Signal under the eye: new buildings are going to improve the quality of cellular communications

The quality of cellular communications may improve in new residential complexes: developers are planning to be required to reserve places for mobile communication equipment in planned and under construction facilities. The relevant initiative was sent to the Ministry of Finance by the operators. According to them, in conditions of dense buildings, the quality of communication decreases, it is interrupted, and the signal is often absent on the upper floors. Currently, there are no legal requirements for developers on this issue, industry experts say. The creation of infrastructure sites is especially important in the context of the deployment of 5G networks, which require dense placement of antennas inside residential buildings, experts say.

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When designing and building new residential areas, developers should provide infrastructure for the placement of cellular equipment in them. The issue of legislating such a norm was proposed by the Ministry of Digital and Mobile Operators, several sources told Izvestia, including one close to one of the federal agencies and familiar with managers of telecom companies and relevant officials. According to one of the interlocutors, the initiative was introduced in early 2026 as part of the preparation of a new edition of the Strategy for the development of the communications industry in Russia.

In the document (Izvestia has it) It is said that in conditions of dense construction, the quality of cellular communications decreases sharply: interference occurs on the upper floors, and a large number of subscribers and IoT devices in limited locations reduces the speed of access to the mobile Internet. As noted, regional authorities are also familiar with the operators' proposals.

"The construction of cellular communication infrastructure around the perimeter of the residential complex is not effective and does not solve the problem of communication quality inside residential areas," the authors of the initiative claim.

They see integration into residential complexes at the design and construction stage of antenna-mast structures of different heights, placement of internal antenna systems in new buildings, as well as base stations on special structures on the roofs of houses as a way out. The document also deals with the placement of equipment inside small architectural forms: in cabinets, benches, and the like.

Izvestia sent requests to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Construction, as well as major Russian developers.

MTS participated in the discussion of these proposals, the company told the editorial board.

— We consider it necessary to adopt them, including at the level of the law. As of today, the issue of infrastructure development and the entry of operators into the adjacent territories in the new residential complexes has not been resolved. As a result, upon completion of construction, companies face logistical and civil law difficulties in locating equipment, and residents of houses remain without the usual mobile communication services, the organization's press service noted.

T2 considers the initiative vital, since the creation of a telecom infrastructure inside buildings and structures is as basic a necessity as providing water supply and access to electricity, said Daria Kolesnikova, a representative of the operator.

— T2 sent proposals to resolve the issue at the legislative level jointly with colleagues from MegaFon. An integrated approach is important to us, providing for amendments to both urban planning legislation and industry acts," she said.

According to her, the operator is currently resolving this issue privately with developers.

"Now we are still faced with the fact that when designing and constructing residential buildings, locations for the placement of base stations and other infrastructure are not laid," MegaFon noted. — Also, often the design and technical features of buildings do not take into account the real needs of operators, as a result of which indor systems (internal signal distribution systems) have to be installed in already commissioned houses. — Ed.) in unsuitable places and limited finishing spaces.

Vimpelcom noted that it supports initiatives aimed at developing the communications infrastructure.

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The relevant law was adopted in the State Duma.

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Karen Ghazaryan, Director of the Internet Research Institute, knows about the plans to introduce mandatory training of infrastructure for cellular networks in new buildings. He called this initiative reasonable.

— There are indeed communication problems in high-rise buildings, which could be avoided by preparing places for them at the construction stage. But the groundwork for the near future is much more important. Already this year, the state plans to deploy the first 5G networks, which require many more locations to accommodate antennas and base stations of this standard than LTE. Their creation in new houses and residential complexes is necessary for the normal provision of residents with communications," he said.

According to him, such an approach would increase competition between providers in the residential complex and would allow apartment owners to choose more affordable and reliable Internet. At the same time, 5G speeds can replace wired network access in many cases.

The expert recalled that this is not the first time that the issue of preparing infrastructure for cellular communications at the construction stage of residential facilities has been raised. For example, in the middle of 2025, it was already reported that the Ministry of Finance was working on it. Izvestia was informed by the Moscow City Hall in 2019 about plans to prepare rules for creating a base for placing telecommunications equipment in new buildings and houses where major repairs are planned.

— Developing such rules is a difficult task, they must take into account not only the interests of communications specialists, but also developers and management companies. But the chances that the issue will be resolved and a regulatory legislative framework will be created are high: the implementation of the Communications Industry Development Strategy involves active interagency cooperation, certain deadlines for the preparation and implementation of such initiatives," said a source familiar with officials of relevant departments.

Operators' access to multi-family residential buildings has always been difficult, said Leonid Konik, partner at ComNews Research. For Internet service providers, the situation has partially simplified since 2024, when the law on their non-discriminatory access to the MCD appeared, as well as the rules for interaction between operators and the Criminal Code, he recalled.

— Cellular companies for the placement of base stations on the MCD still have to fight the Criminal Code and seek the consent of 50% of homeowners in the house. But many people suffer from radiophobia and think that a base station on the roof is harmful to their health," the expert said.

Starting with the strategic session on the development of the communications industry, which was held by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in May 2025, the problem with the placement of base stations on the roofs of the MCD has sounded with renewed vigor. The reason is clear: last year, the Ministry of Digital Services intended to organize an auction for the sale of frequencies for fifth-generation cellular networks, Leonid Konik continued. According to him, the announced frequency range for 5G — 4.5–4.99 GHz — is very high, which means the need to install base stations twice as dense as in LTE networks.

That auction was canceled, but in 2026, the Ministry of Digital is going to distribute the same 5G frequencies. Therefore, the problem of entering the residential complex has become relevant again, the expert emphasized.

— The idea to provide places for the installation of base stations and other cellular communication equipment at the design stage of houses looks very timely. Although this will not solve the whole problem: we need to find a management board for the management Company and the HOA in order to safely install base stations on already built houses," he added.

With the advent of 5G networks, the speed of Internet access for cellular operators will become comparable to fixed providers, said Denis Kuskov, CEO of TelecomDaily. This will allow residents of new residential complexes to choose a provider, instead of using the services of a "pocket" monopoly company, as is often the case today. According to him, competition will have a positive impact on the quality and cost of access and will avoid situations where users are left offline due to accidents.