Commercial 5G networks were launched in 16 Russian cities on September 11, 2026, utilizing existing LTE frequencies. According to Megabitus, this deployment resulted in a 15% increase in average mobile internet speeds across the country within one week, reaching 27–28 Mbps.
Mobile operators report varying performance gains. MegaFon estimates a 18–20% speed increase in 5G-enabled locations, while VimpelCom claims potential improvements of up to 30%. T2 reports that users with compatible hardware experience speeds 4–5 times higher than standard LTE.
MTS is focusing on gigabit networks in the 4.9 GHz band across major cities, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg. The company operates 46 former test zones with peak speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps and is deploying 5G on 2100 MHz LTE frequencies in high-traffic urban areas.
Currently, 5G access is limited to Android devices. Future availability for iPhone users remains subject to ongoing negotiations between the Ministry of Digital Development and Apple. Experts note that 5G NSA performance depends heavily on signal quality and frequency aggregation capabilities.
