Russia has officially switched on 5G networks in 16 cities, according to Eldar Murtazin, lead analyst at Mobile Research Group, who said on Radio KP that this represents a genuine rollout of the technology after a significant delay rather than a purely formal announcement.
Mobile operators have been permitted to run the new standard using frequency bands they already hold, operating on imported equipment. Murtazin said the current infrastructure works as an overlay on existing 4G networks rather than as a fully separate system.
In Moscow, using the same operator, 4G speeds measured around 30 to 40 megabits per second, while the new fifth-generation network reached 120 to 150 megabits per second, Murtazin said. He added that he recorded speeds of up to 700 megabits per second at some individual locations.
Why 5G matters
Murtazin said the technology is needed for industry, urban digital infrastructure, medicine and artificial intelligence systems. He described the present stage as transitional, ahead of a fuller deployment of the new communications standard.
Mobile Research Group is a Russian firm that analyses the telecommunications and mobile device market, and Murtazin is a widely cited commentator on the sector in Russian media.
iPhone left out for now
Murtazin said owners of Apple's iPhone will not be able to use the new 5G networks for the time being. Samsung devices are expected to receive software updates enabling support for Russian 5G networks within a month and a half to two months, he said.
What happens next
News that 5G had gone live in Russia first emerged at the end of last week. Reports at the time said 10 million subscribers had already gained access to the high-speed connection, and that the network is expected to be extended to 50 more cities across the country by the end of 2026.
