MTS Rolls Out Gigabit 5G Across Russia
On September 11, MTS announced the activation of Russia’s first large-scale gigabit 5G network, operating within the 4.9 GHz frequency band. This advanced network is now accessible to subscribers in five major cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, and Ufa. «Kommersant» noted that the deployment of 5G in the 4.9 GHz range is currently being conducted in pilot zones.
The Effect of 5G Launch on Average Mobile Internet Speeds
Concurrently with the deployment of 5G networks utilizing LTE frequencies in 16 Russian cities, also initiated on September 11, a significant acceleration in mobile internet speeds across the country has been observed. According to data from Denis Kuskov, CEO of «Megabitus» (a company specializing in internet speed measurement services), as reported by Forbes, the average mobile internet speeds in Russia increased by 15% within a week. This surge boosted average speeds to 27-28 Mbps.
The deployment of gigabit 5G in the 4.9 GHz band by MTS, even in pilot zones, is a critical development for Russia’s digital infrastructure. While the 15% average speed increase to 27-28 Mbps is notable, it primarily reflects LTE frequency utilization. True gigabit performance hinges on wider 4.9 GHz spectrum allocation and device compatibility, which will significantly impact enterprise applications and IoT scalability.