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- On the subject of frequency: foreign smartphones can be connected to Russian 5G networks
On the subject of frequency: foreign smartphones can be connected to Russian 5G networks
It will be possible to connect foreign smartphones to 5G networks in Russia, whose deployment plans are being discussed for 2026. The authorities abandoned the idea of mandatory use of domestic cryptographic algorithms: instead, the Ministry of Finance has developed rules allowing the use of foreign solutions, Izvestia learned. Previously, it was planned to make Russian cryptographic protection mandatory, but global smartphone manufacturers did not support this requirement, and without its cancellation, foreign devices simply would not work in domestic 5G networks, experts say. The use of foreign algorithms will make it possible to quickly launch 5G on existing imported equipment of operators and on frequencies used for 3G and 4G, experts add.
How will encryption requirements change in 5G networks?
The use of domestic cryptographic algorithms on 5G network equipment and gadgets connected to them will not be mandatory — instead, foreign encryption approved by international carrier organizations is allowed. This follows from the draft requirements for such equipment prepared by the Ministry of Finance. Izvestia has reviewed the document. The algorithms that operators and manufacturers can use include the Russian Grasshopper, as well as SNOW (Sweden), AES (USA), and ZUC (China).
The previous version of the requirements provided for the integration of this domestic development into base stations and smartphones, one of the cellular network design specialists told Izvestia.
The provision that information security mechanisms in 5G networks should work on domestic cryptographic algorithms is also contained in the "Concept for the construction of fifth-generation cellular networks in Russia." But in May 2025, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin instructed to work out the possibility of using Russian and international cryptographic algorithms in communication networks to launch 5G.
The abolition of the mandatory use of domestic encryption methods solves one of the most acute problems associated with the deployment of 5G networks in the Russian Federation, according to market participants interviewed by Izvestia.
"Using exclusively Russian algorithms would make it almost impossible to deploy 5G networks, and it would be extremely difficult to find smartphones capable of operating in them on the market," said one of the specialists in planning and building cellular networks. — If we can somehow integrate them into network equipment, then it is unlikely that we will be able to convince global smartphone manufacturers to use our cryptographic algorithms.
The mandatory use of domestic cryptography would make it impossible to supply smartphones to Russia, which in turn would lead to reduced competition in the subscriber equipment market, said Daria Kolesnikova, a representative of T2.
— Protection of signal traffic between base stations and 5G network switching equipment by means of domestic cryptography in accordance with the previously mentioned requirements does not seem feasible. We believe that the requirements must comply with international standards in full, otherwise a number of important functions will be lost," she added.
MTS and MegaFon declined to comment. Izvestia sent a request to VimpelCom.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs has prepared draft orders concerning telephones, base stations, identification modules (USIM) and 5G switching equipment, the department said. The requirements for phones and base stations of the 5G standard contain a provision that such equipment can support both foreign and domestic cryptographic protection protocols for transmitted information, they explained.
— Russian cryptography can only be implemented in domestic equipment. However, there are not enough Russian smartphones and 5G base stations yet. Therefore, the launch of 5G networks in the Russian Federation, scheduled for 2026, is impossible without the use of foreign equipment using, respectively, foreign crypto algorithms. Starting in 2028, it is planned to place only domestic base stations on 5G networks. Therefore, Russian cryptographic protection should become a priority in the future," the Ministry of Finance said.
This decision will accelerate the development of 5G networks in Russia, as it will allow operators to provide high-quality services taking into account the growing traffic, the agency hopes. Subscribers will be able to immediately use 5G with imported subscriber terminals, which are already available on the market, the ministry added.
Why it is impossible to do without foreign cryptoalgorithms
The fact that the draft requirements of the Ministry of Digital Economy for 5G base stations and subscriber equipment, along with the domestic cryptographic algorithm "Grasshopper", allow the use of internationally standardized encryption methods is good news, says Leonid Konik, a partner at ComNews Research. According to him, this is another confirmation that the isolationist approach in mass technologies leads to a dead end. At the same time, state secrets really should be protected with the help of domestic developments in the field of information security, the expert emphasized.
— But in the B2C market, everything depends on subscriber equipment, which is not yet manufactured in Russia. And in order to force global vendors to integrate domestic technology into their equipment, they either need to guarantee a sales market or standardize this technology at the level of organizations such as the global developer of mobile communications standards, the 3GPP International Partnership and the International Telecommunication Union, which is even more difficult," Leonid Konik noted.
Allowing the use of internationally recognized cryptographic algorithms will directly make 5G network and subscriber equipment more accessible and accelerate the development of the standard in Russia, says Anton Averyanov, CEO of the ST IT Group of companies, TechNet NTI market expert.
— Without the mandatory introduction of Russian algorithms, operators will be able to quickly deploy infrastructure based on proven solutions, minimizing the risks of delays associated with import substitution. For subscribers, this means faster coverage and lower device prices, as the market will not be artificially limited by compatible models," he said.
According to him, the mandatory use of exclusively domestic cryptographic protection methods would lead to isolation from global 3GPP standards, making it impossible to connect most imported devices.
Meanwhile, officials and operators are currently discussing the terms of an auction for the right to use frequencies for 5G networks, sources in the cellular market told Izvestia earlier. According to them, the signalers are seeking to increase the number of lots at the auction (from two, which provided for its initial conditions, to four), reduce their initial cost (the starting price of the auction was 26.2 billion rubles and 21.2 billion rubles), as well as the introduction of the principle of technocrality for 5G. This is an opportunity to use frequencies previously allocated for other standards, such as 3G and 4G, for fifth-generation networks and provide services using imported network equipment.
Operators who will not necessarily need to use Russian crypto algorithms and who already have LTE networks ready to launch 5G after a small upgrade (5G Ready), as well as frequencies for 3G and 4G services, will not find it difficult to quickly deploy 5G, says Denis Kuskov, CEO of TelecomDaily. According to him, upon receiving the appropriate permission from the state, fifth-generation networks in Russia can start operating next year.
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