MTS Brings Mobile Coverage to Antarctica’s Tala Bay
The operator’s new base station at the logistics hub of the Russian Antarctic Expedition opens up expanded connectivity options for researchers working at the South Pole.
Russian telecom operators have long demonstrated their ability to deploy communications infrastructure virtually anywhere – including the most remote and inaccessible regions. Engineering teams are capable of designing technical solutions that continue to operate reliably even under extreme weather conditions.
Stable Connectivity in Perpetual Cold
Representatives of MTS recently announced the successful expansion of its telecom network in the area of Tala Bay, a key logistics point of the Russian Antarctic Expedition – RAE. The infrastructure project was implemented with the support of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute – AARI.
Engineers completed a comprehensive scope of work. They built a new base station at the Russian scientific station Progress and deployed a 13 km radio relay link connecting the site to the vessel anchorage at Tala Bay. The result is stable voice communications and mobile internet access in an environment where laying fiber-optic cable is nearly impossible due to terrain and climatic constraints. The radio signal now propagates across extended distances in areas previously cut off from terrestrial connectivity.
MTS coverage extends beyond the scientific station and the Zenit airfield. It now reaches the wheelhouses and captain’s bridges of the research and expedition vessels Akademik Treshnikov and Akademik Fedorov, as well as a significant portion of the Stornes Peninsula, where scientists conduct seasonal field studies.
A Strategic Control Hub
Progress station serves as the central node of the entire Russian Antarctic Expedition. Located in the eastern part of the continent, it functions as the departure point for researchers and as a logistics hub for fuel, cargo and supplies transported onward to Vostok station – known as the coldest location on Earth. Ongoing research programs at Progress cover biology, hydrology and oceanology, while the station also receives satellite data on sea ice conditions.
Operational Gains and Long-Term Strategy
“Having ensured cellular connectivity for Russia’s year-round stations in cooperation with MTS specialists, we immediately moved to the next critical phase – expanding the telecommunications network. This will increase the efficiency of coordination in ship unloading zones and at the airfield, simplify operational control during aircraft arrivals and departures, and enable our scientists to maintain real-time contact with colleagues during local expeditions on the Stornes Peninsula,” said Alexander Makarov, Director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute.
MTS began developing its Antarctic telecom network in 2020. Since then, the company has provided voice and mobile internet coverage to five year-round stations: Mirny, Vostok, Progress, Novolazarevskaya and Bellingshausen.
High-Complexity Infrastructure Projects
Russian telecom engineers also have extensive experience building communications lines in polar zones. One of the most ambitious initiatives is Polyarny Ekspress – Polar Express, a trans-Arctic subsea communications cable planned to run from Murmansk to Vladivostok over a distance of 12,650 km. The line is designed to support e-commerce growth, cloud services and large-scale data processing while delivering reliable and affordable internet connectivity across Arctic territories.
Another major initiative is Sinergiya Arktiki – Arctic Synergy. The project aims to deploy modern fiber-optic lines to 61 settlements across 15 Arctic districts of Yakutia. Approximately 50,000 residents are expected to gain access to stable, high-speed connectivity. By 2028, roughly 7,000 km of fiber must be laid. The project has been allocated nearly 5.5 billion rubles in funding – approximately $66 million at current exchange rates.
The successful rollout in Tala Bay once again demonstrates that Russian telecom operators possess the technical expertise required to execute projects under the most demanding conditions. Beyond strengthening national technological sovereignty, such capabilities position Russian companies as potential partners for countries that need communications infrastructure built in harsh or remote environments.
