According to the project for the development of the communications industry until 2035, the introduction of 5G networks into commercial operation in Russia based on domestic equipment may be postponed until 2030. It is noted that at the same time, all civilian communication networks will be initially “designed for the needs of public administration, defense, security and law and order.” It is reported by "Kommersant".
The publication notes that all the largest Russian telecom operators and manufacturers of telecommunications equipment participated in the development of the document.
Earlier, according to the roadmap presented by the Russian government in December 2022, it was planned that in 2023 approximately 100,000 people would have access to 5G networks based on Russian equipment. By 2030, their number was to grow to 50 million people.
Also in the project, which Kommersant managed to get acquainted with, it is said about the fall in the profitability of the communications industry. The reason for this is the persistence of low prices for services and the exhaustion of growth opportunities. Due to restrictions on the export of Western equipment for communication networks to Russia, investments in the industry decreased by 5.8%. It is noted that the project will be submitted to the government by the end of May, while now the process of collecting the opinions of market players is underway.
In October 2022, it became known that Sergey Chemezov's Rostec Corporation abandoned plans to create Russian 5G equipment and refocused on the production of LTE stations. At the same time, in July 2022, Skoltech and FSBI NIIR, subordinate to the Ministry of Digital Development, were to receive more than 30 billion rubles until 2025 for research on the new 6G standard.