5G in Megafon

The main articles are:

• 5G (fifth generation mobile)
• Development of 5G networks in Russia
• MegaFon

2021

Creation of a joint venture with VimpelCom and Rostelecom to clear 5G frequencies

The companies VimpelCom"," MegaFon"" and Rostelecom"" have agreed that they will become members of LLC "New Digital Solutions" (NCR) with equal shares in the authorized capital. This was reported on June 3, 2021 TAdviser by MegaFon. The joint venture (JV) of operators will deal with issues of providing radio frequency resources for. creation of fifth generation mobile networks (5G) in Russia More. here

FAS allowed Rostelecom, MegaFon and VimpelCom to build 5G networks together

On May 4, 2021, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of Russia announced that it had approved an agreement on the joint construction of 5G networks by Rostelecom, VimpelCom and MegaFon. Under the terms of the contract, these telecom operators will have to ensure equal access to radio frequencies for all market participants. Read more here.

2020

NII Radio and Nokia are testing 5G technology that supports dynamic spectrum separation mode

On November 24, 2020, Nokia announced that, together with the Research Institute of Radio, in pursuance of the decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies, they are testing the functionality of 5G technology with support for a commercially available dynamic spectrum separation mode. Read more here.

Massive network update for tens of billions

In early March 2020, it became known that MegaFon is holding a tender to choose a manufacturer of telecommunications equipment for updating 2G, 3G and 4G networks throughout the country. The winner of the competition will also have to ensure that the network is ready to launch 5G technology in a design that provides for all possible frequencies. Read more here.

Launch of 5G roaming in Romania

MegaFon February 26, 2020 announced TAdviser the launch of an international 5G-. roaming The advantages of mobile technology communications have become available to subscribers of the company on foreign trips.

MegaFon's roaming partner is the telecommunications group Orange, which provides mobile services in 23 countries. The first country where this service will be available was Romania. The agreement will allow MegaFon subscribers to register in 5G networks in the country and use fast mobile Internet on conditions similar to roaming in regular 3G/4G networks. The partner operator's coverage includes the cities of Bucharest, Brasov, Iasi, as well as the tourist center of Cluj-Napoca.

{{quote 'author = MegaFon's Chief Commercial Officer Vlad Wolfson' Together with Orange, we are opening up 5G roaming opportunities for Russian mobile users for the first time. Very soon, our travelers in other countries will be able to estimate the speed of fast mobile Internet without changing their SIM cards. As of February 2020, MegaFon has several thousand 5G phones - these are advanced users who will now be able to maximize the potential of their gadgets during foreign trips, }}

Of course, we are proud to have played an important role in the launch of roaming services for MegaFon subscribers, which they will be able to use on the Orange network, noted Orange International Carriers Senior Director of Mobile Communications Marketing Cedric Gonin

Orange Romania uses the C-Band n78 (3.4-3.8 GHz) band, which operates most countries that have already launched fifth-generation networks commercially. Connection to the network is possible using smartphones Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G, Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G, Huawei Mate 20 X, Xiaomi Mi Mix3 5G, Vivo Nex3 5G and other models. Depending on the version of the set, the subscriber may need to put the device into 5G mode and select the Orange network manually.

Mobile Internet is the most popular service for MegaFon subscribers who roam internationally. In 2019, the volume of traffic in the networks of the operator's foreign partners increased 2.5 times compared to 2018. European countries account for 52% of the total data transmission in roaming.

2019

Creation of the 5G Dream Lab for 20 million rubles

On September 23, 2019, Megafon announced that the digital laboratory had opened on the basis of the campus of the Higher School of Management of St. Petersburg State University Mikhailovskaya Dacha and was called 5G Dream Lab. It is equipped with a 5G test zone - the so-called "sandbox" - and will become a place for developing services based on fifth-generation network technology. MegaFon and St. Petersburg State University signed an agreement on the launch of the project in early summer. MegaFon's investments in the laboratory's technical equipment amounted to about 20 million rubles, additional investments will be directed to the educational process.

The program of the 5G laboratory training course provides for two areas: the development of digital solutions and the management of their integration. Developers will learn the features of the fifth generation of communication, learn to work with current frameworks, development tools, gain knowledge and skills in the fields of user interface (UI), automated quality control of software solutions. Managers will gain skills in bringing high-tech products to market and managing the development process.

5G networks are just beginning to be introduced in different countries of the world, but it is already clear what a huge potential this technology has. In our digital laboratory, students and recent graduates of St. Petersburg State University will find options for the use of 5G, which, perhaps, are not even aware of in commercial companies. The site will become an environment for the self-realization of young talented developers, testers, project managers, which will allow them to professionally develop and develop the world of digital technologies,

The R&D center of MegaFon operates in St. Petersburg, where we test existing 5G solutions. In the digital laboratory of St. Petersburg State University, the equipment of the latest version is also installed - a base station and a fragment of the core that can show speeds up to 5 Gbps. On it, students will be able to find options for using modern technologies - a smart city, unmanned vehicles, virtual reality,

One of the main goals of the University is to form in graduates the competencies that are necessary to build a successful career, both in the scientific and professional environment. That is why we are constantly looking for more effective educational tools. We are glad that St. Petersburg State University students will be among the first to learn how to work with 5G technologies, which, of course, will increase their demand in the labor market,

The 2019-2020 season laboratory training course will consist of three stages with a total duration of eight months. The first stage (will be held from September 23 to October 26) includes an open online educational module, in which all interested students of St. Petersburg State University and recent university graduates (those who graduated no more than three years ago) will take part. Students of the online module who have successfully passed the first stage and completed test tasks will move to the next and become full-fledged laboratory participants. You can apply for participation by October 10, 2019.

Checking the readiness of the 5G network and device

On August 30, 2019, MegaFon announced that, with the support of Qualcomm Technologies and Nokia, IT infrastructure and mobile device readiness were tested in anticipation of the operational launch of 5G networks in the mm-band. Read more here.

Megafon will transfer 5G frequencies to a joint venture with Rostelecom

On June 11, 2019, it became known that Megafon would transfer the frequencies owned by the Neosprint company purchased by the operator to a joint venture with Rostelecom. Read more here.

The first 5G call together with Rostelecom and Nokia

On June 5, 2019, MegaFon announced that, together with Rostelecom and Nokia, they held an international video call in Russian 5G networks connecting the northern capital and Helsinki.

This call marked the beginning of the practical application of the latest generation of mobile networks. The President of Rostelecom Mikhail Oseevsky and the Director of Technical Innovation and Infrastructure of MegaFon Frederic Vanoschuise made a call to the President of the Global Division of Nokia Mobile Networks Tommy Whitto in Helsinki.

The event has a vivid historical parallel: 28 years ago, the first call took place on mobile phone the networks of NMT-450 in. Russia The call was made on September 9, 1991 by Mayor St. Petersburg Anatoly Sobchak to his colleague in the twin city. Seattle

Another call confirmed the technical possibility of sharing 5G network infrastructure by different operators. A call was also made in the 5G network between a MegaFon subscriber and a Tele2 subscriber. The call was made by the Director of Technical Innovation and Infrastructure of MegaFon Frederic Vanoschuise and the General Director of Tele2 Sergei Emdin.

5G will be a circulatory system for the digital economy. Because the work of a number of businesses and areas depends on the mobile communications of the new generation - the Internet of Things, unmanned vehicles, smart cities, virtual and augmented reality and much more. We are confident that 5G networks should be built on the modern economic principle of sharing, when businesses and people unite to jointly create and use resources (radio frequencies, infrastructure, etc.). So we will be able to optimize costs and bring closer the emergence of commercial 5G services and new industries based on it. An example is the creation of a joint venture between Rostelecom and MegaFon,

St. Petersburg is a city of great events and transformations. We are witnessing a real digital revolution in Russia. The 5G call that we made is symbolic for the future of technology, in which Russian telecom market leaders jointly carry out digital breakthroughs and initiate fateful transformations for the country's digital economy. After all, 5G technologies are an integral part of the development of innovations in industry, social and public spheres,

5G will dramatically change our industry, business and individual experience of each user. This technology will enable the introduction of broadband applications and open up unprecedented opportunities for us. Nokia is a 5G technology innovation company. We want Nokia customers to implement 5G in their markets. We are very happy to partner with MegaFon, Rostelecom as part of this project, using the capabilities of solutions from the Nokia Airscale family to accelerate the preparation of the Russian industry ecosystem for the implementation of 5G technology,

5G call between Tele2 and Megafon

On June 5, 2019, Tele2 an alternative mobile operator announced a video call 5G by a Tele2 subscriber. A video call in the 5G network took place between a Tele2 subscriber and a client "" at Megaphone communications the A.S. Popov Museum. Tele2 Sergei Emdin CEO called Megafon's Director of Technical Innovation and Infrastructure. Fredericu Vanoschuyze More. here

Start of work of the joint venture Rostelecom and Megafon

On February 28, 2019, the Russian provider of digital services and solutions PJSC Rostelecom informed TAdviser about the start of joint activities with PJSC Megafon to develop fifth-generation mobile communications (5G) based on the joint venture New Digital Solutions LLC (formerly Digital for Business). As specified in Rostelecom, the partnership participants will own the joint venture in equal shares. And the company will be headed by a member of the board of directors of Rostelecom Vadim Semenov. Read more here.

2018

MegaFon, Rostelecom and Rostec may create an infrastructure operator for 5G networks

On November 20, 2018, it became known about the creation in Russia of a single infrastructure operator for the development of the 5G network. The joint project of Rostelecom, MegaFon and Rostec should reduce the cost of deploying the fifth generation network, but there is a risk of limiting competition.

According to Kommersant, citing sources in the telecommunications market, Rostelecom, MegaFon and Rostec are negotiating the creation of a consortium that will take over the functions of a single infrastructure operator for the construction of 5G networks in Russia. One of the interlocutors of the publication says that the documents will be finally ready by the end of 2018 or the beginning of 2019.

The launch of the joint venture is expected in March 2019. First, the initiators of the project will need to receive approvals from the Ministry of Communications, the Federal Antimonopoly Service and other bodies. The companies refused to provide Kommersant with comments on the potential deal.

The representative of Rostelecom recalled that the company continues to advocate combining the efforts of operators to build a 5G network according to the model of an infrastructure operator, and Rostec emphasized that the state corporation has developments in 5G, which can become the basis for the development of partnerships.

Alexander Gorbatko, Deputy Head of the Moscow Information Technology Department, believes that a single infrastructure operator will help the market reduce costs when creating 5G networks.

However, a single platform carries the risks of lack of competition and, as a result, high prices for residents and consumers, lack of operator flexibility and monotonous services, he fears.

Alexander Popovsky, Executive Vice President for Strategy and Business Development at VimpelCom, agrees that the infrastructure operator model imposed on the market will limit competition, since this player will dictate tariffs^[1]

EUR 150 mln loan for purchase of NSN software and equipment

On October 30, 2018, MegaFon informed TAdviser about the signing of a loan agreement with ING Group Bank in the amount of 150 million euros (about 11.26 billion rubles). Under the terms of the contract, the operator will have to repay the loan within 8.5 years.

The funds are issued under the guarantee of the Finnish export credit agency Finnvera. At the same time, which bank of the ING group entered into a deal with MegaFon is not specified.

The operator intends to use the funds received to finance the purchase of fixed and mobile communication equipment, software and related services from the global provider of solutions for communication networks Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy (NSN), as well as its Russian subsidiary Nokia Solutions and Networks.

author '= Gevork Vermishyan, Executive di⁠rektor of MegaFon This Loan Agreement is the tenth anniversary transaction under Finnvera's guarantee. Attractive financing conditions will allow us to invest even more confidently in the development of the network and continuously improve the quality of services for our subscribers.

Memorandum of cooperation with Nokia to develop 5G network and launch digital projects

On May 24, 2018, MegaFon and Nokia signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation in the development of 5G networks and the introduction of digital technologies. The agreement involves working together to implement 5G and test new services using IoT, cloud telecommunications, artificial intelligence, AR and VR technologies.

As part of the agreement, the companies agreed to implement a number of initiatives for the joint development of 5G networks: to develop approaches to the future use of spectrum and its reframing, determine the requirements for network architectures, study scenarios for the use of new technologies, as well as conduct field tests and launch pilot projects.

In addition to 5G, the agreement defines such areas of cooperation as AR and VR communications, cloud platforms, the Internet of Things. In the course of the joint work, the companies intend to test and present innovative solutions for such industries as power, transport, industrial production, media, and services. To do this, they can create working groups in selected areas.

At the SPIEF, MegaFon, together with Nokia, demonstrated the operation of the 5G network. According to the companies, the test took place using standardized bands of 26/28 GHz, throughout the demonstration the Internet connection worked with a minimum signal delay of only 1 ms. The main features of the Nokia AirScale base station are high bandwidth, high energy efficiency, cloud access networks, and a flexible interface. The base station also supports Massive MIMO and 3D beamforming technologies, which generate its own beam for each subscriber whose device is connected to the BS, which reduces the overall interference level, allows more subscribers to be served simultaneously and increases system capacity.

In the near future, MegaFon and Nokia also plan to jointly test the electromagnetic compatibility of 5G systems with existing users in the spectrum of 26/28 GHz and 3.5 GHz. In the collaborative process, Nokia will draw on the expertise of its Bell Labs Consulting division to help companies determine the optimal scenarios for deploying 5G networks.

In 10-15 years, things like,, self-driving cars robots surgeons smart homes, VR/AR will become familiar. It sounds like fiction, but work on such products is already actively underway, and in the near future you will hear about it and see it. We are working on large-scale digital projects in various fields - from transport and housing and communal services to, telemedicine collaborating with a number of Russian regions, including,. Moscow Novgorod region The development of 5G is the foundation for all these technologies of the future and. digital economy Russia Nokia is our long-time partner, we have been cooperating in the development of 5G since 2016. And we took another step towards the 5G standard becoming a reality in Russia in the near future, "said Sergey Soldatenkov MegaFon CEO.

2017

MegaFon and Rostelecom plan to jointly develop 5G networks

Telecommunications companies MegaFon and Rostelecom in November 2017 signed an agreement on cooperation in the development of 5G networks. According to the calculation of companies, this will reduce the cost of building such networks.

Within the framework of cooperation, MegaFon and Rostelecom intend to develop optimal scenarios for the introduction of fifth-generation networks based on international experience, taking into account the peculiarities of the Russian mobile communication market. The companies do not exclude the possibility of creating a joint venture, which will act as a single infrastructure operator for the construction of networks and the provision of 5G communication services.

MegaFon and Rostelecom also plan to create a working group that will offer options for deploying 5G networks in the 3.4-3.6 GHz and 26 GHz bands, including taking into account the government's Digital Economy of the Russian Federation program. Special attention is planned to be paid to the search and release of available spectral resource for fifth generation networks.

We are already successfully working with Rostelecom within the framework of the Information Infrastructure working group and see great potential for further cooperation. I am sure that by joint efforts 5G can become the basis for technological development in a number of sectors of the digital economy, "said Sergey Soldatenkov, CEO of MegaFon.

For our company, one of the main emphasis of the Digital Economy program is the construction of the infrastructure necessary for its creation and functioning. Obviously, 5G will become one of the key technologies in the digital economy, "said Mikhail Oseevsky, President of Rostelecom. - We believe that the creation of a full-fledged fifth generation mobile network in Russia requires combining the efforts of market participants. Our partnership with MegaFon is designed to demonstrate the success of this approach in deploying 5G generation networks.

Both companies are actively involved in promoting the 5G communication standard in conjunction with international equipment manufacturers. For example, MegaFon is working on the introduction of 5G technology as part of its membership in the international organization of mobile operators GSMA. The operator has already received a frequency range of 3400-3800 MHz and 25250-29500 MHz to build 5G test zones as part of the 2018 World Cup.

Rostelecom, in turn, has the necessary network infrastructure, radio frequencies and project experience. Earlier, the company signed agreements on the construction of 5G networks in Innopolis, the Skolkovo innovation center and the State Hermitage State Budgetary Cultural Institution.

5G and Massive MIMO network speed record

The cellular operator "" and Megaphone the Chinese manufacturer of telecommunications equipment Huawei tested Massive MIMO technology, which allows you to increase the speed of mobile Internet five times. Testing was carried out on the Megafon network in. To Samara The Massive MIMO standard was developed by the 3GPP consortium and is the basis of future fifth-generation (5G) cellular networks. The standard can also be used in existing fourth generation (4G) networks of the standard LTE^[2]

At the annual St. Petersburg Economic Forum (SPIEF), the Megafon operator, together with the Chinese equipment manufacturer Huawei, demonstrated the operation of the fifth generation cellular network (5G). During the test, the data transfer rate reached 35 Gbps. Testing took place in the 70 GHz band (E_band) in TDD mode (diversity of reception and transmission of data over time). The bandwidth used was 2 GHz. In addition to speeds, 5G networks also have a low data latency of up to 1 millisecond, which allows this technology to be used on the Internet of Things.

One example of 5G technology is self-driving. At the Megafon demonstration stand, a mock-up of the car and a virtual reality kit were presented, with which the visitor could feel how the car and the surrounding infrastructure, equipped with many sensors, interacting with each other via 5G wireless technology, allow the car to respond in a timely manner to changing road conditions, cross windless intersections, make automatic overtaking^[3].

Plan to launch 5G test networks in match host cities ChM-2018

5G networks will be launched in test mode in four cities, where matches of the World Cup in 2018 will be held.

"Within the framework of the ChM-2018, it is planned to deploy four 5G test zones - in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi and Kazan. These four cities are precisely planned, "said Maxim Tokarenko, director of the Samara branch of MegaFon

.

According to him, during experimental launches, MegaFon accelerated the data transfer rate to 5 GBit/s. 5G networks can be put into commercial operation at the end of 2020.

2016

Demonstration of 5G mobile internet and speeds of almost 5 Gb/s on the Nokia platform

On September 21, 2016, as part of the V International Business Summit, MegaFon showed record mobile data transfer rates in Russia. During the demonstration, the speed reached 4.94 Gbps.

MegaFon, together with Nokia, came close to 5 Gigabits per second and showed the speed of the mobile Internet of the future. The demonstration began with a video shot in 360 degrees format with a resolution of 8K Ultra HD (7680x4320 pixels) and transmitted over a mobile network at a speed of about 5 Gbps. The video was played on the screen, viewers saw a video sequence through the eyes of a test participant who used virtual reality glasses. The demonstration was carried out on the basis of a commercially available line of Nokia AirFame and AirScale equipment, achieved during the presentation at a speed of about 5 Gbps means that a music file or film can be transferred in seconds.

In 2016, MegaFon and Nokia signed an agreement on cooperation in the development of 5G technologies in Russia, and in September presented the results of joint work and a number of fundamentally new ready-made technical solutions. The stand demonstrated new capabilities of operational radio communication based on the Mission Critical Push-To-Talk solution, the commercial implementation of which is already available and complies with the specifications of the international 3GPP consortium (Release 13). Based on the eMBMS broadcast technology included in the LTE standard and supplemented by the IMS core, direct interaction of subscriber units in the mode of individual and group calls, transmission of video streams was shown. Complete information protection and confidentiality is implemented through encryption of transmitted data, including the ability to record and store traffic, geo-positioning. The solution is designed for first responders, transport companies may be interested.

For the first time in Russia, applications were presented to automate various production processes using robots that interact with each other through a radio channel with a new radio interface with short delays of less than 1ms. This will ensure the operation of various IoT systems where instant response is required - for example, in autopilot systems, security systems and smart home and smart city systems, as well as a wide range of industrial sensors that allow you to remotely monitor important objects of the country's life.

In addition, innovative tools for analytical information processing at the border of the radio network - Mobile Edge Computing - were shown. This solution provides the ability to host various developer applications, allowing you to quickly deploy new services and optimize service delivery processes. By moving the information processing process to the base station, Mobile Edge Computing technology provides ultra-low latency in information processing, high performance and reduces the load on the operator's transport network. This technology can be used to provide customers with unique applications.

Memorandum with Nokia on the joint development of 5G networks in Russia

The companies expressed their intention to jointly study the technical aspects of the implementation and development of the standard, as well as to conduct a dialogue with the regulatory authorities of the Russian Federation and international organizations regarding the requirements and parameters of its commercial implementation. The partnership will result in testing new solutions within the framework of joint pilot projects and the possible construction of a 5G test cluster at Russian stadiums participating in the 2018 World Cup.

In July, MegaFon, Nokia and the Radio Research Institute (FSUE NIIR) successfully completed tests of the Cognitive Radio (Cognitive Radio) system, which was an important achievement in the development of the 5G standard.

Achieving speed of 1 Gbps is a Russian record for a mobile Internet connection

On June 16, 2016, MegaFon announced the establishment of a Russian record for the speed of a mobile Internet connection. The operator tested the gigabit network.

According to MegaFon's statement, the company was the first in Russia to test mobile data transmission at a speed of 1 Gbps. Testing was carried out on Huawei network and terminal equipment, as well as on a prototype subscriber device running a Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 LTE modem. In addition, MegaFon used aggregation of 3 carriers (20 + 20 MHz Band7/2600 FDD/and 20 MHz Band 3/1800 MHz FDD/), 256 QAM modulation and MIMO 4x4 technology.

The maximum speed of downloading data on Huawei equipment during the experiment reached 1.24 Gbps. Thus, having achieved such a speed of mobile Internet, MegaFon took the main step towards the formation of the 5G standard in Russia, the operator said in a statement. For comparison, the LTE specification allows for download speeds up to 326.4 Mbps.

This demonstration showed that MegaFon has chosen the right direction and equipment, which is already capable of only with minor changes in software in an evolutionary way to get speeds that bring us closer to the era of 5th generation networks. This will radically change the user's experience of mobile services, as well as bring new services and opportunities for business development. Huawei DBS3900 base station equipment provided for testing, remote active AAU3961 antenna units, signal processing boards and software are already available for commercial use on the networks of all operators, and we appreciate that MegaFon is the first in Russia to be able to demonstrate the latest technologies on Huawei equipment, "commented Xu Xueming, President of Huawei Carrier Business Group in Russia.

According to Interfax, citing MegaFon's infrastructure director Alexander Bashmakov, the company plans to introduce technology in the Moscow mobile network in 2017 that allows it to provide mobile Internet services at a speed of 1 Gbps.^[4]

Notes