iPhone Owners May Be Left Without 5G Networks in Russia

Foreign smartphones will be able to connect to 5G networks only through Russian cryptographic algorithms. At the same time, the authorities have provided a transition period for the introduction of new rules until 2032. This follows from the draft requirements for the use of equipment for base stations of the fifth generation of communications, developed by the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation.

What Changes From 2026

Active deployment of 5G networks in Russia will begin in 2026. Mobile operators must use the domestic encryption algorithm NEA 7 ("Grasshopper"). Smartphones connect to base stations with its help. Foreign algorithms SNOW, AES and ZUC will be used only until 2032.

The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation stated that they are still working on new requirements. Currently, the department is considering the possibility of supporting not only Russian, but also foreign cryptographic protection algorithms.

The Problem is Related to Equipment Shortage

Market experts say that the main problem in deploying 5G networks is encryption. The use of exclusively domestic algorithms will make it very difficult to implement fifth-generation networks.

Firstly, there are not enough base stations for new generation networks, and secondly, there are no Russian chipsets for 5G smartphones. In addition, it is unlikely that foreign manufacturers will be convinced to support Russian solutions without securing them in international standards.

Mobile operators have not yet commented on the draft of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation. Manufacturers of smartphones popular in Russia — Apple and Samsung — did not respond to media requests.

Subscribers are at Risk

A representative of the Competence Center of the National Technology Initiative based at Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, Timofey Voronin, explained that the requirement of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation is related to the need to ensure security, as well as to support domestic suppliers of software and equipment. But there is a risk that foreign smartphones will not be able to connect to 5G in Russia.

You can demand as much as you want from foreign manufacturers of network and user equipment to add encryption according to GOST, but it is unlikely that anyone will do it.

Timofey Voronin, expert

Russia accounts for no more than 2% of the global market for cellular services and mobile devices. Most likely, this requirement will simply be ignored, he added.

Voronin recalled that there have been such cases in the past. In August 2025, the Russian government ordered the pre-installation of the Rustore digital store and the Max messenger on all iOS-based devices. However, the American company Apple did not comply with this order. For users of foreign smartphones, this means only one thing: they will have to continue to connect to 3G or fourth-generation networks (4G/LTE).