In St. Petersburg, the 5G icon appeared on iPhones in the status bar for MTS subscribers. The operator changed the displayed network name from MTS RUS to MTS 5G, and it is shown regardless of the actual connection technology — even in 3G or 4G.
There is no real 5G on iPhones in Russia, although all current models support the necessary frequencies, including n79. For the 5G toggle to appear in the settings, the operator must coordinate the activation with Apple and provide a special configuration. Since 2022, Apple has not interacted with Russian operators, so iPhones do not have access to 5G.
5G in the 4.9 GHz band with a peak speed of up to 1.5 Gbps operates in 23 locations in Moscow, 20 locations in St. Petersburg and Kronstadt, and one each in Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, and Ufa. Frequencies of 4.63–4.99 GHz are not supported by all smartphones, so MTS also uses 5G on LTE 2100 MHz frequencies.
The Ministry of Digital Development promises 5G access to all compatible Android devices.
Read more on the topic:
- 5G is coming, but not for everyone: iPhones in Russia may be left without new connectivity
- 5G officially launched in Russia
- Millions of subscribers may be left without 5G: the new standard is not allowed for all operators