In February 2023, a national snapshot of mobile internet speeds showed a mixed picture across Russia. A sharp decline in many regions contrasted with a notable uptick for Moscow, where the pace of online traffic accelerated against the backdrop of broader supply challenges and ongoing network expansion. This assessment draws on an analytical study conducted by TelecomDaily and cited by the publication Izvestia, reflecting the state of mobile connectivity during the month.
Across the country, mobile internet averaged 18.3 Mbps in February, marking roughly a 7% drop compared with the prior year. The erosion in speed is linked to persistent constraints in equipment supply that began to surface in the spring of 2022, as manufacturers faced a global shortage of components. The timing of this crunch coincided with the deployment of new base stations and upgrades, a process that tends to unevenly affect different regions depending on infrastructure density and street-level demand.
Within major urban centers, speed dynamics showed a different rhythm. Moscow, in particular, posted a robust indicator of 34.7 Mbps, representing a 32% increase from the same period a year earlier. Analysts attribute this growth to intensified investment in metropolitan networks, which typically see higher traffic volumes and a stronger drive to optimize performance in dense urban environments. The city’s larger user base and concentrated demand can stretch networks, making improvements immediately noticeable to residents and visitors who rely on smooth streaming, fast browsing, and reliable connectivity for work and everyday tasks.
Experts highlight that the concentrated demand in big cities can create a paradox for operators: while centers like Moscow and Saint Petersburg push performance upward with targeted upgrades, more remote regions may experience slower speeds as the same equipment shortages and rollout challenges weigh more heavily. In those outlying areas, users might notice speed drops of 20–30% when compared to peak urban speeds, underscoring an ongoing geographic imbalance in network execution and upgrade timing.
TelecomDaily’s analysis points to two intertwined factors behind these patterns. First, the global supply freeze in 2022 constrained the availability of essential network equipment, slowing the pace of modernization in many locales. Second, the rush to install new base stations in large cities reflects both demand pressures and strategic priorities: urban centers are the crucible for digital activity, and operators focus their most visible improvements where they can deliver the greatest impact on customer experience. In this context, Moscow’s standout performance aligns with a broader strategy to strengthen core urban networks while other areas catch up as supplies stabilize and projects progress.
Industry voices emphasize that the February results are not surprising in light of these dynamics. Observers anticipated a slowdown in overall speed district by district, followed by patches of resilience in hubs where investments and upgrades were most aggressively pursued. The latest figures reinforce the sense that a balanced recovery hinges on steady equipment supply, disciplined rollout plans, and continued attention to how traffic patterns evolve as more devices and services migrate online.
Beyond the numbers, the conversation reflects a broader shift in Russia’s digital landscape. The rollout of advanced networks, the growing presence of cloud-based services, and the rising use of artificial intelligence-powered applications all exert new demands on mobile infrastructure. As operators navigate supply constraints and scale their networks, urban centers may continue to outpace rural and regional areas, at least in the near term, until supply chains stabilize and deployment accelerates nationwide. The evolving story of mobile internet speeds in February 2023 thus captures a moment of transition—one where cities like Moscow demonstrate what robust investment can achieve, while other regions await the full effect of renewed supply and strategic upgrades.
[Source attribution: Izvestia, informed by TelecomDaily analysis]