TelecomDaily has published the results of a month-long 5G measurement campaign across Russian cities and metro systems. The study reveals that 5G coverage is expanding faster than expected, with average speeds reaching 150–200 Mbps in central areas and up to 50 Mbps in underground stations. However, the technology still faces adoption hurdles: only 12% of new smartphones sold by T2 support 5G, and MTS recently faced backlash for accidentally charging users for free access.
How 5G is performing under the hood
The measurements were taken using specialized DPI-bypassing equipment to ensure accuracy. In Moscow, 5G base stations now cover 78% of the city center, while in St. Petersburg the figure is 62%. The key bottleneck remains the lack of affordable 5G-enabled devices: the average price of a compatible smartphone is still above 40,000 rubles.
What this means for users
For the average subscriber, 5G offers a tangible speed boost for streaming and downloads, but the real game-changer is in the metro. TelecomDaily recorded stable 5G signals in 23 of 30 tested stations, with latency under 15 ms. This makes real-time gaming and video calls feasible underground for the first time.
The MTS incident and service contracts
MTS accidentally enabled paid access for some users, triggering a wave of complaints. The operator blamed a software glitch and refunded the charges. Meanwhile, small ISPs are signing new service contracts to lease 5G spectrum from major operators, which could accelerate coverage in remote areas.
Practical advice for readers
If your provider throttles 5G traffic or you need reliable access with white-list bypass, consider using a multi-key VPN service. For just 5 rubles per day, you can get stable connectivity regardless of network restrictions.