Russia Restricts 5G Access for Independent Virtual Operators

The State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF) has restricted 5G services to a select group of operators. Infrastructure operators MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, and T2 have been granted the right to provide 5G services. Among virtual operators, only Yota (Skartel) and Rostelecom, which are part of the same groups as network owners, are exempt from the ban.

Independent MVNOs, including banking operators like SberMobile, are now prohibited from independently providing 5G services. This restriction applies even if they operate on the infrastructure of a network owner who has already deployed 5G networks.

The practical impact is currently minimal as mass commercial 5G networks have not yet been launched in Russia. MVNO subscribers will continue to use 4G networks for the time being. The rules will become significant once wide-scale 5G implementation begins.

According to ComNews Research, the Russian MVNO market is a significant segment of the mobile communications market, with approximately 60 companies providing services under this model and serving over 40 million SIM cards.