Fifth impact: mobile Internet speed in Russia has increased to 20%
A month after the launch of 5G, the average mobile Internet speed in Russia increased by almost 20% to 24.24 Mbps. We are talking about data transmission from subscribers. The download rate increased by 14%. This is evidenced by measurement data from the Gosuslugi portal and the Megabitus service. Operators are also expanding the geography of coverage of fifth-generation networks, according to the Ministry of Finance. The agency expects a further increase in mobile Internet speed. According to experts, it may increase by another 10% by the end of the year.
How much faster has mobile access become
Since the launch of fifth-generation networks in Russia, on September 11, 2026, mobile Internet speed has increased by 14-20%. Such data is provided by TelecomDaily based on the analysis of more than 1 million user measurements. The sample includes both measurement results via the Megabitus mobile application, which subscribers use to check the quality of their connection, and measurements via the speed verification service on the Gosuslugi portal.
The median subscriber data transfer rate (upload) increased by 19.7%— from 8.6 Mbit/s to 10.3 Mbit/s, the report says. The data download rate in the networks of the four largest Russian operators increased by 13.7%, from 24.24 Mbit/s to 27.56 Mbit/s. At the same time, the improvement was recorded in the country as a whole, and not only among subscribers who directly connected to 5G, TelecomDaily clarified. In the fifth-generation networks themselves, the data transfer rate now reaches 240-260 Mbit/s, Denis Kuskov, the agency's CEO, told Izvestia.
The rapid launch of 5G became possible thanks to the principle of technological neutrality: operators received the right to use frequencies previously allocated for LTE for new-generation networks, according to TelecomDaily. In addition, each of the four operators was allocated 90 MHz of spectrum without an auction in the new 4.63–4.99 GHz (n79) range for Russian 5G networks.
"The use of existing LTE frequencies allows operators to expand their coverage geography faster, while the n79 range is designed to create more high-performance networks in places with a high concentration of subscribers," the report says.
"Due to the expansion of the geographical coverage and the further deployment of 5G, especially in the n79 range, the median mobile Internet speed may increase by about 10% by the end of the year," predicts Denis Kuskov.
In the first days and weeks after the launch, 5G often worked only formally: the network performance differed little from LTE. However, operators are gradually increasing their performance and expanding the territory where fifth-generation communications are available, the expert added.
Currently, fifth-generation communications operate on LTE frequencies and use the same base stations. The operators have switched the equipment to a new mode with the help of software updates, said Ilya Ilyinsky, NTI expert on technological development. The equipment itself was not changed, which, according to him, explains the increase of about 20% recorded in the measurements.
— There is no large margin for further growth in this mode. By the end of the year, 5G is promised to be launched in 50 more cities. If the launch goes according to schedule, the national averages will improve by expanding the geographical coverage," he said.
The expert agrees with the forecast that by the end of 2026, mobile Internet speed may increase by another 10%.
According to operators, in 5G Non-Standalone networks operating using fourth-generation infrastructure, the speed is 20-25% higher than in LTE, the Ministry of Digital Affairs noted. Currently, 5G base stations are operating in 30 cities. The companies are gradually expanding their coverage, increasing the number of locations, the agency said.
— Telecom operators have received a regulatory framework for launching 5G networks on existing LTE frequencies. This is a planned transition period that allows companies to deploy networks faster and make 5G available to subscribers today. We expect an even more noticeable increase in speed after switching to dedicated frequencies in the 4.9 GHz band," the ministry added.
What operators are doing to speed up the Internet
The increase in the data transfer rate in the MTS network is primarily due to the operation of 5G in the range of 4.63–4.99 GHz, the company noted. In this band, the speed reaches 1.5 Gbit/s in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg and Ufa. The number of such locations will increase, they added.
— For the development of 5G networks in the range of 4.63–4.99 GHz, relevant departments need to approve the rules for the use of fifth-generation equipment, certify it and issue permits for the use of frequencies. This will allow operators to build gigabit networks using domestic equipment in accordance with the requirements of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies," the company explained.
According to T2, the average speed in 5G networks is three to four times higher than in LTE. The dynamics recorded in the study is due to the launch of fifth-generation networks, Daria Kolesnikova, a representative of the operator, told Izvestia.
— We plan to expand coverage and stimulate an increase in the share of 5G-enabled devices on the network. The development of technology may be hindered by its high cost and capital intensity. Therefore, the rate of distribution will depend on the investment programs adopted," she said.
At current LTE frequencies, 5G technology really allows you to increase the speed of mobile Internet by 18-20%, MegaFon noted. The effect is achieved primarily through a range of technological solutions, including increasing the capacity of base stations and redistributing frequencies in favor of modern communication standards, the company explained.
At the same time, the potential for further growth remains. However, the actual dynamics will depend on the deployment of networks in the dedicated range of 4.63–4.99 GHz on domestic equipment, MegaFon added.
Vimpelcom declined to comment.
According to Ilya Ilyinsky, speeds of hundreds of megabits per second are provided by frequencies in the range of 4.63–4.99 GHz. The operators have already been allocated this spectrum, but the base stations operating on it have so far been installed only in selected locations, the expert explained.
— At high frequencies, the signal passes through the walls worse, so the network has to be built more densely. You can't do without updating the software here — you need to install new stations. The operators estimated the need for at least 60,000 base stations. At the same time, it is allowed to use only the foreign equipment that already works in the networks. The transition to domestic stations will begin in 2027. The pace of network deployment on new frequencies will depend on the volume of Russian equipment production," he said.
The main range for 5G in the world is 3.4–3.8 GHz, Ilya Ilyinsky added. In Russia, this spectrum is not available to mobile operators. According to the expert, this is one of the reasons for lagging behind countries where fifth-generation networks began operating back in 2019. While there are few base stations on the new frequencies, coverage will expand gradually from city to city, he concluded.
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