OddsFrontRussia launches commercial 5G service in 16 cities
About 10 million people are estimated to be inside the initial footprint, but spectrum choices and device support will shape how quickly the service becomes useful.
The first commercial footprint
Russia has launched commercial fifth-generation mobile networks for the first time, beginning service in 16 cities. The Digital Development Ministry estimated that roughly 10 million people are covered by the initial footprint. Meduza reported that the four largest national operators — MTS, Beeline, MegaFon and T2 — will deliver the service, turning a long-delayed technology project into an operational, if still geographically limited, network.
The opening phase relies partly on frequencies already assigned to LTE networks, alongside newly allocated spectrum between 4.63 and 4.99 gigahertz. That approach allows operators to begin service without gaining access to the 3.4–3.8 GHz band commonly used for high-capacity 5G elsewhere. In Russia, much of that range remains reserved for the security services and military, a constraint that has shaped the country's deployment choices for years.
The practical experience will initially vary by handset. The ministry said compatible Android devices should gain access soon, while iPhone connectivity depends on a decision by Apple. The distinction matters because a network can be technically active without being immediately available to every subscriber or providing the capacity associated with dedicated mid-band infrastructure.
Coverage is only the first test
Russia's ministry says it is working toward service in another 50 cities before the end of 2026. The next milestones are therefore not just new city announcements, but operator coverage maps, compatible-device updates and evidence that the reused LTE spectrum can sustain higher speeds and lower latency as customer numbers grow.
International comparisons show why spectrum quality matters. The European Commission's 2026 5G Observatory found that basic coverage can become nearly universal while stronger mid-band coverage and standalone architecture remain substantially less developed. Its report also distinguishes networks built on existing 4G cores from standalone systems capable of delivering more of 5G's promised industrial and public-service applications.
The Russian launch is consequently significant as infrastructure policy rather than a finished technological transition. It gives operators and regulators a live platform, but the unresolved military use of globally common spectrum may continue to limit equipment choice, performance and economies of scale. Watch for independent speed measurements, additional spectrum decisions and whether the expansion timetable survives the cost of installing new radio equipment across dozens of cities.