Russia weighs charging heavy 5G users for international data as part of its VPN crackdown. For now, the country’s 5G is Android-only.

The Russian government is contemplating charging users for international data traffic exceeding 50 GB on 5G networks, according to sources speaking to the BBC Russian Service. This fee could be implemented on October 1, although the specific amount has not been determined, said a representative from one of Russia's "Big Four" mobile operators.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Digital Development had previously proposed imposing fees on VPN use and international mobile data traffic exceeding 15 GB per month, with an estimated average charge of 150 rubles per gigabyte over the limit. The fee was initially set to take effect in the fall but has been postponed until at least the fall of 2026.

Currently, 5G is only accessible in 16 cities, serving approximately 10 million people. Operators are limited to using LTE (4G) frequencies, while the spectrum typically used for 5G in other countries remains reserved for the Federal Security Service and Defense Ministry. Additionally, 5G is currently available only on Android devices, with access for iPhone users contingent on Apple's decision.