The deployment of 5G will significantly increase the costs for Russian telecom operators. According to the National Rating Agency's forecast, in 2026, investments by MTS, MegaFon, Beeline, Rostelecom, Dom.ru, and MaximaTelecom will grow by approximately 10% — to 460 billion rubles.

An even more significant jump is expected in 2027: capital expenditures could increase by about 25% and approach 580 billion rubles. Companies will allocate about 16% of their revenue to infrastructure development.

The main part of the investments will be required for building fifth-generation networks and gradually replacing foreign equipment. The share of Russian base stations should grow from approximately 1% in 2027 to 100% by 2031. In the 4.63–4.99 GHz band allocated for 5G, foreign equipment is permitted until early 2029.

The first fifth-generation networks are already being launched in Russian cities. Initially, operators will be able to use part of the existing LTE infrastructure, but further scaling of 5G will require significantly larger investments in domestic equipment and new capacities.