In the first week of October 2026, research company TelecomDaily conducted mobile communication quality measurements in the Moscow Metro, following which operator Beeline demonstrated fifth-generation network availability at 99.48% of the time—the best figure among the 'Big Four' operators. The study covered 24 stations taking passenger traffic into account, utilizing the professional TEMS Investigation measuring complex, which allowed for data comparable to real-world network operating conditions in crowded areas.
Methodology: From Street Entrance to Platform
TelecomDaily specialists measured not only speed, but also 5G connection time, signal latency, and the loading speed of a test Kepler web page. Measurements were taken along the entire passenger route at selected stations—from surface entrances to platforms, which is important for assessing communication quality in places where people are actually in transit. This approach makes it possible to account for not just the 'pure' speed on the platform, but also signal degradation when moving between coverage zones.
Speed, Latency, and Loading Time
According to the study results, the average data download speed was 185.3 Mbps, and data transmission from the device to the network was 84 Mbps. The median network response time (latency) reached 31 ms, and loading the test page took an average of 2.99 seconds. These parameters fall within the range that operators and analysts typically consider sufficient for comfortable video content consumption, video calls, and working with cloud services under high user density conditions.
Why the Metro is a Special Segment for 5G
Beeline emphasized that the development of 5G is particularly relevant in the metro, where thousands of people simultaneously use mobile internet for communication, video viewing, and working with digital services. Fifth-generation technology is designed to transmit large amounts of data and handle increased loads, allowing operators to improve communication quality in crowded locations where traditional fourth-generation networks often operate at the limit of their bandwidth capacity.
Limitations and Context of Results
At the same time, as noted in the study materials, the published figures reflect the results of a specific measurement on a limited set of stations during a certain period and do not guarantee equivalent quality across all metro stations and operating conditions. This is a standard caveat for such studies: actual user experience may vary depending on the time of day, network load, and specific location in a tunnel or on a platform. Nevertheless, the published figures provide a benchmark for the current level of 5G infrastructure development in Moscow's underground transport as of October 2026.
