Russia 5G rollout leaves iPhones waiting on Apple

Russia said Friday it had launched 5G services in 16 cities, giving about 10 million people access to fifth-generation mobile internet, but said iPhone users cannot connect unless Apple enables access.

Russia's digital ministry said Android users in the covered cities would be able to access the services in the very near future. It said access for iPhone users depends on a decision by Apple.

The rollout follows years of delay. Russia first announced plans for 5G internet in 2019, but Russian media reports said the country's Security Council blocked the move because of concerns about overlap with frequencies used by military and security agencies.

Apple pulled out of the Russian market after Moscow's Ukraine offensive in 2022. The Russia-based AppleInsider.Ru blog reported that newer iPhone models can connect to 5G, but that enabling the service would require Apple to coordinate with Russian mobile operators. It is unclear whether Apple would authorise that.

The restriction could affect many users. Megafon said in April that about 24 percent of its subscribers at the start of 2026 used iPhones.

The launch also comes during frustration in Russia over repeated internet blackouts introduced to counter Ukrainian drones, which authorities say use mobile internet to navigate.