MegaFon has deployed a 5G network in Magnitogorsk, marking the first time the technology has been launched in a regional industrial center in the Urals rather than a major metropolis. The network covers the city center, recreational areas, the central stadium, and the Ordzhonikidze Palace of Culture.
The deployment utilizes the operator's existing LTE infrastructure. Engineers upgraded base stations to support 5G on current frequencies through technological neutrality. The network aims to improve data transmission speeds and reduce latency in areas with high user density.
Users with 5G-compatible smartphones can access the network directly. For devices lacking 5G support, including iPhones, the operator offers a Mega5G option that adjusts network settings to increase internet speeds to levels comparable to 5G outside of standard coverage zones.
According to Gennady Zhukov, director of MegaFon in the Chelyabinsk region, the technology is intended to support industrial digitalization. It enables predictive analytics, digital twins, remote control of robotic lines, and real-time monitoring of complex production processes.
Beyond Magnitogorsk, MegaFon's 5G network is available in other industrial centers such as Veliky Novgorod and Tver, as well as in major cities including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg.
