War instead of technology: Russia curtails 5G development
Following a sharp drop in oil and gas revenues, russian government has slashed funding for its domestic 5G development program more than tenfold — from 23 billion to 2.2 billion rubles (from approximately $250 million to $24 million).
▫️ Since 2022, due to sanctions, russia has lost access to key technologies and equipment — including base stations, microchips, and software — all essential for deploying modern networks. russia is incapable of creating a full-fledged alternative on its own.
▫️ Another major issue is that the most promising frequencies for 5G deployment (3.4–3.8 GHz) remain under the control of the military and the fsb, who refuse to release them to the civilian sector. This is not just a technical obstacle but a clear illustration of national priorities: military interests come above all, even at the cost of digital stagnation.
Once again, russia demonstrates that instead of investing in technological progress and the future, it chooses militarism and isolation.
