Russia has switched on 5G in 16 cities, providing around 10 million people with faster mobile internet. iPhone users may remain blocked unless Apple coordinates with Russian operators — Apple effectively withdrew from Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The rollout, delayed since 2019 over security-frequency concerns, comes amid complaints about internet blackouts used to counter Ukrainian drones.
Russia Activates Long-Delayed 5G in 16 Cities — iPhones Left Out Until Apple Cooperates
As many as one in four Russians uses an iPhone, Russia's Megafon internet carrier reported in April (Hector RETAMAL)
Russia said on Friday that it has activated a long-delayed 5G mobile network in 16 cities, giving roughly 10 million people access to faster fifth-generation mobile internet — but iPhone users may be unable to connect until Apple coordinates with Russian operators.
“5G services have gone live in 16 cities, providing approximately 10 million people with access to high-speed fifth-generation mobile internet,” the Digital Ministry said in a statement, announcing the initial rollout.
The move follows plans first announced in 2019, which were repeatedly delayed after Russia’s Security Council raised concerns that the new network could overlap with radio frequencies used by military and security agencies. The deployment also comes amid public frustration over intermittent internet shutdowns that authorities say are used to disrupt Ukrainian drones that rely on mobile internet.
iPhone access remains uncertain. Apple effectively stopped operating in Russia after Moscow’s 2022 offensive in Ukraine. Although recent iPhone models support 5G technically, enabling the service for Apple devices in Russia would require the US company to coordinate with Russian carriers — a step that has not been confirmed. The Digital Ministry said Android users in the newly covered cities will gain access soon, while iPhone access “depends on a decision by Apple.”
Mobile operator Megafon reported in April that about 24 percent of its subscribers were iPhone users at the start of 2026, underscoring the potential scale of users affected if Apple does not permit connections.
Public Reaction and Next Steps
People interviewed by AFP expressed relief at the faster service. Irina, a 29-year-old saleswoman in Moscow, said:
“Finally! Before, everything was, well, very slow.”
For now, the rollout is limited and the wider availability of 5G across Russia will depend on technical, regulatory and international commercial decisions — including whether Apple chooses to re-enable iPhone access through coordination with Russian operators.
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