The Transition to 5G Technology Is Inevitable
Throughout 2025, preparations for deploying next-generation networks continued across Russia. The country has already produced its first domestically developed base stations that support the 5G standard.
Current Speeds Will Soon No Longer Be Enough
Many mobile users in Russia are eagerly anticipating the transition to the 5G standard. Despite existing challenges, experts say its launch should be expected in the near term. The shift is unavoidable because LTE networks are approaching their technical limits, and their capacity may soon prove insufficient.
The 5G generation of connectivity offers significantly higher data transfer speeds and ultra-low latency. As a result, the transition is driven not so much by consumer demand as by the need to develop Internet of Things technologies. The new standard will enable the simultaneous connection of large numbers of devices required for building smart city infrastructure.
Who Will Get Access First
At present, 5G in Russia remains at a very early stage. Only one operator, MTS, provides such services, and they are available only in limited areas of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. At the same time, the Ministry of Digital Development is actively working in this direction. Under current plans, by 2030 fifth-generation networks should cover all cities with populations over one million, where around 16–17 million subscribers live. After that, deployment is expected to expand to smaller population centers.
It is important to note that plans for rolling out 5G had to be significantly revised following the exit of foreign equipment suppliers from the Russian market. Time was needed to establish domestic production of key technological components. Ultimately, these efforts proved successful.
New Base Stations, Not Only for Russia
In June, at the CIPR-2025 conference, the company Irteya, in which MTS holds a controlling stake, presented the first Russian-made 5G base station built on the OpenRAN architecture.
The development is based on a modular design. Separate units handle signal processing, network management, and internet connectivity. This approach allows potential customers to scale their infrastructure flexibly while avoiding dependence on a single vendor.
During the conference, the new base stations demonstrated operational readiness. A live coverage zone was deployed, delivering data speeds of up to 1 Gbps while simultaneously supporting 2G, 4G, and 5G standards through a unified software platform using Single RAN technology. This enables integration of next-generation connectivity without replacing existing equipment. Developers say the solution performs equally well in dense urban environments and rural areas.
Equally important is that the new base station was designed from the outset with export potential in mind. At the time of the conference, active negotiations were already underway with prospective customers from neighboring countries and the Middle East.
5G for Homes and Offices
In the near future, Russia may also authorize the use of 5G FWA technology, which is intended for fixed wireless access. It can deliver data speeds of up to 1 Gbps and has a wide range of applications. 5G FWA is well suited for connecting cottage communities, urban outskirts, and other areas with low building density where deploying wired internet is not economically viable. The technology can also be used in buildings where internet access was installed many years ago and the infrastructure has long since become outdated.
Discussions on allocating frequencies for the new access technology intensified during periods when mobile internet shutdowns occurred, triggering increased interest among users in fixed connectivity options.
In short, Russia is actively preparing for the introduction of 5G communications technologies. The process is complicated by disputes over which frequency bands operators will be allowed to use. Nevertheless, experts are confident that a consensus between the country’s leadership and telecom players will be reached. The transition to the new standard is vital for Russia’s continued technological development. The year 2026 could become a turning point, with the possibility that full-scale deployment of the first networks in major cities will begin.
