Russia Approves 5G Rollout Amid Smartphone Compatibility Issues
Russian operators welcomed the decision to allocate frequencies for 5G. MTs, MegaFon, VympelKom, and T2 unanimously approved the decision of the Government Commission on Radio Communications (GKRC) to allocate frequencies for fifth-generation networks in comments to 'Kommersant'.
Consensus
- The State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRF) approved the use of the 4.63–4.99 ГГц frequency band for 5G deployment in Russia.
- Major telecom operators—MTS, MegaFon, VimpelCom (BeeLine), and T2—can deploy 5G networks on existing LTE frequencies.
- Operators may use foreign base stations installed before September 1, 2026.
- A phased transition to domestic equipment will begin in 2027 and be completed by the end of 2031.
- 5G networks are expected to launch in Russian cities with over 1 million residents in the near term.
- The rollout is intended to stimulate the development of domestic telecom equipment.
- The 5G deployment will be implemented on a principle of technological neutrality.
Points of divergence
- Over 90% of smartphones in Russia cannot operate on the domestic 5G network due to lack of support for the 4.6–4.99 GHz (n79) frequency band. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- iPhone supports the 4.6–4.99 ГГц frequencies, but access to 5G is blocked by the manufacturer, with only 1% of such devices in Russia. — tg_moscowmap
- 5G in Russia will not work on iPhones due to encryption technology requirements, with potential restrictions on other foreign smartphones. — tg_mosguru
- The 4.8–4.99 GHz band is less efficient than the global 'golden' 3.5 GHz band, requiring 1.5–2 times more base stations for equivalent coverage. — thebell
- 5G will be available to a quarter of Russia's population, limited to cities with over 1 million inhabitants. — tass_agency
- Coverage in key locations of million-city centers is planned to be established by the end of 2028, with expansion over the next three years. — riamo
Coverage (14 sources)
- More than 90% of Russian smartphones will not work in domestic 5G networks — The Moscow Times
- Russia practically has no smartphones supporting domestic 5G networks — Новости Москвы
- 16 cities of the Russian Federation will receive 5G infrastructure, reported by the press service of the Ministry of Digital Development. — ТАСС (Telegram)
- In Russia, conditions for launching 5G networks have been approved, reported by the press service of the Ministry of Digital Development. — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Launch of 5G networks in Russia is on the final stretch — РИАМО
- Seven years after 5G launch worldwide, authorities allowed building such networks in Russia. But this will not give fast and noticeable improvement in connectivity — The Bell
- Russian operators welcomed the decision to allocate frequencies for 5G — Коммерсантъ
- 5G communication standard must appear in the Russian Federation no later than December 31, 2027, reported by the Ministry of Digital Development. — ТАСС (Telegram)
- 5G in Russia will not work on iPhones, according to the plan for the deployment of fifth-generation mobile communications. — Первый Московский
- Russian mobile operators allowed to launch 5G — Коммерсантъ
- Ministry of Digital Development: 5G networks should appear in million-population cities in the near future — Вечерняя Москва
- Ministry of Digital Economy promised that 5G networks will appear in major cities in the near future — Вести
- Operators of the "big four" will build 5G networks on current LTE frequencies and get bands 4.63-4.99 GHz — Интерфакс
- 5G networks should appear in Russia's million-population cities in the very near future, the Ministry of Digital Development reported. — РИА Новости (Telegram)
Key entities
- Russia
- Ministry of Digital Development
- MTS
- MegaFon
- Beeline
- T2
- GKRCh
- VimpelCom
- Moscow
- TASS
- Ministry of Digital Development
- INTERFAX.RU
- U
- PhotoBank Lori
- Ilya Starkov
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- Photo - © Iva Noel / Fotobank Loris. In August 2026