en.Wedoany.com Reported - PJSC Rostelecom plans to increase the speed of a series of high-load network segments to 10 Gbit/s in the near future. Sergey Onyanov, Vice President and Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Rostelecom, noted that the transition to fiber optics will not only provide several times more bandwidth than before, but also offer customers a more stable connection, which is a key task for the company.
In cities with a population of over one million, the cities with the highest fiber optic coverage density include Omsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, and Rostov-on-Don. In the Murmansk Oblast and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, fiber-optic communication lines (FOCL) achieved the highest level of coverage, reaching 99% of households. The coverage rate in Lipetsk Oblast was 98%, in the Mari El Republic 97%, and in Kamchatka Krai 96%. In 2025, based on the results of new construction projects in the Komi Republic and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, over 90% of households gained access to fiber optic networks.
Anton Godovikov, Vice President and Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Rostelecom, stated that the company holds a leading position in the broadband internet access market, ranking first in both the number of subscribers and subscriber growth rate. Over 40% of households nationwide already use Rostelecom's services, giving it a significant lead over competitors, with the closest competitor holding only a 10-11% market share.
According to company data, Rostelecom's broadband subscriber base grew by 8% year-on-year in 2025, reaching 14.1 million. As of the fourth quarter of 2025, the number of household internet users accessing the network via fiber reached 12.8 million, an 8% increase year-on-year. ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) grew by 4%, reaching 426 rubles.
Representatives from the press departments of PJSC MTS and PJSC VimpelCom (brand Beeline) did not respond to questions from ComNews journalists. A representative from the press department of PJSC Megafon stated that the operator is developing fixed communications through a partnership with Rostelecom under the FVNO (Fixed Virtual Network Operator) model. The representative said that in early 2026, Megafon's home internet service coverage nearly doubled, the project's geographic scope continues to grow, and the operator positively evaluates the upgrade of fiber optic infrastructure and the transition to higher data transmission speeds, considering this an important technological foundation for the comfortable use of modern digital services, from remote work to online learning.
A representative from Rostelecom's press department told ComNews journalists that the scale of newly built fiber-optic communication lines amounts to tens of thousands of kilometers annually. The representative cited as an example that over 22,000 kilometers of fiber-optic lines were built in the first half of 2026, with construction typically accelerating in the second half of the year. The representative also mentioned that in 2026, the company plans to launch the trial operation of its largest infrastructure project—the Trans-Eurasian Cross-Border Communication Line (TEA NEXT), which exceeds 11,000 kilometers in length within Russia alone. Additionally, construction of fiber-optic lines will continue for the second phase of the Digital Divide Elimination project. In 2025, the construction volume for the Digital Divide Elimination Project 2.0 was 8,200 kilometers, with a total of 28,000 kilometers of fiber built over five years.
A representative from Rostelecom's press department noted that the company takes a comprehensive approach when developing its fiber optic network, considering the interests of all market segments, including residents, businesses, government, and other operators. According to Rostelecom's new strategy, the B2C segment will remain one of the company's growth drivers until 2030. The company plans to implement a three-vector development strategy for this segment. The first direction is developing the infrastructure landscape as the foundation for customer satisfaction, covering both mobile and fixed communications. In terms of mobile infrastructure, Rostelecom's LTE network already covers 98% of the population within its service area, and it is ready to launch 5G. The second vector is a partner business model, complementing in-house solutions with those of market digital leaders. As an independent third vector, the company considers developing OTT services based on its telecom infrastructure, under which framework the company's products are not tied to the subscriber base.
A representative from Rostelecom's press department pointed out that access networks will first be upgraded to 10 Gbit/s in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Krasnodar, with targeted deployment planned to begin in 2027. The representative concluded that pilot test results show that using XGS-PON technology can create synergies between B2C/B2B/B2G customers, and backward compatibility with existing CPE equipment enables a smooth migration.
In 2026, Rostelecom claims its broadband services cover over 40% of households, while TMT Consulting estimates its share in the B2C segment at approximately 36%. At the same time, research by ASTO shows that regional operators collectively hold a 42% share of the fixed communications market and dominate the B2C segment.
Yaroslav Dubovikov, a member of the management board of the Association of Communication Companies, reminded that Rostelecom has always positioned itself as a federal-level communications operator with a presence in numerous regions. Yaroslav Dubovikov noted that users are increasingly inclined to choose converged and family packages, which expands the operator's ability to offer unique promotions and conditions after more actively building mobile infrastructure in the regions through T2 (also part of Rostelecom). He mentioned that through the OnLaim brand, Rostelecom holds a significant share in Moscow, but its FTTX connection technology is sometimes inferior to competitors who have almost entirely switched to GPON, which could have some impact in the future.
Eldar Murtazin agreed that Rostelecom is the absolute market leader, serving not only the B2B, B2G, and B2C segments but also building backbone networks. He stated that the Moscow market is highly competitive due to its high profitability, bringing together all strong regional operators, including ER-Telecom and local providers. He does not believe Rostelecom's market share in Moscow and St. Petersburg is declining. Regarding whether upgrading the network to 10 Gbit/s is a marketing move or a practical necessity, Murtazin explained that while even 500 Mbit/s or 1 Gbit/s is sufficient for most users, the number of devices in households is increasing, so not only speed but also channel capacity is important, and network development should leave room for the future. He further stated that for operators, the price difference between 1 Gbit/s and 10 Gbit/s is not significant, but it allows for higher earnings in the B2G and B2B segments.
