A Step Toward Digital Sovereignty: Survey Reveals Trends in Russia’s Signaling Traffic Routing Software Market

Strengthening Technological Independence

The survey, conducted by Nexign and TelecomDaily, asked Russian telecom operators about the challenges of managing signaling traffic. Forty-three percent cited increased load and reconnection frequency as a major concern. The same share highlighted cost optimization and efficiency gains as key challenges, while another 43% pointed to stricter stability and reliability requirements.

Half of the respondents said they plan either to fully replace (17%) or modernize (33%) their current systems within the next one to two years.

For the industry, these results indicate a shift toward technological independence and reduced reliance on external vendors. For consumers, they signal more reliable connections, fewer outages, and higher-quality services such as internet, mobile networks, and messaging apps. For the country, the survey points to the development of a domestic telecom software market, stronger expertise, and new jobs.

Building a Competitive Market

The findings suggest Russian software developers are strengthening their position in the domestic market, particularly in signaling routing and network security.

The Russian software market for 4G and 5G networks has been taking shape over the past few years, as this segment in ‘big telecom’ used to be dominated by international equipment vendors. But changes in legislation and operators’ demands for flexible and open solutions are reshaping the market. For example, Nexign became the first vendor whose Nexign DRA solution was added to the national registry of domestic software. Our recent projects with leading telecom operators show that Russian solutions are not only ready to operate in critical infrastructure, but they also significantly reduce total cost of ownership through higher performance

Maksim Nartov

Business Development Director at Nexign

Within the next three to five years, analysts expect the emergence of a competitive market where compatibility with multi-vendor equipment and support for new communication protocols (5G, IoT) will be decisive factors.

These solutions also carry export potential. They could find demand in BRICS and CIS countries that are looking for alternatives to Western products. Russian companies, in turn, may secure a foothold in the mid-tier operator segment, which often cannot afford expensive Western systems.

Migration to Domestic Solutions

Between 2021 and 2022, global operators increasingly shifted to open source routing solutions such as FRRouting and OpenBGPd. The OpenRAN concept, which allows operators to mix products from different vendors within one network, became a global trend, especially for building or upgrading 4G and 5G networks in Europe and Asia.

In 2023, Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development launched a subsidy program for telecom software developers, requesting 11.9 billion rubles (about $142 million) from the federal budget. Funds were allocated to subsidize preferential loans that electronics and telecom equipment manufacturers used in 2024 to purchase components.

In February 2025, MegaFon began migrating its analytics platform to Russian-made software in partnership with Arenadata, a developer of data management and processing systems. In March of the same year, Rostelecom transferred its virtual server infrastructure from VMware to Basis Dynamix, a flagship product of domestic developer Basis. The migration began in 2023, starting with corporate centers and seven macro-regional branches across the country.

Drivers, Exports and Cost Reduction

The survey results underline a key trend: the rise of domestic telecom software as a substitute for Western systems.

Main drivers include import substitution, cybersecurity requirements, and growing traffic from 5G, IoT, and online services.

Over the next three years, experts forecast the emergence of two or three major Russian vendors that could capture up to 50% of the signaling traffic software market.

Russian solutions could also be exported to countries building alternative technology alliances such as BRICS and SCO. For operators, this means lower costs and greater network control; for the state, it represents a step toward digital sovereignty.