A recent test conducted by Izvestia journalists across Moscow indicates that 5G networks currently offer no significant speed advantages over LTE. In most areas, 5G performance remains comparable to or even slower than 4G, with high-speed results being rare.
MTS recorded 284 Mbps on Nikolskaya Street and 1.1 Gbps near GUM. However, on Red Square, T2 and MTS devices switched to 4G despite coverage claims. MegaFon speeds dropped below 10 Mbps, while Beeline failed to provide internet access in the test application.
At Lubyanka Square, T2, Beeline, and MegaFon reached 5G speeds of 136, 50, and 47 Mbps respectively, while MTS provided only 4G. Near the Sportivnaya metro station, only MTS and Beeline offered 5G connectivity, with speeds ranging from 11 to 57 Mbps.
None of the four major operators provided 5G coverage within the Moscow metro system. Experts attribute the inconsistent performance to the fact that current 5G infrastructure relies on upgraded LTE networks, which suffer from high congestion in many locations.
