Russia Ramps Up LTE as It Lays Groundwork for Homegrown 5G Networks

Russian mobile operators are boosting LTE capacity and testing domestic 5G equipment, signaling the country’s intent to build its own next-gen wireless networks within the next two years.

Russia’s mobile industry is accelerating upgrades to fourth-generation (LTE) networks while quietly preparing for a 5G future powered by locally built equipment. Speaking at a telecom conference in Krasnoyarsk, Yuri Kamalov, director of T2’s regional branch, said:

Fourth-generation networks remain the backbone of Russia’s mobile infrastructure. Providers continuously analyze base station loads, forecast traffic peaks, and build out coverage to keep pace with content consumption that keeps climbing every year.

Full-scale 5G rollout is still on hold in Russia, but trials of the next-gen standard are already underway. The key breakthrough: the development of domestic network hardware. Industry officials say that within two years, a fully operational 5G network based on local technology could debut, first in major cities where high-speed connectivity is most critical.

The country’s push toward 5G highlights a broader trend in Russia’s tech sector — rapid modernization combined with a strategy of replacing foreign technology with homegrown solutions.