MTS has become the only operator among the "big four" to announce the launch of 5G in the 4.9 GHz band. According to "Kommersant", the permit from the Ministry of Digital Development allows for the creation of pilot zones only, without charging subscribers, and is valid until August 1, 2027. The operator announced the launch on September 11 – in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, and Ufa.

Authorities previously mandated the use of only domestic equipment on new frequencies. According to a source from "Kommersant" in the telecommunications market, foreign equipment is used in MTS's pilot zones, so the current launch cannot be considered a full-fledged deployment of a fifth-generation network. There are no mass-produced Russian 5G base stations on the market yet: "Irteya" promises the first hundreds of units in early 2027, Yadro – mass production in the same year. Other operators are currently developing 5G on existing LTE frequencies.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko announced the launch of 5G in 16 million-plus cities. Experts call MTS's statement a marketing strategy to solidify its pioneer status. Real competition will only begin after the mass deployment of commercial networks using certified Russian equipment.