Maksut Shadayev, who leads Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, recently explained that building a fully domestic network of base stations would span three years. This assessment came in a report cited by TASS and reflects the ministry’s emphasis on achieving greater self-sufficiency in critical telecom infrastructure.
Shadayev noted that the recent upgrades during the Covid era—when a larger portion of the population moved online and data traffic surged—have shaped the current planning horizon. He pointed out that while demand remains robust, the growth rate of traffic has slowed compared to the peak years, creating a window to address a long-standing objective: advancing domestic production capabilities. In his view, three years is a feasible timeframe to develop, test, and scale local manufacturing, supported by existing stock held in warehouses and aimed at preventing shortfalls in network deployment.
Further, the minister described a broad portfolio of programs and projects already underway within the ministry, all aligned with the core mission of expanding domestic production of base stations. He emphasized that the central priority is not merely to install equipment but to build a resilient supply chain capable of sustaining ongoing upgrades, maintenance, and future technology rollouts without overreliance on foreign sources.
Meanwhile, forecasts indicate that cellular tariffs for Russian users are expected to rise next year. This anticipated adjustment is linked to broader cost pressures, including the rising expense of equipment and components necessary to support the expanding network. Mobile operators have begun notifying subscribers about the forthcoming changes in service charges, signaling a shift that reflects the evolving economics of the telecom sector and the push toward greater localization of essential infrastructure.