MTS to disable 3G in Moscow by April

MOSCOW. Jan 30 (Interfax) - PJSC MTS will shut down 3G base stations in the 900-MHz range in February and March in Moscow and the Moscow region, the company reported.

Throughout 2026, the frequencies freed up from this band will be transferred to the LTE standard, making the coverage area of base stations 1.5-2 times larger and improving the reach of signal inside buildings.

In the region of Moscow, two frequency bands, 2100 MHz and 900 MHz, were allocated to be used for 3G networks. In 2023-2025, MTS moved practically the whole 2100 MHz band from 3G to the LTE standard.

As the share of 3G phones on the network decreases, it has become necessary to shut down the remaining 3G base stations on the 900 MHz frequency. Only 1.3% of users in the region of Moscow use 3G-only telephones and smartphones.

MTS has said that it plans to switch off the 3G base stations fully and transfer the vacant frequencies to the 4G network in 2027.

Moscow has become the second large region in which the 3G network is to be switched off completely. In November 2024, this step was taken in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region.

As of today, MTS has transferred base stations from 3G to LTE in 35 cities in 21 Russian regions.