services with AI assistants to improve subscriber protection. AI technologies are also being embedded directly into network infrastructure. Existing algorithms are already capable of redistributing traffic during peak loads, helping operators maintain service quality. AI is equally important for early detection and prevention of network faults, reducing downtime and improving reliability for end users.
“AI agents in telecoms are already handling most routine customer requests without human operators, and the Rostelecom case clearly demonstrates this,” said Stanislav Yezhov, Director for AI at the Astra Group. “Specifically, the system processes around 500,000 requests per month, delivers savings of up to 10 million rubles (roughly $120,000) on operator payroll costs, and pays for itself within three to four months.”
Looking ahead, Russia may also see the launch of new communications standards. This is not limited to 5G, although frequency auctions for that generation could take place as early as the first half of the year. The rollout of an LTE network for IoT applications is scheduled for 2026, with regulators planning to repurpose the 450 MHz band for this purpose. Nexign notes that IoT connections account for between 1% and 4% of total revenue for the world’s largest telecoms players, underlining their growing commercial significance.
Import Substitution Gains Momentum
All of these developments will unfold alongside continued import substitution, both in software and hardware. On the software side, Russian companies such as Nexign, Basis, Astra, and others began developing specialised BSS platforms and replacing Western solutions as early as 2021–2023. In recent years, this trend has only intensified.
More broadly, the coming year is expected to be marked by the further transformation of telecoms operators into providers of a wide range of digital services. This shift not only opens up new revenue streams but also makes operators more adaptable in an increasingly volatile market. Crucially, much of this progress is being driven by Russian technologies and software solutions, reducing the sector’s vulnerability to external sanctions. In the near term, operators may not only fully meet domestic demand but also expand exports of their solutions to friendly markets.
