Russia has reportedly outlined plans to pilot domestic 5G kit by 2030.
As reported by Russian news agency TASS, Russia is aiming to pilot 5G-ready equipment by 2030, and 6G-ready standards by 2035.
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev, previously said the country expects to conduct 5G pilots in 2025.
"Phase one of the strategy’s implementation (in 2023-2030) calls for: developing and conducting pilot operations of [domestic] Russian equipment that complies with 5G and 6G-ready standards that factor in information safety requirements for the use of cryptographic information security aids certified by the Russian Federal Security Service, and rolling out the practice of shared use of support infrastructure by mobile communications operators to deploy 5G networks and 6G networks by 2035," TASS reported, citing a government document that outlined the communications industry strategy for the period up to 2035.
The government also notes that 3G will be shut down as part of the first phase of its communications strategy. The spectrum will be reallocated for 4G and 5G instead.
As of yet, Russia has not launched 5G networks. The country has fallen behind in the 5G race following the fallout of its conflict with Ukraine, with high-profile vendors Ericsson and Nokia exiting Russia.
Chinese vendor Huawei hasn't exited the Russian market, but has set out plans to separate its Russian and Belarusian business units from the rest of the countries in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) block, and has moved thousands of employees out of the country and closed down its local Enterprise Business Group.
The move has led Russia to instead focus on homegrown vendors.
Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, foreign vendors previously helped with limited 5G test zones in the country.
In January of last year, Russian telecom operators entered into forward contracts with domestic manufacturers for the supply of base stations, including a plan for the supply of equipment for 5G networks for over $1.32 billion.
This contract will see 75,000 base stations delivered until 2030, however, operators will only be able to purchase domestic base stations from 2028.