Rostelecom 4G, the national operator in Russia, has successfully implemented LTE base stations in various rural villages across the country.
This strategic move is part of the UCN 2.0 program, which aims to bridge the digital divide and provide voice communication and mobile internet services to previously under-served areas. By 2030, the ambitious goal is to extend mobile communication coverage to more than 24,000 small settlements throughout Russia.
4G Base Stations Towers Increased
Under this program, the operator has installed nine LTE base stations in the Kostroma region, as stated by the operator. This initiative involved the construction of 150 kilometers of fiber optic communication infrastructure, which extended communication services to 29 small settlements in the Kostroma region.
In the Village of Plotina, Loukh district, which was previously not covered by the operator, Rostelecom has successfully installed and activated a cellular base station, providing connectivity through LTE (4G) technology.
Rostelecom has announced that it has accomplished its annual work plan for 2023 by installing 19 base stations in the Tula region, in addition to the nine towers constructed in 2022. Furthermore, the company has built and put into operation 34 base stations in the Smolensk region, enabling connectivity through 4G LTE technology.
The village of Far Pravdinsky in the Kaliningrad region has now been provided with high-speed mobile Internet and cellular communication thanks to Rostelecom’s efforts. This achievement is part of the Elimination of Digital Inequality (UCN 2.0) program, which has successfully covered 14th settlements this year. In total, 16 base stations have been installed in the Kaliningrad region, with two in 2022 and 14 in 2023.
Fiber Optic Connectivity
In a similar vein, Rostelecom has brought 4G/LTE cellular network connectivity to 16 villages in Mordovia. To establish this network, Rostelecom has laid 62 kilometers of optic cable, connecting 16 base stations in 2023. As a result, residents of these small settlements can now access the services provided by the mobile operator Tele2.
Furthermore, Rostelecom has recently expanded the coverage of its 4G LTE network in the Magadan region. This expansion involved the installation of a new base station in the village of Yamsk, Olsky district.
As part of the UCN 2.0 program
Rostelecom is working towards bridging the digital divide in rural areas and small towns by deploying LTE towers. After the installation and launch of these base stations, Rostelecom executives personally visit the settlements to distribute SIM cards and contracts to the residents. This initiative is in line with the agreement signed between the Ministry of Digital Development of Russia and Rostelecom in April 2021, which aims to expand universal communication services.
The construction of these base stations is determined annually through a voting process on the public services portal, with active participation from the Tele2 operator, a subsidiary of Rostelecom.