Mobile Internet has slowed down in the Moscow metro for the first time in four years

The average speed of mobile Internet access in the capital’s metro decreased for the first time in the last four years of observation – from 95.6 Mbit/s last year to 85.5 Mbit/s, Forbes writes, citing data from the TelecomDaily agency. According to experts, this is primarily due to the fact that the Moscow subway networks have not been actively updated this year.

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According to a TelecomDaily study, over the past 12 months, the speed of mobile Internet in the Moscow metro has decreased by 10.6% over the year. In November 2023, the average download speed here was 95.6 Mbps, and this month it is 85.5 Mbps. Average outgoing speeds fell by 5% – from 20.5 Mbit/s last year to 19.5 Mbit/s in four networks (MTS, MegaFon, VimpelCom and T2) in 2024.

Previously, the Moscow subway experienced an increase in Internet speeds, especially significant in 2022, when VimpelCom (Beeline brand) increased capacity. The growth in speeds continued last year – after MegaFon and MTS provided coverage on the lines, the average download speed increased by 16%.

At the same time, in November of this year, for the first time, 100% continuity of Internet connection was recorded in sections of the Moscow Metro. However, this applies only to VimpelCom, while for other operators this figure is at the level of 92%.

According to Denis Kuskov, CEO of TelecomDaily, the decrease in speeds may be due to the fact that the main stage of modernization of networks in the metro by operators has been completed, but traffic continues to grow due to users’ refusal to switch to the Wi-Fi operator MaximaTelecom with advertising on routes in free mode in favor of your mobile operator’s network. At the same time, the expert noted that the speed of mobile Internet in Moscow, reaching an average of 33 Mbit/s, is “more than enough to watch streaming high-definition video.”

In turn, operators confirm the growth of traffic in their networks in the capital’s metro. Since the beginning of the year, VimpelCom’s traffic has increased year-on-year by 20%. In MTS, by the end of this year, traffic growth will also be 20%. And at MegaFon, traffic in the Moscow subway has increased by 132% since the beginning of the year, which the company explains by its increased marketing activity.