Russia launches 5G network in 16 cities / Approximately 10 million people will have access to high-speed internet

Russia launched its 5G network on Friday in 16 cities, including Moscow, providing approximately 10 million people with access to high-speed internet. The expansion comes several years behind the United States, China and Western Europe, where 5G services have been available for more than five years.

The launch, initially scheduled for 2019, was delayed because the necessary frequencies were reserved in Russia for communications by the security services and the military. The Russian Ministry of Digital Technologies announced at the end of August that the four mobile operators would initially be allowed to use frequencies assigned to LTE networks, with additional frequencies to be allocated later.

In Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, the service is available through all four operators. The network is also being partially launched in cities such as Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kazan, Krasnodar and Nizhny Novgorod. The authorities intend to expand 5G to another 50 cities by the end of 2026.

Access on Android phones will be introduced gradually, while the use of 5G on iPhones depends on Apple, the company that suspended its official sales in Russia in 2022. The rollout is taking place amid digital restrictions and frequent mobile internet outages, which the authorities justify on security grounds.