Russia’s 2035 Plan for 5G and Emerging 6G Rollout

By 2035, Russia aims to have the fifth generation of mobile networks covering all cities with populations above 100,000, and it is anticipated that commercial 6G operations may begin within the same timeframe. This projection is outlined in the draft strategy for the development of the communications sector through 2035, signaling a bold shift toward higher-capacity networks across the country. The plan emphasizes progression through the second phase of the 2031-2035 strategy, underscoring a nationwide push to expand 5G using domestically produced equipment and to enable private network segments. These private networks are intended to facilitate secure, reliable interactions between critical infrastructure facilities and security services, ensuring resilient communications for essential operations across regions. The strategy also prioritizes social infrastructure by aiming to deliver connection speeds of at least 1 gigabit per second to major facilities and to bring fixed broadband connections to the vast majority of households, targeting universal access in key urban and peri-urban areas. The document further states that the transition away from LTE and older network generations will be completed through the deployment of homegrown telecommunications equipment by 2035, reducing dependence on foreign technology and strengthening national capability in network manufacturing and maintenance. The broader policy narrative in the ministry’s communications portfolio continues to refine expectations about the pace and scale of 5G adoption, balancing rapid modernization with the realities of network deployment, spectrum management, and industrial readiness. In related policy discourse, officials have highlighted that achieving a comprehensive modernization remains a multi-stage effort, one that may not yield a sudden, dramatic breakthrough but rather a steady, mapped progression toward greater digital infrastructure resilience and nationwide connectivity. Finally, macroeconomic conditions and monetary policy dynamics have influenced planning horizons, with recent financial measures shaping the investment climate for telecom modernization and network rollout in both urban centers and rural-adjacent municipalities.