Russia plans to mandate Kuznechik encryption on 5G smartphones

Russia is preparing a regulatory order that would obligate 5G smartphone producers to integrate the Kuznechik encryption algorithm, which was created with participation from the Federal Security Service. The proposal, issued by the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, targets devices sold within Russia and may encompass products from Apple, Samsung and Chinese manufacturers. Because Kuznechik is not part of the international 3GPP standards, adding it would require modifications to the phone's modem hardware, not just a software update.

Existing modem suppliers such as Qualcomm and Unisoc currently lack support for the cipher, and base-station equipment would also need upgrades to handle the new encryption. Signaltek’s CEO Alexey Alyasev warned that widespread smartphone compatibility would not be feasible before the early 2030s and would demand substantial investment. The initiative comes amid limited availability of 5G-compatible phones in Russia, where only a small share of existing devices can operate on the allocated frequency band.