T2 Operator Accelerates Shift to Russian-Made Network Equipment
The Russian mobile operator T2 has installed more than 1,000 base stations supplied by domestic vendor Bulat, marking a major milestone in the company’s transition to locally produced telecom infrastructure.
Import Substitution Gains Momentum
The year 2025 became a turning point for Russia’s mobile operators, as the industry moved decisively toward large-scale import substitution. For telecom providers, reducing dependence on foreign equipment suppliers has become a strategic necessity. Domestic sourcing helps shield critical communications infrastructure from external sanctions pressure and supply-chain disruptions.
One of the most visible advances in this area was made by T2. In November of last year, the operator deployed its 1,000th base station manufactured by Bulat. By the start of the winter holiday season, that number had already risen to 1,500 units installed across the network.
“More than 30% of new T2 sites commissioned in 2025 are operating on domestically produced equipment. By the end of December, sites powered by Bulat accounted for 3% of the total network,” the operator’s press service said.
Beyond Base Stations
Import substitution efforts were not limited to radio access infrastructure. In parallel, T2 actively replaced packet-switching equipment at the core network level. A key component of this transition was the deployment of a core network developed by the Russian company Protei, which has built domestic solutions capable of serving millions of subscribers simultaneously.
Throughout 2025, Protei equipment was installed to handle all traffic in the Volga macro-region. Similar upgrades are scheduled for the Siberia macro-region in 2026, extending the operator’s domestically sourced core infrastructure footprint.
“By 2028, import substitution will cover all T2 macro-regional sites. In 2025, T2 also rolled out VoWiFi technology across all regions of operation. Today, voice traffic over Wi-Fi reaches 4.9 million minutes per day, while VoLTE traffic has climbed to 400 million minutes per day. In the Moscow Metro, T2 increased mobile internet speeds by up to three times by adding the LTE2300 band, achieving peak speeds of up to 200 Mbps,” the company said.
From Connectivity to Digital Art
During 2025, T2 also continued to move beyond its traditional role as a pure connectivity provider, experimenting with adjacent digital domains. In particular, the operator became a partner in the development of digital art, supporting the nationwide exhibition Strana. Svyaz. Tekhnologii (Country. Connectivity. Technology).
The exhibition is scheduled to tour seven Russian cities: Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, Perm, Kazan, Samara, Stavropol, and Volgograd. The initiative is a joint project between T2 and the independent digital art festival NUR. The collaboration brings together artists from around the world to present Russia as a living space where centuries-old traditions, cultural diversity, and advanced technologies intersect.
“At T2, we believe technology connects not only devices, but also people, cultures, and ideas. The Strana. Svyaz. Tekhnologii project, NUR NOW x T2, is an invitation to see the future through the lens of art and understand how connectivity, in the broadest sense, leads us toward it together. We want to show that the digital environment is not just a tool, but a space for dialogue, empathy, and collective creativity,” said Egor Bormusov, T2’s marketing director.
Security as a Strategic Layer
Cybersecurity became another priority area for T2 in 2025. The operator launched SafeWall, a free, multi-layer subscriber protection system designed to counter digital threats.
The service functions as a comprehensive platform that includes intelligent blocking of potentially malicious calls, a free voice assistant, protection against hidden subscriptions, and automatic labeling of incoming calls. SafeWall also provides protection against unauthorized access attempts targeting user accounts on the Gosuslugi government services portal. In addition, subscribers can request reports on potential personal data leaks through the Solar service.
T2’s import substitution strategy represents one of the most significant steps toward strengthening Russia’s overall technological sovereignty. A critical national industry is now positioned to evolve independently of foreign suppliers and is significantly less vulnerable to sanctions-related risks. At the same time, the company’s cultural initiatives reflect a broader industry trend in which telecom operators seek new ways to remain flexible, relevant, and engaged with society.
