MTS Sets Russia’s Home Internet Speed Record
Russian telecom operator MTS has successfully tested one of the most advanced fixed-line data transmission technologies currently available.
At first glance, current home internet speeds already appear sufficient for most everyday tasks. Gigabit networks allow users to stream ultra-high-definition films and download even the most demanding games almost instantly. Yet Russian telecom operators are already experimenting with technologies that go significantly further.
Unprecedented Performance Figures
Public Joint Stock Company MTS recently conducted Russia’s first tests of 50G PON fixed internet technology. The trials were successful and set new national records for data transmission speeds: 38 Gbit/s for download and 21 Gbit/s for upload. That is roughly 38 times faster than the standard home internet speeds commonly used today.
Testing of the equipment at a communications node in Moscow confirmed that MTS is technically ready to connect business clients and property developers to ultra-high-speed fixed internet services, as well as provide high-capacity backhaul for 4G and 5G base stations to improve indoor coverage.
50G PON (50 Gigabit Passive Optical Network) is currently the most advanced technology in the world for internet access over passive optical networks. In theory, it can deliver up to 50 Gbit/s download speeds and up to 25 Gbit/s upload speeds for each subscriber. This is roughly 50 times faster than current gigabit networks operating on GPON technology, which MTS widely uses to provide residential internet services in the Moscow region.
Enabling a New Generation of Connected Devices
The 50G PON technology makes it possible to integrate routers operating on the Wi-Fi 6 standard. In such configurations, devices can distribute wireless internet at speeds of up to 9.6 Gbit/s. Computers can also be connected with access speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s, while gaming servers or enterprise infrastructure can reach data transmission speeds of up to 25 Gbit/s. The technology can also support base stations used to improve indoor network coverage.
For now, such speeds may appear excessive. However, the very availability of 50G PON creates a technological foundation for the future. Demand for high-speed internet access continues to grow steadily, particularly among corporate customers.
“Today there are no consumer scenarios that require such speeds in everyday use. Nevertheless, MTS, as a technological leader in the telecom industry, tests the newest technologies for their future commercial deployment. In our case, record speeds for Russia primarily mean greater bandwidth capacity, allowing multiple high-speed devices to connect to a single access point without any loss in service quality,” said Vladislav Medvedev, technical director of the MTS Moscow region.
It is worth noting that in December 2023, MTS tested another ultra-high-speed fixed internet technology – XGS-PON – capable of delivering data transmission speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s.
A Genuine Technological Breakthrough
The latest tests represent a genuine technological milestone for Russia’s telecom industry. Technologies that are available only in the world’s most advanced economies are now being successfully deployed in the country. Development of the 50G PON standard began in 2018, and the first official version was released in September 2021. The standard has not yet seen widespread commercial deployment, largely because its capacity is still considered excessive for most current applications.
However, access to such technology is critically important for the future development of the industry. The number of internet users continues to grow, while the Internet of Things ecosystem is expanding rapidly and requires the simultaneous connection of not thousands but potentially millions of devices. For such infrastructure to function reliably, networks must support extremely high data transmission speeds. Russian telecom operators are proactively preparing their networks to handle this anticipated demand growth years in advance.
