In 2025, Belarus plans to begin the rollout of fifth-generation mobile networks. It is expected that this will significantly increase internet speeds and improve the quality of connectivity. Initially, 5G will be launched in Minsk, followed by regional centers, and by 2034, it aims to cover nearly the entire country. Commenting on this news on CTV on April 7, Andrey Mukovozchik, a commentator for "SB. Belarus Today," stated that the quality of Belarusian mobile and internet connectivity could be envied by both the USA and European Union countries. He described Belarus as a technological pioneer in the implementation of 5G:
"And our country will be among the first to have nationwide 5G coverage. But we'll keep quiet about it, won't we? Or, as is often the case for us, we'll act as if it's just to be expected."
5G is the next generation of mobile connectivity that has succeeded 4G. This type of communication uses a broader spectrum of frequencies, allowing thousands of devices to connect simultaneously and maintain a stable signal. 5G is not just for ordinary users but also for applications like controlling delivery drones, industrial robots, and more.
South Korea was the first to roll out a national 5G network in 2018. Since then, this technology has been extensively adopted in Europe, the USA, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, and several other countries. As of March 2025, according to estimates from 5G Americas, an association of leading telecom service providers and equipment suppliers, there were more than 350 commercial 5G networks operating worldwide. This is half the number of 4G networks.
Belarus was not the first among the CIS countries either. Last year, Uzbekistan launched 5G networks across all its major cities. Even within the Eurasian Economic Union, Belarus isn't first: Kazakhstan has already built three thousand base stations and plans to cover all major regional cities within two years.
Russia still lags behind Belarus. Construction of 5G infrastructure there is not planned to begin before 2026. By 2030, they aim to cover only 16 cities. Several factors are hindering the rollout of 5G in the country: key frequencies are occupied by military and satellite systems, alternative bands are available but costly to use. Sanctions also complicate the procurement of necessary equipment.