How much will Russia spend on 5G base stations?

Earlier, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that the government would additionally allocate about 3.5 bln rubles ($38.61 mln) to make base stations to facilitate the transition to 5G networks for operators.

Why is 5G technology so expensive in Russia?

The Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media offered to develop 5G within 4.8-4.9 GHz, but imported foreign equipment cannot be applied in that frequency range – thus, the cost for infrastructure and technology development automatically skyrockets.

When will 5G start in Russia?

"The active deployment of 5G networks at domestic base stations will begin in 2026 in large Russian cities," the minister said, noting that preparatory work to launch the networks will take place in 2025.

Which mobile network operators are deploying 5G in Russia?

Among the four major mobile network operators in Russia, only MTS has started deploying the 5G technology, though only in a limited capacity. In March 2021, the company launched 5G in 14 popular public places in Moscow, the Russian capital. Megafon, Beeline, and Tele2 were still testing 5G in the country.

How many 5G base stations are there in the world?

In addition, a total of 819,000 5G base stations have been built by these three telecom giants, accounting for 70% of the world's total. As China has played a leading role in 5G technology, its 5G development has extraordinary significance for other countries.

Will 5G equipment be available in Russia by 2025?

The government shared news on the local supply of equipment with the 5G equipment pilot projects ready to be launched by 2025. By the end of the decade, all of the highways in Russia will also have mobile internet connection which will provide connectivity to people travelling across the country.