Moscow Successfully Tests Antenna for Russian-Made 5G Base Station
The data transfer rate reached 1 Gbps, bringing Russia closer to rolling out 5G networks built entirely on domestic technology.
Outpacing Wired Internet
Russia has taken another step toward deploying 5G networks based on its own technology. Researchers from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) successfully tested a new antenna integrated into a next-generation Russian base station.
During the test run, wireless data speeds reached 1 Gbps—ten times faster than the wired internet currently installed in most Russian homes. Engineers say the system can download a standard HD movie in about 30 seconds.
All assembly, testing, and component production were conducted in Russia under the supervision of MIPT scientists. The antenna is entirely built from Russian components, down to the screws and connectors. This full localization approach, while technically demanding, is critical for building a fully sovereign telecom manufacturing base resilient to foreign sanctions.
Innovation Hub for Smart Cities
The antenna was tested at the 5G demo center located in the Smart City pavilion at Moscow’s VDNH exhibition center.
“Since 2020, this site has brought together business, academia, and city services to pilot technologies across safety, industry, healthcare, education, and infrastructure,” said Evgeny Novikov, adviser to the Deputy Head of Moscow’s Department of Information Technology.
The DIT sees the new antenna installation as a foundation for further adaptation and optimization of Russia’s telecom equipment. The site enables full-spectrum testing, from R&D to deployment, for startups, large companies, and university teams—all within an end-to-end domestic 5G testbed.
In late July, MIPT and DIT signed a cooperation agreement not only to collaborate on 5G but also to develop projects involving AI, big data, IoT, and other smart city technologies.
Building a Russian Component Base
Russia has been developing a fully domestic component base for 5G networks for several years. One of the leading players, MatrixWave, began designing novel antennas for high-speed satellite internet back in 2023, in collaboration with MIPT and ITMO University.
These antennas are based on metasurfaces—electromagnetic structures composed of sub-wavelength elements that enhance performance.
In the same year, MatrixWave and mobile operator MTS successfully tested a prototype mmWave (n257) repeater for pilot 5G networks in Russia.
A Spectrum Auction and What Comes Next
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development has announced an upcoming spectrum auction for 5G deployment, to be completed by year-end. Commercial 5G networks are expected to launch in four major cities by 2026, with coverage expanding to 16 metropolitan areas by 2030.
The networks will run on domestically produced equipment, which could eventually be exported to countries interested in sovereign telecom infrastructure.
Beyond speed, these new networks are designed to handle millions of IoT devices with ultra-low latency, enabling new smart city and industrial applications.
Russia is nearing the finish line in its preparation to launch a national 5G network ecosystem—powered entirely by homegrown technologies.
