Development of 5G networks in Russia

Main article: Communication (Russian market)

What is 5G

Main article: 5G (fifth generation mobile)

5G networks in the world

Main article: Development of 5G networks in the world

Frequencies for 5G in Russia

Main article: Frequencies for 5G in Russia

5G networks of telecom operators of Russia

• 5G in Megafon
• 5G in Bilaine (VimpelCom)
• 5G in MTS
• 5G in Tele2 and Rostelecom

5G concept in Russia

Main article: The concept of creating and developing 5G communications in Russia

2024

Launch of Russian satellites to be used in 5G networks

Russia has successfully launched satellites that will be used in 5G networks. This project is being implemented by the Bureau 1440 company, which its press service announced on May 20, 2024. Read more here.

How LTE and 5G networks will develop in Russia. Ministry of Digital Development plans

The creation of infrastructure for 5G networks in Russian cities with a population of more than 1 million residents is planned by 2028, and in cities with a population of 500 thousand people - by 2030. This is stated in the report of the head of the Ministry of Digital Economy Maksut Shadayev to the meeting of the working group of the State Council on the digital economy (held at the end of April 2024). Read more here.

The regions of the Russian Federation where 5G networks will be tested on domestic equipment have been identified

Following the meeting, the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) determined the regions for testing 5G networks on domestic equipment. The press service of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation announced this on March 29, 2024.

The pilot project will be held in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, as well as in the Moscow and Leningrad regions. 5G zones will appear in these regions to test dynamic spectrum management methods. At the same time, the timing of the start of the implementation of pilot projects by the end of March 2024 has not been announced.

Following the meeting, the SCRF determined the regions for testing 5G networks on domestic equipment

It also follows from the message of the Ministry of Digital Development Science that the New Digital Solutions joint venture intends to test technical measures for compatibility of 5G networks with existing means. For this, special zones were identified in which Russian base stations will be used in test mode.

In addition, according to the decision of the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting, telecommunications companies can receive a discount for the use of the radio frequency spectrum if they are ready to install from one to four base stations per quarter in settlements of up to 1 thousand people. Each subject has its own quota for the number of stations from one operator. Such a support measure will last until the end of 2025, the commission said.

According to CNews, earlier in 2024, the Ministry of Digital Development submitted to the government draft plans for the conversion of the radio frequency spectrum (including for the launch of 5G networks) and the corresponding decree of the President of Russia. However, these documents were not agreed by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance. According to the Ministry of Digital Development, the main work related to the transfer of outdated RES (electronic communications) weapons and equipment should be carried out within the framework of the State Arms Program (GPV) and the corresponding annual defense orders (GOZ).^[1]

Shadayev called the timing of the start of the launch of 5G networks at Russian base stations

In mid-February 2024, the Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media RFMaksut Shadayev named the approximate timing of the start of the launch of 5G networks at domestic base stations.

I really hope that in 2025 we will have mass production of 5G base stations, and from 2026 we will begin to actively put in megacities, - said the head of the Ministry of Digital Development in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel.

Maksut Shadayev at TAdviser IT Government Day 2022

According to him, by February 2024, several test 5G networks based on foreign equipment have already been launched. In addition, as Shadayev noted, telecommunications operators have signed forward contracts for the supply of base stations with Russian manufacturers.

There is a plan for the supply of 5G base stations, - said the head of the Ministry of Digital Development.

Forward contracts for the supply of domestic base stations to their networks were concluded by all the operators of the Big Four - VimpelCom, MegaFon, Tele2 and MTS. Shipments of equipment will begin in 2025, and from 2028 they will be able to purchase only Russian base stations.

According to the "Strategy for the Development of the Communications Industry until 2035," the deployment of 5G networks on Russian equipment in all cities with a population of 100 thousand people is planned in 2031-2035.

General Director of TMT Consulting Konstantin Ankilov, commenting on Maksut Shadayev's statements about plans to launch 5G networks, noted that in two or three years it is impossible to build networks of the scale of the entire country, since this process "actually lasts indefinitely."

This will continue as long as we just use this frequency range in principle. First, networks will be built in large cities, most likely, primarily in capitals, then in cities with a population of one million, then these networks will penetrate deeper and deeper into the country, just as it happened with 2G, with GSM and further with the third generation, with the fourth, - the expert noted.[2]

2023

5G test zone opened in Russia

On December 20, 2023, the head of the Ministry of Digital Science Maksut Shadayev opened the 5G test zone at the international exhibition-forum at VDNH in Moscow. The network operates on the prototype of a domestic base station developed by Irteya (100% owned by MTS). All participants in the exhibition could connect to the fifth generation network.

In August 2023, the Ministry of Digital Development said that 5G networks should be deployed by 2035 in all cities of Russia with a population of more than 100 thousand. The draft strategy for the development of the communications industry in the Russian Federation also noted that by 2035 the country should completely replace LTE base stations and earlier generations of cellular communications with Russian analogues.

The company "Irteya" "Vedomosti" was found in the new version of the roadmap "Modern and promising mobile networks" in September 2023. According to the document, the company will spend 5.6 billion rubles and receive another 5.4 billion rubles of budget financing in the period from 2023 to 2026. for the development of base stations on the open architecture OpenRAN.

In December 2023, MegaFon told Kommersant that the company is testing various types of network equipment and components, including domestic production.

The stock of equipment and components is important for providing high-quality service to subscribers, so we are working on expanding the network of new suppliers, - noted in MegaFon.

In VimpelCom"" "welcome competition in the market of domestic telecom equipment." A similar position is held in, Tele2 where "they consider Russian manufacturers and work with vendors within the framework of forward contracts."^[3]

Russian developers of 5G equipment switched to LTE

On November 23, 2023, it became known that the developers of Russian base stations for 5G cellular networks faced a number of difficulties, and therefore the implementation of such projects was actually frozen. Instead, the focus is on 4G/LTE hardware.

Earlier, the Government of the Russian Federation signed a contract with PJSC Rostelecom and the state corporation Rostec on the development of 5G. Investments in the project are estimated at 43 billion rubles. It was assumed that by 2024, 10 thousand 5G base stations will be produced in Russia. But due to the current geopolitical situation, domestic developers were left without components and equipment from suppliers such as Nokia, Huawei and Ericsson. As a result, Rostec suspended work on 5G and began developing LTE.

Market participants say that in the current situation in Russia there is no opportunity to develop 5G. It is noted that only the manufacturer of IT equipment Yadro (LLC KNS Group) and LLC Irteya (formerly MTS Electronics) have the resources necessary for this. But as of the end of 2023, according to ComNews, citing sources familiar with the situation, domestic operators urgently need LTE equipment to maintain and expand the already deployed cellular infrastructure.

Another problem with the development of 5G is that by the end of 2023 Russia does not have a strategy for allocating promising frequencies for such networks. Evgeny Knyazev, director of the network solutions department of the Step Logic system integrator, believes that 5G coverage in large Russian cities with a population of 1 million or more people can be provided, at best, by 2030. And on a national scale, the introduction of the standard can stretch for decades "due to the low population density in Siberia and the Far East."^[4]

In Russia, a technology has been developed to increase the bandwidth of mobile communications

On November 13, 2023, Russian specialists from the Engineering Center of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (NRNU MEPhI) announced the development of a new technology that allows increasing the bandwidth of mobile networks. The proposed system opens the way to solving the problem of lack of resources in the context of constantly growing traffic and connecting more and more consumers. Read more here.

Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation will assess the impact of 5G base stations on people

The Ministry of Digital Development of Russia organizes comprehensive studies of the effect of electromagnetic radiation of cellular communication base stations on living organisms. This is stated in the draft strategy for the development of the communications industry of the Russian Federation for the period until 2035, which was published on August 15, 2023.

The large-scale initiative provides for the phased introduction of new generations of communication networks based on domestic technologies in accordance with the main trends in the development of the industry in the world. One of the areas of work is the assessment of the impact of cellular towers on people, as well as the development of requirements for the placement and operation 4G5G of networks//with 6G the aim of "rational and scientifically justified reduction of requirements for permissible standards of electromagnetic radiation."

Participants in the Russian telecom market say that as of August 2023, SanPiNs for electromagnetic radiation are the toughest in the world and have long been outdated. The fact is that these requirements were developed several decades ago and do not correspond to the modern level of development of science and technology. In particular, in Russia, radiation should not exceed 10 microwatts per square centimeter, while in accordance with the conclusion of the International Commission for Protection against Non-Ionizing Radiation (ICNIRP), the recommended norm is 10 watts per square meter, or 1000 microwatts per square centimeter. Therefore, it is proposed to increase the maximum radiation power of Russian base stations. But this requires appropriate safety studies.

Increasing the maximum permissible level of electromagnetic radiation will allow Russian cellular operators to reduce the density of base stations. And this will help reduce the cost of infrastructure development and expand the coverage area.

The draft Ministry of Digital Development also talks about the transition to modern technologies and methods for managing radio frequency resources, including the sharing of spectrum resources by civilian, military and special consumers.^[5]

Ministry of Digital Development presents plan for the development of 5G networks in Russia

By 2035, 5G networks should operate on Russian equipment in all cities of the country with a population exceeding 100 thousand people. This is stated in the strategy for the development of the communications industry published Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation. The document was published in mid-August 2023.

According to the strategy, the main range for 5G networks will be 4800-4990 MHz, with the potential to expand to 4400-4990 MHz. An important aspect will be the use of domestic means of cryptographic protection of information and telecom equipment, the document says.

By 2030, 5G networks will have to operate in the territory where 20-25% of the country's population live, and by 2035 coverage will increase to 50-60%.

At the first stage of the strategy implementation (2023-2030), it is planned to develop a domestic electronic component base for the creation of subscriber terminals of mobile 4G networks/and LTE 5G, as well as the establishment of their serial production. The plans also include the pilot operation of domestic equipment of 5G and - 6G Ready standards.

It is expected that by 2030 mobile operators will come to the joint use of the reference infrastructure for the deployment of 5G networks, and then 6G.

Russian cellular operators will not be allocated frequencies in the most suitable 3.4-3.8 GHz range for deploying 5G networks, TASS reports. On the contrary, in the strategy for the development of the telecommunications industry until 2035 there will be a direct ban on the use of these frequencies - the so-called "golden band" - by commercial networks, since it was given to power structures to solve their problems.

Earlier in 2023, the head of the Ministry of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev said that the department plans to pilot 5G networks at base stations in Russian million-plus cities in 2025.

Draft Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation

The government allocated 3.5 billion rubles for the launch of 5G networks in Russia

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order to allocate 3.5 billion rubles for the development of base stations, including using the Russian electronic component base, to launch 5G networks. The press service of the Cabinet of Ministers announced this on August 7, 2023.

According to Mishustin, the decision made will provide cellular coverage on the domestic hardware base, which will help achieve technological sovereignty and give citizens the opportunity to use fast and reliable communication.

We also hope that research work in this area will be effective and that our companies will continue to create our, domestic, solutions and improve what is in the groundwork, - said the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.

In general, he drew attention to the fact that the government continues to support the design and production of advanced products in Russia.

The President noted how important it is to effectively use the already existing sovereign technological reserves and developments of domestic innovative companies. This is of particular importance in the field of telecommunications, where foreign equipment has traditionally been used, the supply of which has been suspended, the prime minister concluded.

The Cabinet recalled that work on such an important area as the development of 5G networks is being carried out on behalf of the president as part of the road map "Modern and promising mobile networks" until 2030. It includes several state support programs, including subsidizing the manufacture of high-tech devices for the provision of modern communication services.

On behalf of the President, the government also developed a draft long-term strategy for the development of the communications industry. It is based on a systematic approach to building a modern information infrastructure, taking into account global challenges and restrictions, to create which domestic telecommunications systems and equipment will be used, the Cabinet noted.

Government of the Russian Federation Order of July 28, 2023 No. 2018-r

The launch of 5G in Moscow will increase energy costs in telecom by 10 times

Due to the fact that base stations with 5G support consume 2 times more electricity compared to LTE equipment, the development of fifth-generation networks in Moscow and other megacities can increase at least 10 times the energy costs of maintaining their work. Such data on May 22, 2023 was cited by Alexei Rabin, an expert at the National Technology Initiative (NTI) on telecommunications and artificial intelligence, citing calculations by unnamed analysts. According to him, the increase in power consumption is largely due to the need to install 5G systems every few hundred meters.

However, the main reason for the increased total consumption will remain: this is a large number of required stations due to the peculiarities of the standard. It is impossible to exclude this factor, like other barriers to development: dense urban development and incompatibility of 4G and 5G standards, requiring users to purchase new devices, as well as a lack of domestic equipment. At the same time, the deployment of 5G networks will be one of the key factors in the development of new industries and improving the standard of living of people, "Rabin said in a conversation with TASS.

He cited Huawei data, according to which the company's base station uses 11.5 kW of electricity, which is 68% more energy consumption of similar equipment for LTE.

According to the representative of the NTI, the main difference between fifth-generation networks is the use of the widest and at the same time high frequency range in the history of mobile communications, Rabin said. Such networks use two frequency bands: from 600 MHz to 6 GHz (base) and from 24 to 100 GHz. At the same time, LTE technology operates in a lower range: from 700 MHz to 2.1 GHz. It is the high frequencies of data transmission that will allow users to forget about problems with the speed of the Internet.^[6]

The offer of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation to postpone start of 5G-networks to 2030

The Ministry of Digital Development, together with the largest telecom operators, prepared a preliminary version of the industry development strategy until 2035. In this document, as Kommersant writes in the issue of May 19, 2023, the department proposes to postpone the commercial launch of 5G and 6G-Ready networks until 2030.

The publication recalls that the roadmap for the development of communications, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation at the end of 2022, said that already in 2023 about 100 thousand people in Russia will be able to use 5G based on domestic solutions, and in 2030 their number should increase to 50 million. In the world, by May 2023, 249 operators in 97 countries had launched 5G networks, and the number of their subscribers exceeded 1 billion. According to the "Strategy for the Development of the Communications Industry in the Russian Federation for 2024-2035," 5G networks on Russian equipment will be deployed in all cities of the country with a population of 100 thousand or more.

The document notes that achieving the "declared ambitious goals" will require changing the ways operators interact with each other, participants in energy and transport infrastructures and authorities. In 2035, tools for "joint and dynamic frequency distribution between operators" will be developed. Civilian communication networks will be "originally designed for the needs of state administration, defense, security."

Earlier in 2023, the head of the Ministry of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev said that the department expects that in 2025 pilot projects for 5G cellular communications at Russian base stations will begin in the milionic cities of the Russian Federation. In January 2023, Russian Deputy Head of the Ministry of Digital Development Dmitry Kim told RIA Novosti that Russian operators had signed forward contracts with domestic manufacturers of base stations for mobile communication networks for more than 100 billion rubles, and about 75 thousand base stations would be delivered on them by 2030.^[7]

The first Russian 5G base station has been created

The Skoltech Institute in mid-April 2023 announced the creation of the first domestic fifth-generation base station (5G). The project was implemented with the support of the National Technology Initiative Fund (NTI). Read more here.

Russia has developed software to speed up the emergence of 5G and 6G

On April 11, 2023, it became known about the creation of a software package in Russia, which should help accelerate the emergence of 5G and 6G networks. The technology was developed at the National Research Nuclear University of the Moscow Engineering and Physics Institute (MEPhI). Read more here.

The Ministry of Digital Development announced the timing of the launch of 5G networks on domestic equipment

The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation has planned the launch of 5G networks in the country on domestic equipment in 2025. This was announced on March 2, 2023 by the head of the department Maksut Shadayev.

According to him, we are talking about pilot testing of fifth-generation communication networks at Russian base stations in million-plus cities.

We launched several networks on foreign equipment in trial mode, plus we now have telecom operators signed forward contracts for the supply of base stations with Russian manufacturers, there is a plan for the supply of 5G base stations, the minister said.

In January 2023, Russian telecom operators signed forward contracts with domestic manufacturers of base stations for communication networks in the amount of more than 100 billion. rubles The total supply by 2030 will be about 75 thousand base stations, and from 2028 operators will have to purchase exclusively domestic base stations. By the beginning of March 2023, 5G network zones were launched in experimental mode in a number of regions of the Russian Federation in small locations, points out. TASS

The source Businessman"" in one of the operators noted that the 5G-ready equipment installed on the operators' networks will be incompatible with the domestic one. software

It will have to be changed - the existing LTE network is the reference layer for 5G, the computing capabilities of base stations and a single software package are reused. Investments made by operators in building 5G-ready networks will be in vain, the source said.

According to Alexander Sivolobov, deputy head of the NTI Competence Center based on Skoltech (engaged in the development of 5G equipment) for wireless communications and the Internet of Things technologies, the first results of compatibility with the equipment of foreign vendors have already been achieved.^[8]

2022

The Government of the Russian Federation has developed a roadmap for 5G communication

At the end of December 2022, it became known about the roadmap "Modern and promising mobile networks," which is also devoted to plans for the development of 5G technology in Russia.

As Vedomosti writes with reference to this document, according to government plans, in 2023 about 100,000 people in the Russian Federation will be able to use communication services using 5G based on domestic solutions. In 2024, this number will increase to 300 thousand people, in 2025 - up to 700 thousand, in 2026 - up to 1.5 million, and in 2030 - up to 50 million people.

It is assumed that in 2023 5G networks on domestic equipment will be deployed in one million-plus city, in 2024 - in three, in 2025 - in seven, in 2026 - in 15, in 2027-2030 - in 16 (according to data, by the Rosstat end of 2022 there are 15 million people in Russia).

The representative of Rostec explained to the publication that the transition to Russian equipment will be carried out gradually as foreign equipment is replaced by domestic equipment. This will begin to happen in 2023. At the same time, 100% of 5G networks will be immediately built on Russian equipment.

The launch of 4G/5G networks on domestic equipment will depend on a number of factors: the possibility of returning foreign vendors of 4G telecommunications equipment, the availability of dedicated frequencies for 5G, as well as actually working domestic equipment and its compatibility with existing foreign equipment, said iKS-Consulting analyst Maxim Savvatin.

According to Konstantin Ankilov, Managing Director of TMT Consulting, it is logical to start introducing networks from million-plus cities, since both developers and decision-making centers in operators, according to him, are concentrated there.

Next will be smaller cities, which are regional economic centers and where the highest demand for mobile services, the expert concluded.[9]

For the first time in Russia, a connection to 5G via satellite was made. This will help launch fast Internet in villages

As it became known in early November 2022, for the first time in Russia, a connection to 5G networks was made via satellite. This will help launch fast Internet in villages.

The State Unitary Enterprise "Space Communications" (GP KS) and the Skolkovsky Institute of Science and Technology ("Skoltech") tested the operation of a fifth-generation private network on domestic software through a geostationary communications satellite. This is the first time that a domestic satellite has been used in the interests of 5G.

The solution for private 5G networks (private 5G) with support for open standards OpenRAN was developed by Skoltech. The base station was connected to the core of the network through the Express-80 spacecraft using the capacities of the Shabolovka Technical Center and the Dubna Space Communications Center of the GP CS.

During the tests, video content was transmitted and reproduced with high quality 4K HDR, HLG, Dolby Vision in a 5G network. The ability of systems to provide the required quality of services and services in data exchange, including the transmission of multimedia information, voice and video through subscriber units, has been demonstrated.

The presented scenario in the future will ensure the deployment of private 5G networks in remote areas that are not connected to backbone communication networks.

In the presence of satellite coverage, base stations can connect to the network core at a distance through geostationary spacecraft of the GP CS.

As noted by the General Director of the State Enterprise of the Constitutional Court Alexei Volin, the cooperation aims to form solutions that ensure the achievement of Russia's technological sovereignty in the field of integration of 5G/6G and satellite telecommunications on the basis of the development and implementation of domestic system and applied hardware and software solutions.

Rostec redirects state subsidies from the development of 5G equipment to developments for LTE networks

At the end of October 2022, it became known that Rostec was redirecting state subsidies from the development of 5G equipment to developments for LTE networks - in favor of a "more familiar" technology. Read more here.

5G networks will cost operators 50% more due to mandatory Russian software

In October 2022, Rostelecom"" warned of high costs of telecom operators for the construction of fifth generation networks () 5G due to the requirement to use domestic. software

The draft government decree, developed by the Ministry of Digital Development, amends the rules for registering electronic means (RES). It provides that from September 2023, operators will not be able to register RES for 5G networks if their software and hardware are not included in the register of Russian radio-electronic products and the register of Russian software.

Rostelecom, in its response to the project, notes that all foreign-made RES installed by operators are not compatible with Russian software. The operator points out the risk of failure to comply with the requirements of the legislation regarding the provision of communication services to the population - the use of RES "will be unacceptable due to the impossibility of registering them."

The source Businessman"" in one of the major equipment manufacturers is sure that developers will not be able to achieve compatibility of domestic equipment with foreign ones.

Even if Russian vendors are able to produce hardware, it will not be integrated into the existing networks of operators, which means that 5G networks will be built separately from existing ones, he said, adding that in this case the price will increase by 40-50% relative to construction costs based on existing networks.

The press service of Rostelecom reported that in the current situation it is important not to create an additional financial burden on telecom operators. MTS In confirmed the participation of the company in the discussion of the mentioned bill. Tele2 They noted that by October 2022 there is no ready-made solution that would allow foreign and domestic equipment to interact.^[10]

Russian Railways agreed to build 5G networks along the railways

On September 26, 2022, it became known that RUSSIAN RAILWAY the group "" Antares had agreed on construction 5G networks along the railways, including on sections Moscow -, St. Petersburg Moscow - Kazan and Moscow -. Sochi More. here

Russian organizations expelled from 5G developers alliance

Russian companies have lost their membership in the international alliance OpenRAN (Open Radio Access Network), consisting of telecom equipment developers, Vedomosti writes. In particular, the operator MTS and Skoltech have been temporarily suspended from the activities of the alliance. This became known on September 21, 2022.

At the time of publication of the material, there was not a single Russian company in the list of alliance members. The list of contributors also did without them.

The alliance itself is relatively short-lived - a little over four years. Founded in February 2018 in Germany, it was created with the aim of interaction between telecommunications companies around the world on the development of equipment for fifth-generation cellular networks, as well as the sixth and subsequent ones. Skoltech and MTS became part of OpenRAN in December 2019.

The alliance is promoting the development of telecom hardware with an open hardware architecture. Such equipment makes it possible to greatly weaken the dependence of telecom operators around the world on three companies - Nokia, Ericsson and Huawei, suppliers of hardware for the construction of cellular networks.

As of September 2022, the alliance included 31 telecom operators from around the world, including American and European ones. The number of contributors is 297, including the Chinese company ZTE, which partially fell under American sanctions, but partially "amnestied" in March 2022.

It is unclear what caused the temporary "expulsion" from the alliance. It is possible that this may be due to numerous anti-Russian sanctions.

The exclusion of Russian companies from OpenRAN is tantamount to "excommunicating telecom operators from the global community," an unnamed source close to "one of the Russian electronics manufacturers" told the publication. According to him, the exclusion of MTS and Skoltech from the alliance deprives them only of the right to participate in the development process, but does not prohibit them from using open technologies created as part of the alliance^[11].

Telecom operators and Skoltech conducted joint laboratory testing of the 5G OpenRAN solution

The Association of Organizations for the Development of Open Communication Networks Open Network Technologies"" (Association "Open Network Technologies") on September 7, 2022 announced the completion of the first stage of laboratory testing of a base station 5G under the control Skoltech software of an open architecture (OpenRAN) developed in. Better. here

Chernyshenko: The launch of 5G networks in Russia is scheduled for 2024

The launch of 5G networks in Russia is scheduled for 2024, said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko in early September 2022. According to him, the priority frequencies for the new standard are determined - 4.4-4.9 GHz.

In a conversation with Interfax, Chernyshenko added that road maps have been created for the deployment of 5G networks in Russia.

Our parent organization is Rostec, which will have to ensure the development by this time and the scaling of equipment on fully domestic solutions, - said the Deputy Prime Minister.

After the start of Russia's military special operation in Ukraine, the development of 5G communications in the country was under threat. The main suppliers of telecom equipment Nokia and Ericsson left the Russian market after the imposition of sanctions against Russia. In June 2022, Rostec proposed a new version of the roadmap for the development of 5G networks, in which the focus is not on 5G, but on the previous generation of communication - LTE.

In early July 2022, the Ministry of Digital Development of Russia proposed to transfer frequencies in the range of 24.25-27.5 GHz in favor of 5G. It was noted that bands in the 4 GHz band can also be converted to civilian use. The ministry noted that the initiative will contribute to operators in the development of 5G in Russia.

According to experts interviewed by Delovoy Petersburg in mid-July 2022, Russian operators a year or two ago could have launched 5G networks on already deployed imported equipment if they had been given the appropriate frequencies in the "golden range" and allowed to launch. And according to Russian working solutions, there are only prototypes and trial versions of base stations such as LTE-Advanced, they noted.

Instances for 5G networks that were created by Rostec did not appeal to operators. The fourth generation is only planned to be created when it appears - it is not known, therefore, it is impossible to say how much it will be in demand. But one thing is clear: until 2024-2025, in no dreams can we dream that we will have a fifth generation. Even if they gave out frequencies, there is no equipment for it, - explained one of the experts[12]

Appointment of Denis Manturov as curator of the development of 5G networks in Russia

At the end of July 2022, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin distributed among the Deputy Prime Ministers during an operational meeting the supervision over the development of various high-tech areas. Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov will be responsible for the development of 5G technology in Russia. Read more here.

Rostec creates 5G equipment on an open interface for 4.4 billion rubles

On May 12, 2022, it became known that the Rostec structure was creating equipment for 5G networks on an open interface. It is planned to spend 4.4 billion rubles on research and development work within the framework of this project, the state corporation told Kommersant. Read more here.

Russia began testing the world's first equipment for 5G + networks

On February 2, 2022, it became known about testing in Russia the world's first equipment for 5G + networks. The device was developed by Huawei and is designed to operate in the 6.4-7.1 GHz range.

According TASS to the federal state unitary enterprise "Order of the Red Banner of Labor" Russian Research Institute of Radio named after M.I. Krivosheev(NII Radio), the equipment is being tested in. The main To Moscow purpose of testing is to assess the functionality of the new technology and its applicability for use in the city, the institute noted.

In particular, the maximum data rate for different radio signal paths, confident reception zones in different locations and other indicators are checked.

For this testing, the Research Institute of Radio has developed a site for connecting and analyzing data from a 5G + base station in the 6 GHz band, all the necessary programs and methods of experimental and theoretical research. Measurements were carried out on the territory of the institute and from the street at distances of up to 1 km. Specialists managed to achieve a maximum speed of up to 1.2 Gbps with a channel width of 80 MHz.

As the general director of the Research Institute of Radio Oleg Ivanov noted, the 6.4-7.1 GHz range can add an additional 700 MHz to operators in the most attractive average range. This is the middle ground between the coverage area and the high speeds. In addition, this range is potentially applicable to future 6G networks.

Officially, it will be possible to use frequencies of 6.4-7.1 GHz only approximately from 2024, after VKR-2023. But today we can work out progressive technical solutions on them, which will form the basis of 6G, "he added.

The test results of the Research Institute of Radio will be presented at the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) at the end of the first quarter of 2022.^[13]

Rostec presented Mikhail Mishustin with a domestic 5G base station

The head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, presented to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin the development of the State Corporation for 4G and 5G communication networks. According to TAdviser on January 20, 2022 in Rostec, the presentation was held as part of a working visit of the head of the Government of the Russian Federation to the Voronezh concern Sozvezdiye of the Roselektronika holding. Read more here.

2021

There are 30 private LTE and 5G networks in Russia

By the end of 2021, there were more than 30 private LTE and 5G networks in Russia. This was announced in December 2021 by analysts at J'son & Partners Consulting. Read more here.

Skolkovo launched a separate 5G network

On October 4, 2021, it was announced the launch of the first autonomous dedicated 5G network in Russia, built on Russian software. She earned at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech). Read more here.

Moscow launches Russia's first industrial 5G landfill

September 10, 2021 announced the creation of the first Russia industrial landfill with the infrastructure of fifth generation communication networks (). 5G It is based on Botkin Hospital and will be used to test digital technologies in healthcare. More. here

Skoltech and Panasonic tested video equipment on 5G network

Skoltech and Panasonic have tested video equipment on the 5G network. This became known on September 7, 2021. Read more here.

Russian version of the protocol for 5G networks received approval in 3GPP

On September 1, 2021, a working group SA3 the international standardization organization 3GPP approved a more secure version of the ECIES + 5G-AKA authentication protocol developed by employees of the Russian technology company Kryptonit. Read more here.

TAdviser interview: Dong Tingjin, Huawei - on plans to develop 5G networks in Russia

• TAdviser interview: Dong Tingjin, Huawei - on plans to develop 5G networks in Russia

Chernyshenko: 5G networks in large cities will be launched in 3 years

On July 19, 2021, the Deputy Prime Dmitry Chernyshenko Minister of the Russian Federation announced that 5G networks in large cities of the country, in which more than 1 million people live, will be launched in three years. He is "actively working on this task," "Rostec he said at a meeting with the president. Russia Vladimir Putin

Earlier, "Rostec" and "Rostelecom" signed an agreement with the Russian government on the development of a roadmap for the development of fifth-generation networks. The document was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, and by July 2021, the implementation of its provisions continues. One of them provides subsidies for Rostec to create a Russian 5G technological base until 2024. The total budget required for the deployment of 5G in Russia by the end of 2024 is 208 billion rubles.

The commercial launch of 5G networks in Russia is scheduled for 2022-2023, according to the official website of the mayor of Moscow. In the capital, by July 2021, they had already begun testing the technology, despite the fact that the issue of frequencies for the new standard is still acute. In addition, the state decided that commercial networks can only be built on Russian equipment, and it will appear on the market by 2024.

According to Dmitry Konarev, a leading expert on Huawei wireless technologies in Eurasia, the introduction of 5G in Russia is at a stage when it is impossible to do without the help of the regulator and the government: the standard is complex, its tasks are wide.

On May 30, 2021, Vasily Brovko, Director-at-Large of Rostec State Corporation, said that pilot 5G zones with domestic filling could be launched in Russia in 2023.

According to Brovko, a pool of companies is determined in Russia that will be able to develop elements for communication systems not only of the fifth, but also of subsequent generations: base stations, digital platforms, the technological core of the complex, etc.^[14]

The government allocates 21.5 billion rubles to Rostec for the creation of 5G equipment

As it became known on June 30, 2021, Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation allocates subsidies to Rostec for the development of 5G solutions. For the implementation of the project, the state corporation will receive about 21.46 billion rubles from the federal budget until 2024. Read more here.

5G equipment in Russia will be put on the roofs of houses

At the end of June 2021, the working group on information infrastructure of the ANO "Digital Economy" approved a roadmap for stimulating the investment activity of operators. One of the initiatives is related to the placement of base stations for 5G networks on the roofs of houses.

As Vedomosti writes with reference to the materials of the Ministry of Digital Development, among other things, the roadmap involves simplifying the access of operators to apartment buildings and their use of common property.

The ministry explained to the publication that it is often impossible to connect subscribers to the Internet in apartment buildings due to the resistance of management companies. They restrict access to the premises and turn off the power supply to the equipment in order to persuade operators to conclude paid agreements on admission to the house, and if they do not pay, they dismantle the equipment, deprive access to the equipment, etc.

This reduces the efficiency of connecting users to the Internet, said a representative of one of the communication companies. Fees for access to roofs, basements and other infrastructure can reach three percent of operators' revenue. At the same time, a formal decision on granting operators access to a residential building should be made by the general meeting by the owner of the premises. But in practice, there are no votes on this issue.

According to experts interviewed by Vedomosti, from the point of view of fixed providers, simplifying access to residential buildings is partly a belated measure. Much more important, in his opinion, is the liberalization of access for 5G mobile operators, the mass introduction of which in million-plus cities is scheduled for 2024. 5G base stations will need to be installed much more often than equipment of previous generations, and the use of roofs of houses for this cannot be avoided, the expert emphasized.^[15]

The first national standards for 5G appeared in Russia

At the end of June 2021, it became known about the appearance in Russia of the first national standards for fifth-generation networks (5G). The relevant documents were developed by specialists of the NTI Competence Center on the basis of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) on wireless communications and the Internet of Things technologies and representatives of the Technical Committee "Cyber ​ ​ Physical Systems."

According to TASS, the Information Agency of Russia, citing the press service of the Platform of the National Technological Initiative (NTI), the developers of a series of national standards in the field of 5G networks in the process of their work took into account the international concept of an open radio access network OpenRAN, which implies standardization of the architecture of building modern radio access networks and used interfaces.

Our task is to ensure the development of equipment and software for the fifth generation Russian communication networks as soon as possible. Most world experts agree that relying on OpenRAN standards is almost the only option to quickly enter this market with a competitive offer, "says Vitaly Shub, head of FACE based on Skoltech.

According to him, the adoption and implementation of the national standard OpenRAN will be the most important stage in the development of the domestic telecommunications industry.

Nikita Utkin, Chairman of the Technical Committee "Cyber ​ ​ Physical Systems," called the developed standards long-awaited fundamental documents in the development of fifth-generation mobile networks, which will certainly help in the creation of domestic 5G equipment, new and high-quality communication technologies. The presented approaches are distinguished by unconditional openness, harmonization and ecosystem, he added.^[16]

Novikombank and Rostec form syndicated financing for the development and production of 5G equipment

Novikombank will engage and structure the crediting syndicated for the project to create Russia mobile communication fifth generation equipment (). 5G This tool, in turn, will allow attracting long-term credit funds to the project, flexibly adjusting to the specific needs of the project. A corresponding agreement was signed, according to June 3 Rostec , 2021. More. here

Final results of research on 5G security presented in Moscow

Specialists of NIIMT named after Mizmetov completed research work (NID) on the security of mobile communications of all standards, including 5G. The results of the study were sent to the Ministry of Health of Russia and Rospotrebnadzor for final decisions, reported on May 26, 2021 in the DIT of Moscow.

The research work determined that the levels of the electromagnetic field created by mobile communication base stations of all standards, including the fifth generation, are safe for human health. Scientists also proposed a more modern and accurate technique for measuring the electromagnetic field created by base stations of cellular communication systems, and concluded that it was necessary to introduce new methods for monitoring the level of electromagnetic fields and the possibility of adjusting the current maximum permissible level from 10 to 40 μW/cm2.

The progress and conclusions of the research and development were discussed by an expert group, which included representatives of federal authorities, research organizations, Rospotrebnadzor of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Health of Russia and telecom operators. The results of the work were also registered, mandatory for all research papers. The study was approved by the Ministry of Digital Science of Russia, the Ministry of Health of Russia and the working group of the national program "Digital Economy."

"Like many progressive cities, Moscow seeks to develop modern communication infrastructure. At the same time, the well-being of the residents of the capital remains a priority for us - on the eve of the commercial introduction of fifth-generation networks, we wanted to get science-based data and be sure that 5G is safe. That is why in February 2019, DIT of Moscow initiated fundamental research work, which gave a final and unambiguous answer to the question about the security of fifth-generation networks, "commented Alexander Gorbatko, Deputy Head of the Department of Information Technologies of the city of Moscow.

For a year and a half, specialists of the NIIMT named after Mizmetov carried out field field (street) measurements of electromagnetic field levels (EMF) in six typical microdistricts of Moscow, where 2G-4G communication standards are presented, as well as in pilot 5G zones. They showed the current environmental EMF conditions as well as the contribution that each communication standard makes to the overall EMF level score.

Laboratory measurements were carried out for five months, in full compliance with Russian and international standards and methods. In the course of this work, scientists determined the safe level of the electromagnetic field with the promising use of 5G base stations, including in millimeter frequencies, such as 28 GHz and 37 GHz.

In addition, employees of the NIIMT named after Meterov analyzed the international practice of applying sanitary standards, safety standards and recommendations, studied the current methods for monitoring electromagnetic field levels.

"In the course of our work, we took as a basis proven international methods and supplemented them with a number of criteria that made it possible to more carefully measure the impact of all current generations of communication, as well as a promising fifth generation. As for the current sanitary norm in Russia of 10 μW/cm2, which is one of the most stringent in Europe: measurements and laboratory studies have shown that even with its increase, the EMF level will still remain at a safe level for humans. The need to introduce new approaches to assessing the levels of electromagnetic fields created by base stations of cellular communications, as well as the possibility of adjusting standards, will contribute to the early development of new generation communication networks, "commented Sergey Perov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Electromagnetic Fields of the NIIMT named after Mizmetov.

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 the agreement on joint construction 5G networks by the companies "," Rostelecom"" and VimpelCom"." MegaFon Under the terms of the contract, these telecom operators will have to ensure equal access to radio frequencies for all market participants.

According to Interfax, citing a statement from the FAS, telecommunications companies participating in the transaction will develop and agree with the antimonopoly authority on the conditions for using infrastructure and sharing radio frequencies for MVNO telecom operators.

According to the FAS, access to the released radio frequency spectrum for the construction of 5G networks and the subsequent provision of mobile radiotelephone services on 5G networks is an opportunity to provide new generation communication services in Russia.

Of the Big Four operators, the agreement does not mention MTS, which previously announced the launch of its own 5G cellular network. The company received a corresponding license, which is valid until mid-2025.

Earlier, the FAS approved the petition of the largest telecom operators to create a joint venture for the development of 5G in the Russian Federation, ordering to maintain non-discriminatory access to frequencies for all representatives of the industry.

An agreement of intent to create a joint venture was signed between Rostelecom, MegaFon, VimpelCom and MTS to clear the spectrum in the 700 MHz, 3.4-3.8 GHz, 4.4-4.99 GHz and 24.25-29.5 GHz bands in all regions of Russia, as well as in other possible bands suitable for creating 5G networks.

By the beginning of May 2021, telecom operators still cannot agree on frequencies for the development of 5G. The most promising frequencies for operators of 3.4-3.8 GHz ("golden range") in Russia are occupied by power structures.^[17]

Mass protests against 5G take place in Russia

For several months, mass protests against cellular networks fifth-generation (5G) towers have not stopped in the Caucasus information. According to the Nag.ru portal, residents of the region went from words to deeds several times and destroyed the property of mobile operators. communications This became known on April 14, 2021.

In 2020, residents of North Ossetia set fire to communication towers twice - lynching over equipment took place in the village of Nogir and the village of Mizur, whose population opposes the spread of 5G networks. In Dagestan, everything is still limited only to rallies against the installation of base stations of new networks - protests took place in Makhachkala, Novogireevka Novy Cherkei and the village of Ashaga-Stal.

In Karachay-Cherkessia, they also live dissatisfied with the fact that towers for the latest generation of networks are being built in the region. Residents of Cherkessk, Ust-Dzhigut and the village of Zelenchukskaya openly expressed their protest against them. Not far from this village is the radio astronomy observatory of the same name, which owns a radio telescope RTF-32 with a main mirror diameter of 32 meters and the Big Azimuth Telescope (BTA) - a giant reflex telescope with a mirror diameter of 6 meters. At a distance of several kilometers from them is the RATAN-600 - owned by the Russian Academy of Sciences, the world's largest radio telescope with a mirror with a diameter of about 600 meters.

In the Kuban, there were also those who did not want to see 5G towers in their city - residents of Armavir opposed them. Their opinion on communication networks is shared by those living in Stavropol (Stavropol Territory).

Telecom operators from the Big Four do not see anything dangerous to life from people's health in fifth-generation networks and communication towers. Representatives of Megafon even clarified that the closer the subscriber is to the base station, the lower the level of electromagnetic radiation in the mobile device, and added that the location of the communication tower near the subscribers "threatens" them only with good communication quality.

In addition, Russian 5G towers for April 2021, in principle, have zero radiation levels, since there are simply no fifth-generation networks available to ordinary citizens in the country. This was confirmed to the publication by the director of MTS in the Krasnodar Territory Sergey Laskavy - he said that this operator has no plans for the widespread introduction of 5G networks yet.

I don't want to intimidate anyone, but if opposition to the development of telecom infrastructure grows, we will roll back several years. Neither telemedicine, nor public services, nor video calls will be available to subscribers like this. And in some cases, when it comes to vandalism of communication facilities, ordinary people who cannot even call will suffer, - summed up Sergey Laskavy.

As of mid-April 2021, there was not a single evidence of the danger of 5G networks, much less their connection with the spread of coronavirus. The website of the World Health Organization (WHO) even has a separate page dedicated to 5G networks, which says that there is no confirmation of the negative impact of waves in the range up to 300 GHz on human health (5G operates on the spectrum from 3.5 to several tens of GHz)^[18].

ER-Telecom and Nokia will jointly test the 5G network in Moscow

On March 15, 2021, ER-Telecom Holding JSC (TM Дом.ru and Дом.ru Business) and Nokia announced the signing of an agreement and the start of testing the capabilities of 5G networks in the business broadband access segment. Read more here.

Rosatom and Nokia tested Private LTE/5G 's dedicated wireless network

On March 9, 2021, it became known that the companies Greenatom (IT integrator) Rosatom Nokia had tested a dedicated Private/on wireless network. LTE5G Chepetsk Mechanical Plant (ChMZ JSC) The operator acted as a technological partner. mobile communication Tele2 More. here

5G testing with FreshTel in Moscow and Kazan metro

On March 9, 2021, it became known about the upcoming testing of 5G networks in the Moscow and Kazan metro. Rostelecom has submitted an application to the State Commission for Radio Frequencies (GKRCH). Read more here.

MTS launched the first 5G network in the Russian Federation for mass use

MTS launched the first in Russia 5G the network for mass use. The company announced this on March 5, 2021. here More.

Mishustin was asked to allow foreign 5G stations in "pilot" zones

In early March 2021, it became known about the letter that the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) sent to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, with a request "to create regulatory conditions and take measures aimed at supporting the organization and functioning of industrial landfills and" pilot "zones of 5G communication networks in key sectors of the economy and social sphere, including with the possibility of limited experimental use of equipment of foreign production until the creation and certification of similar domestic solutions."

According to RBC, by "polygons" the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs understands the zones where new digital solutions will be developed and tested on both foreign and Russian equipment. The union notes that in these territories it is necessary to use the same frequencies that the "leading world states" intend to use for the development of 5G.

The RSPP also asked Mishustin to fix the goal of developing a strategy for the socio-economic development of Russia - to ensure the introduction of 5G in at least 200 of the country's 500 leading enterprises in 2024.

The representative of MTSAlexey Merkutov, in a conversation with the publication, said that the operator supports the RSPP initiative, since "the company is as interested as possible both in testing the fifth generation standard and in introducing it to corporate clients, many of whom are already ready to integrate new technologies based on 5G networks into production." According to a spokesman for MegaFon, the company also supports the initiative, since its implementation "will enable operators not to postpone research on the 5G network during the period of lack of Russian equipment." VimpelCom said that they generally share the position of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.^[19]

The head of Rostelecom told which parts of Russia will be left without 5G

Residents of border regions and cities of Russia may be left without fifth-generation cellular networks for a long time due to the fact that they are going to be built on "domestic" frequencies. This became known on February 18, 2021. Without the fifth-generation connection, which is developing rapidly in many other countries, those who live up to 300 kilometers from the border with other countries will have to do.

This was announced by the president Rostelecom of "" and the head of the committee RSPP (Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs) on. digital economy Mikhail Oseevsky He added that such restrictions would be necessary if Russia he decided to build 5G networks at 4.7-4.9 GHz, while most countries use 3.4-3.8 GHz. In Russia, it is busy satellite networks Ministry of Defence and, FSO as well as satellite relay of federal television channels, and they are in no hurry to release it.

According to the words of Oseevsky agency "Prime," Pskov, Leningrad, Astrakhan, Rostov, Volgograd and Kaliningrad regions may be left without 5G. Also, residents of the west of the Moscow region will have to use LTE and 3G networks along with GSM, but the list is not limited to these regions.

The impossibility of building 5G in border areas and settlements is dictated solely by the choice of frequency range. If 3.4-3.8 GHz is not given by the Russian security forces, then 4.7-4.9 GHz is used in "friend or foe" detection systems in various foreign military equipment, even in NATO aircraft.

Russia has a land border with several NATO countries at once - Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Estonia. It also borders Ukraine, which also seeks to become a member of this military-political bloc. NATO also includes the United States, with which Russia has a maritime border.

Because of this, the International Telecommunication Union issued a requirement that countries wishing to build an internal communication infrastructure using the 4.7-4.9 GHz band at a distance of less than 300 kilometers from other states are required to request permission from them. Most importantly, this is not news for the Russian side, which was confirmed by Mikhail Oseevsky.

That risk was known. A refusal was received from a number of states, therefore, so far the situation looks such that the entire territory of Russia at a distance of 300 kilometers from the borders remains without the possibility of deploying fifth-generation networks there. This is a serious challenge, I think it will be discussed at the highest level. Nevertheless, the work is underway, there is a position of Russian companies using fifth-generation mobile communications, - said the president of Rostelecom (quoted by Prime).

Mikhail Oseevsky did not specify which countries responded to Russia with a refusal to request the construction of 5G networks in the 4.7-4.9 GHz bands in the border territories. He also did not tell which regions will have to use outdated LTE, 3G and GSM networks while their compatriots master 5G^[20].

Rostec creates a consortium of Russian manufacturers of equipment for 5G networks

On February 1, 2021, it became known about the creation by Rostec of a consortium of equipment developers for 5G networks. A number of Russian manufacturers of electronic equipment agreed to join this organization. Read more here.

ACRA: Expenses for the development of 5G in the Russian Federation are estimated at 1 trillion rubles

The costs of developing 5G networks in Russia by 2027 will exceed 1 trillion rubles and may reach 1.1 trillion rubles, the Analytical Credit Rating Agency (ACRA) predicts. The study was made public on January 20, 2021.

Substantial capital costs to roll out 5G networks could lead to negative free cash flows (FCFs), experts say. The final approval of frequencies will have a decisive impact on the amount of capital expenditures for the deployment of fifth-generation networks.

ACRA notes that by January 2021, the prospects for the development of 5G in Russia remain uncertain due to the decision to allocate frequencies and understand at what frequencies 5G will be deployed, as well as in connection with proposals for the use of exclusively Russian equipment. These factors largely determine the amount of investment required and the timing of the implementation of the new technology. When implementing the deployment of 5G networks at frequencies of 4.8-4.99 GHz, the amount of capital expenditures will be higher due to the higher required density and greater electricity consumption, as well as against the background of the rise in equipment prices, the study says.

The active introduction of 5G in Russia, according to ACRA experts, will begin in 2024, but the deadlines may be shifted in case of insufficient demand from end consumers.

A representative of Rostelecom, in a conversation with RBC, said that by January 2021 it is still premature to make confident estimates of investment, as well as conclusions about their impact on the financial performance of companies, much can still change. He recalled that in accordance with the roadmap for the development of 5G, the first commercial networks in Russia will appear in 2024 in million-plus cities, and they should be built on domestic equipment, which so far exists only in the form of prototypes.^[21]

2020

Skoltech received a certificate of state registration of software for a 5G base station

Skoltech on December 18, 2020 announced the receipt of a certificate of state registration of software for the 5G base station.

Software MTS for December 2020, it operates at a base station in the Skoltech 5G pilot zone. More. here

FAS allowed telecom operators to create a joint venture for the development of 5G in Russia

On December 24, 2020, the Federal Antimonopoly Service () FAS announced the issuance of permission to create LLC "" New Digital Solutions- a joint venture, "" Rostelecom"," "MegaFon and in the VimpelCom MTS field 5G of network. More. here

Mishustin allocated 21.4 billion rubles to Rostec for the creation of 5G equipment

As it became known on December 24, 2020, the Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree on the allocation of "" To Rostec subsidies for the creation of equipment for fifth generation networks (). 5G More. here

Testing of technology that allows launching 5G communication on 2G and 3G networks begins in Russia

On November 23, 2020, it became known about the imminent start of testing in Russia of DSS technology (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing, dynamic spectrum separation), which allows deploying 5G networks at the frequencies available to operators for 2G, 3G and 4G. Read more here.

The construction of the first corporate 5G network in Russia has begun

The construction of the first Russia in the corporate 5G network began. This was announced on November 23, 2020, MTS which entered into a corresponding agreement with the gold mining group "." Polymetal More. here

Approved roadmap for the development of 5G in Russia

On November 19, 2020, Rostec informed TAdviser that a roadmap for the development of fifth-generation mobile communication networks was approved as part of a meeting of the Presidium of the Government Commission on Digital Development chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko. The responsible executors of the roadmap will be: Rostec - in terms of the creation of Russian 5G communication equipment, PJSC Rostelecom - in terms of building 5G communication networks and developing services based on them.

Within the framework of the budget funds provided for the implementation of the roadmap, 21.463 billion rubles from the federal project "Digital Technologies" will be spent on the production of Russian communication equipment for 5G/IMT-2020 communication networks and ensuring its serial production. These funds will be provided to Rostec as a target subsidy for 2021-2024. Financing in the amount of 7.393 billion rubles was allocated for the conversion of the radio frequency spectrum for 5G communication networks under the federal project "Information Infrastructure."

The roadmap, which we approved at the presidium, includes the principles of import substitution. This will load the Russian industry, as well as contribute to its technological growth. Achieving the quality and competitiveness of domestic solutions along with international counterparts is an ambitious task, but feasible. The main part of the measures for the implementation of equipment and the deployment of 5G networks should be implemented in the period 2021-2024, said Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko.

At the same time, he said that the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation will monitor the implementation of the roadmap and compliance with all agreements.

The project for the creation of equipment for 5G is a global comprehensive one, so we will involve in the creation of the best solution not only our specialized holding companies, but also other market players who can offer affordable and innovative solutions, forming a technical task for them and coordinating their work on equipment. The implementation of the roadmap for the development of 5G communication technologies in Russia will not only create a reliable, fast-working communication of the latest generation, but will also become a catalyst for the digital transformation of entire sectors of our country's economy, emphasized Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec State Corporation.

We consider the formation of demand for this technology to be the main task of the roadmap and interaction with business. It is important to think about how these networks can be useful to the economy, which services and solutions based on 5G will increase the efficiency of business and production processes. We propose to create industrial landfills in various sectors of the economy in order to develop and test digital services that will become available on fifth-generation networks. Landfills will unite the efforts of operators, vendors and end users of services. As a result, we will learn to better understand each other's specifics and together develop innovative services to solve business problems in a wide range of industries - mining, transport and logistics, agriculture, housing and communal services and many others. Rostelecom in the near future plans, in cooperation with development institutions, to start organizing "funnels of projects" to select and pilot the most interesting of them, noted the president of Rostelecom Mikhail Oseevsky.

The 5G development roadmap was developed by Rostec and PJSC Rostelecom as part of an agreement signed by companies with the Government of the Russian Federation in July 2019.

More than 200 billion rubles will be spent on the development of 5G networks in Russia

In mid-November 2020, it became known about the developed Rostec"" and Rostelecom"" roadmap on the development of fifth-generation networks () 5G in. Russia The authors of the document propose to invest 208.13 billion in this technology until rubles 2024.

As RBC writes with reference to this roadmap, it is planned to attract 28.86 billion rubles from the federal budget. Including 21.46 billion rubles will be allocated to Rostec as a target subsidy for the production of Russian 5G equipment and ensuring its serial production.

In total, the project provides funding for the development of equipment in the amount of 42.8 billion rubles for four years, Vasily Brovko, director-at-large of Rostec Corporation, told Kommersant.

It is expected that by 2024 5G networks on domestic equipment should be deployed in at least 10 million-plus cities, the number of subscribers is 5 million people. On the basis of new generation networks, 20 projects should be launched in key sectors of the economy, and the total number of installed stations should be 10 thousand.

Russia, according to the roadmap, should take eighth place in international ratings in terms of 5G development, the share of Russian companies in the global market for 5G-based solutions should be 1.8%.

The schedule of the roadmap, Senior Vice President of ZTE in Russia Tigran Poghosyan considers too optimistic due to the unavailability of domestic modules for 5G, as well as due to the amount of work on standardization and testing.

According to RBC sources, on November 16, 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko considered the roadmap of Rostelecom and Rostec, and the next day a meeting was held at which the last disagreements were removed. In the coming days, a protocol should be signed, that is, the document will be approved, explained one of the interlocutors of the publication^[22]

Ericsson has deployed a 5G network with autonomous architecture in Russia

Ericsson has deployed a fifth-generation (5G) cellular network with autonomous architecture (SA) in Russia. The network is deployed on the territory of the 5G Innovation Center, located at the company's headquarters in Moscow in the Metropolis business center . Read more here.

SanPiNs in Russia will force operators to install 5 times more base stations for 5G than in other countries

Sanitary rules and regulations adopted in Russia (SanPiNs) in the field of radiation from transmitters of cellular networks will force operators in Russia to install five times more base stations for 5G networks than in other countries. This was announced in November 2020 in the international association of GSMA operators.

By November 2020, the radiation level of transmitters according to Russian SanPiNam should not be higher than 0.1 W per 1 sq. m at frequencies above 2 GHz in residential areas. In most countries, the association notes, this figure should not exceed 10 W per 1 sq. m at frequencies above 2 GHz. To meet Russian standards, companies will need to install more telecommunications equipment, GSMA analysts say.

Russia has one of the most stringent norms in the world in terms of radiation exposure, Vadim Poskakukhin, project manager of Spectrum Management, told Vedomosti. According to him, the ICZNI standards have been adopted in more than 130 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Another 11 countries use the recommendations of the American Communications Commission (FCC) - they practically do not differ from the ICZNI standards.

Operators interviewed by the publication assess the influence of SanPiNov in different ways. VimpelCom agrees with the conclusions of GSMA, MegaFon does not see any problems in the norms, and Tele2 considers the restrictions "obsolete." Taking into account the fact that more stations will be needed for 5G networks, current standards may affect the cost of deploying networks, says MTSALEKSEY Merkutov.

Rospotrebnadzor told Vedomosti that the current standards are based on many years of research on cellular organisms. So far, the department has not received any scientifically based research results that would allow changing the standards, they noted there.^[23]

GSMA: CIS operators invest $25 billion in infrastructure

According to the data released on November 11, 2020 by GSMA Intelligence, an organization specializing in research in the telecommunications industry, mobile operators in Russia and the CIS are investing more than $25 billion in the development of new infrastructure. More than half (57%) of the costs will be for the development of 5G technology. Read more here.

GSMA: 5G launch in Russia will cost twice as much as in other countries

The deployment of 5G networks in Russia will cost twice as much as in other countries, warned the International GSM Association (GSMA, unites telecom operators from different countries) in early November 2020. According to experts, the costs of Russian telecom operators in 2023-2030 to launch the technology will be 84% higher compared to the option in which the "golden range" of 3.5 GHz would be used for communication of the new generation.

The latter in the Russian Federation is used by law enforcement agencies and special services for work. The GSMA recommended either freeing it for operators or granting licensed access. Instead, telecommunications companies are offered a range of 4.8-4.99 GHz, the Kommersant newspaper reports.

Operation will come out more expensive because GSMA experts believe that to cover the same area and transmit the same amount of data, the network in the 4.8 GHz band will consume more power.

The construction itself will require more money, because base stations will have to be installed more often. Based on the data on the graphs, according to GSMA calculations, it would be necessary to spend about $290 million to cover Moscow with a 5G network in the 3.5 GHz range until 2030, and in the 4.8 GHz range this amount grows to about $530 million.

According to VimpelCom forecasts, investments in the launch of new generation networks in Russia over the next 10 years are estimated from several hundred billion to a trillion rubles. The final cost will depend on a number of factors, but, as noted by Rostelecom, the use of the 4.7-4.9 GHz range will increase the cost of creating and maintaining networks by 2-2.5 times. Tele2 agreed with such assessments, and MTS abstained, saying that it was too early to assess this.

According to forecasts of GSMA analysts, the introduction of 5G could bring the Russian economy more than $5.2 billion by 2025, which is equivalent to an increase in GDP by 0.3%, and for the period 2022-2030, the total total benefit for the economy from 5G will be $60 billion.

It's funny what the construction of the GSMA network counted from 2023, and the economic effect seems to be based on what the networks will appear in 2021.

Denis Chernooky, deputy director of practice for working with companies in the technology, media and telecommunications sector of KPMG in Russia and the CIS, believes that in the next three to five years in Russia 5G will be deployed only in the corporate segment, that is, indoors. Therefore, the "outstanding contribution" to the economy of the 5G network will not be given, the expert believes.^[24]

Rostec, Rosatom and Russian Railways will receive money from the state budget for 5G and quantum technologies instead of development institutions

In early November 2020, it became known that Rostec, Rosatom and Russian Railways will receive money from the state budget for 5G networks and quantum technologies instead of development institutions. This is stated in the new version of the passport of the federal project "Digital Technologies" of the national program "Digital Economy" of the Russian Federation. Read more here.

Maksut Shadayev: all 5G networks will be based on Russian equipment

All fifth generation (5G) networks deployed in Russia will be based on domestic equipment. This was announced on November 2, 2020 by the head of the Ministry of Digital Science Maksut Shadayev, speaking at a meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy.

It was decided that its own national production of equipment necessary for all 5G networks to be based only on domestic solutions with a high degree of localization will be financed from 2024, he said.

In addition, according to the minister, the program of conversion of the radio frequency spectrum agreed for the launch of 5G technology will begin in 2021.

The decision to build 5G networks in Russia only on domestic equipment was made by the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) in September 2020, Vedomosti writes. The requirement is explained by the position of law enforcement agencies and special services: according to the source, the publication called such equipment "critical infrastructure." For example, the work of entire enterprises will depend on 5G networks, and unmanned vehicles in cities.

Earlier, the requirement to build 5G on domestic equipment was lobbied by Russian law enforcement agencies and special services. They noted that such equipment refers to the critical infrastructure with which enterprises, unmanned vehicles, etc. will work.

If the decision to build networks only on Russian equipment is nevertheless made, this will call into question the implementation of any projects in the new generation network as a whole, says Mikhail Alekseev, managing partner of AC & M-Consulting. For example, the joint project of MTS and Sibur on a 5G network on the territory of the Perm plant "Siburkhimprom" on Ericsson equipment, according to the publication of "Vedomosti^[25]

Ministry of Digital Development has developed rules for allocating subsidies to Rostec for 5G equipment

At the end of October 2020, the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation presented rules for allocating state subsidies to Rostec for the production of equipment for 5G networks.

According to the document published on the federal portal of draft regulatory legal acts, in 2021-2024. Rostec will receive from the federal budget funds for which the state corporation will have to develop a "system project for the production and export of high-tech industrial products in order to develop a system project for the production of high-tech telecommunications products for 5G/IMT-2020 communication networks and ensure its serial production."

In accordance with the plans of the Ministry of Digital Development, Rostec will have to create the following:

• a base station for a 5G mobile network;
• 5G switching equipment, including using virtualization technology and network function orchestration;
• equipment of an automated control and monitoring system for mobile radiotelephone communication of the 5G standard;
• Competence Center in the field of development and implementation of technologies used to build 5G/IMT-2020 communication networks, including for testing and certification of Russian equipment, and other works provided for by the action plan.

By 2030, 50 million subscribers will be connected to 5G networks - this target is laid down in the plan (roadmap) for the development of fifth-generation mobile networks, developed by agreement with the government of Rostec and Rostelecom, Vedomosti writes.

In 2024, as expected, the number of 5G users in Russia can reach 5 million. But this will require amendments to existing regulations, the development of domestic subscriber equipment for the mass market, easier access to infrastructure for operators, etc.^[26]

Ministry of Trade: Government will subsidize the purchase of Russian equipment for 5G networks

At the end of October 2020, the director of the Department of Radio-Electronic Industry of the Ministry of Industry and Trade RFVasiliy Shpak said that the Government of the Russian Federation will subsidize domestic equipment for 5G networks starting in 2021.

According to Shpak, the government is determined to promote exclusively domestic solutions, as industry moves towards creating such solutions. It is necessary not only to stimulate operators to use Russian equipment, but also to motivate them, he stressed.

Shpak also noted that there is no full range of domestic equipment for 5G, but work is underway, and the OpenRAN format is a promising solution, while proprietary ones must be abandoned. He cited as an example a number of countries that impose restrictions on the use of equipment of certain vendors on their networks, so relying on monovendor architecture is wrong.

Gulnara Khasyanova, General Director of Micron PJSC, also warned about the danger of proprietary hardware solutions: the Russian market is 1% of the world's, so if you make proprietary equipment, the market capacity will not be enough for further investments in development. At the same time, waiting for 2024 is to slow down the development of the economy, she says. Therefore, it is necessary to use open interfaces so that as Russian modules are ready, they can be embedded in networks.

As Vedomosti writes with reference to Mikhail Alekseev, managing partner of AC&M Consulting, the state is going to localize not only the production of base stations, but in general the entire 5G infrastructure, including the network core, he continues. The history of market development indicates that each of the global manufacturers of cellular equipment spent approximately $2 billion a year on applied development and left the market as soon as it stopped paying off such large-scale investments with profit from sales, he said.^[27]

The procedure for attracting technology companies to the 5G Demo Center of Moscow has been determined

The procedure for attracting technology companies to the 5G Demo Center of Moscow has been determined. This was announced on October 28, 2020 by DIT of Moscow. Read more here.

The first 5G laboratory in Russia for solving urban problems has been launched in Moscow

The Department of Information Technologies of the city of Moscow (DIT of Moscow) on October 26, 2020 announced the launch of a 5G Demo Center, which will search, test and support urban services based on fifth-generation network technologies. Read more here.

Skolkovo proposed to simplify the installation of communication towers for the development of 5G

The Skolkovo Foundation (the competence center for the federal project "Regulatory Regulation of the Digital Environment") proposes to simplify the construction of infrastructure for telecommunications operators. This was reported in the draft amendments to the Land and Urban Planning Codes of the Russian Federation, which was prepared at the end of October 2020. Read more here.

Each base station for 5G networks in 4 years should be 40% Russian

Each base station for 5G networks in 4 years should be 40% Russian. The Government of the Russian Federation set such a task within the framework of the federal project "Digital Technologies" of the national program "Digital Economy." This is stated in the protocol of the Presidium of the Government Commission published in October 2020.

According to the portal "Future of Russia. National projects "with reference to this document, it is assumed that by 2021 the level of localization of base stations for communication networks 5G/IMT2020 Russian production will be 10%, by 2022 - 20%, by 2023 - 30%.

By 2024, as Sergey Nakvasin, Deputy General Director, Director for Digital Technologies of the Digital Economy ANO, explained to the publication, each base station for 5G networks should include 40% of domestic components. This level of localization will allow you to consider the equipment Russian and allow it to be used in Russia.

Localization is a good mechanism that allows you to quickly master the production of modern high-tech products, the closest example is the auto industry. In principle, there are no countries in the world that produce the full range of the necessary electronic component base for base stations. Taking into account the strict requirements of the state to use only domestic equipment for building 5G networks, such a mechanism looks promising, "Nakvasin said.

By the end of October 2020, Russia does not have domestic equipment for 5G communication, but its development is underway - for example, at the Global Wireless Communication Systems research center and Rostec. Tests of the layout of base stations by Global Wireless Communication Systems are scheduled for November 2020. The launch of the production of such products is expected in 2023.^[28]

The Ministry of Finance, Roskomnadzor, the Ministry of Energy and Rospotrebnadzor criticized the proposals of the Ministry of Digital Development to support operators building 5G networks

On October 26, 2020, it became known about the criticism of the Ministry of Finance, Roskomnadzor, the Ministry of Energy and Rospotrebnadzor regarding the roadmap developed by the Ministry of Digital Development to support the investment activity of telecom operators.

As Kommersant writes with reference to the conclusion of the Ministry of Finance, the department was dissatisfied with the proposed reform of payments by telecom operators to the state for radio frequencies. The Ministry of Digital Development reducing payments for companies implementing the new 5G communication standard, and, conversely, increasing fees for owners of communications means of outdated technologies that impede the introduction of 5G. In the aggregate, the total payments for frequencies should have been reduced by three times.

Roskomnadzor considered it necessary to introduce benefits on payments for frequencies only if domestic equipment for 5G is used. Earlier, the department had already criticized the "roadmap," believing that it showed signs of unfair competition.

The Ministry of Energy wants to exclude from the "roadmap a point related to ensuring the access of telecom operators and data centers to the wholesale electricity market, since, according to the ministry, there are no formal obstacles for this anyway.

In addition, the proposal Ministry of Digital Development simplify the receipt of sanitary and epidemiological conclusions when putting facilities into operation was criticized by Rospotrebnadzor, which indicates that all procedures are already as simple as possible.

If we discard the criticized initiatives, then among the alleged support measures remained:

• simplification of operators' access to the infrastructure of apartment buildings, state and municipal property;
• connection to power grids in the railway right-of-way;
• clarification of requirements for communication networks on federal highways;
• simplification of equipment import procedure;
• cancellation of mandatory re-registration of imports when renewing frequency permits.^[29]

How the FSB slows down the development of 5G in Russia

As it became known on October 8, 2020 5G Russia FSB , the development of networks in may stall due to requirements - this federal executive body insists on the use of domestic means of cryptographic protection in the radio channel between the base station and subscriber equipment. Ministry of Economic Development In oppose such an initiative.

A source among manufacturers of telecommunications equipment told the Kommersant newspaper that the development of 5G in the Russian Federation is being slowed down due to the lack of rules for the use of new generation base stations and smartphones. Two interlocutors of the publication to telecom operators confirmed this.

The Minek believes that if the requirements of the special services are fully satisfied, then in the country it will be possible to use only the gadgets of those manufacturers who agree to install Russian cryptography in them.

In turn, the experts interviewed by the publication agreed in absentia with the Ministry of Economic Development, since, in their opinion, finalizing all 5G subscriber devices for local requirements, in this case, for Russian standards, may become economically unprofitable for gadget manufacturers. This may lead to the fact that domestic networks of the fifth generation will simply have nothing to develop on.

Equipment manufacturers - Qualcomm, Nokia and Ericsson - have already indicated in a response to the requirements of the Ministry of Digital Development that they do not support algorithms not standardized in the international 3GPP consortium that are responsible for the compatibility of communication equipment around the world. Refinement for local requirements may turn out to be inexpedient in terms of economic indicators, which will ultimately block the creation of 5G in Russia. The compatibility of communication equipment worldwide is based on 3GPP standards.^[30]

The government allocates 21.4 billion rubles for the development of equipment for 5G networks

As it became known on October 5, 2020, the Government of the Russian Federation allocates 21.4 billion rubles for the development of equipment for 5G networks. The corresponding subsidies are included in the budget of the federal project "Digital Technologies," which is part of the national program "Digital Economy."

As a To sheets person familiar with the decision of the government commission on digital development (it was adopted at the presidium at the end of September 2020) said, the funds will be received Rostec by "," responsible for the creation of domestic equipment for the fifth generation network.

The state corporation confirmed this information to the publication and explained that, taking into account extrabudgetary sources of funding, the budget of all activities within the framework of the 5G development roadmap is 42.9 billion rubles. With these funds, Rostec will develop domestic equipment, ensure its promotion abroad and approve Russian algorithms for cryptographic encryption of information in the international 3GPP communications consortium, a representative of the state corporation said.

According to experts interviewed by the newspaper, this money may not be enough to build a full-fledged domestic 5G network. He also added that fifth-generation networks will be launched in Russia in at least five years.

When developing domestic 5G equipment, the emphasis is on the autonomous SA architecture. By October 2020, the share of Russian telecommunications equipment in the domestic market is no more than 8%. By 2024, this figure is planned to be raised by about half - up to 15%.

According to Vedomosti, it is planned to consider domestic equipment for 5G already those products in which the localization of production will be from 40%. A newspaper source close to one of the world's largest telecommunications equipment vendors considers such a level of localization realistic, but noted that it is not clear how these percentages will be considered: the main thing in the base station is chipsets and radio elements, but they are the most difficult to replace.^[31]

Consortium AFK Sistema, Rostec and Rostelecom decided to build 5G networks on open equipment

As it became known on October 5, 2020, ANO Telecommunications Technologies (TT, created by the Element group, Rostelecom and Rostec, unites 25 companies) presented a strategy for the development of telecommunications equipment production. It speaks of the need to oblige telecom operators to build 5G networks on open interface equipment, in particular the Open Radio Access Network (OpenRAN). Read more here.

Ministry of Digital Development: 5G networks in Russia will be built on domestic equipment

In early October 2020, the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation announced that 5G networks in Russia will be built on domestic equipment. The relevant manufacturers will receive benefits.

The project for the construction of 5G on Russian equipment is being considered. There is an agreement between the government, Rostec and Rostelecom to promote this topic. There is also, in a high degree of readiness, a draft roadmap for the development of 5G. In fact, we are confident that 5G networks will be built mainly on domestic equipment, - said the deputy head of the ministry Oleg Ivanov.

According to him, disagreements with Rostec have been eliminated, and only questions with Rostelecom remain. What kind of problems are we talking about, Ivanov did not specify.

The President MTS Aleksei Kornya is confident that the deployment of a 5G network using only domestic equipment can slow down the process of developing a new generation network in Russia.

Speaking about frequencies for the development of 5G in Russia, in particular about the "golden range" (3.4-3.8 GHz), which is considered the most promising for the construction of 5G networks, but is occupied by law enforcement agencies, Oleg Ivanov confirmed that now the use of this range is not included in the plans.

The law enforcement agencies and I are still in dialogue on this range. Maybe in the future something will work out, but so far we have removed this issue from the agenda. We say that, here, there are other ranges, pay attention to them. And operators already have certain plans for these ranges: the first licenses have been obtained, there are startups in industry. I don't want to anticipate various announcements from various operators, but almost everyone already has projects in the technological development of 5G, "the deputy minister said.

He added that it is planned to convert the 4.8-4.9 GHz band, the millimeter band frequency (24.25-24.65 GHz) and the 694-790 MHz band.^[32]

MTS, MegaFon, Beeline, Rostelecom: without the frequencies of security officials, 5G costs will pay off no earlier than 2040

On September 28, 2020, it became known about a report prepared by major cellular operators on comparing scenarios for the deployment of 5G networks in different countries. According to the document compiled by MTS, MegaFon, VimpelCom (Beeline brand) and Rostelecom, the return on investment in the development of technology without frequencies of 3.4-3.8 GHz (occupied by the Ministry of Defense and Roskosmos) will come no earlier than 2040.

According to telecommunications companies, in the 24.25-24.65 GHz frequencies provided to them, it is impossible to normally start networks in large cities - they are suitable only for "organizing local zones with increased requirements for the quality characteristics of communication services." The frequencies already available to them below 3 GHz will also prevent 5G networks from working fully. The Ministry of Digital Development of operators other frequencies - the range of 4.8-4.99 GHz. Operators say that the creation of a 5G network at these frequencies is possible, but it will require more than twice as much funds (723.3 billion rubles until 2030) than at 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies (in this case, 317.1 billion rubles would be required).

The calculations carried out by the operators showed that the development of 5G in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range will make it possible to get the first estimated profit in the amount of 44.2 billion rubles by 2027, and by 2030 this figure will grow to 290 billion rubles. As for the cost of freeing the 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency range throughout the country, it is estimated at 253 billion rubles.

The payback period for networks of real operators is a somewhat conditional indicator, since construction has been going on for many years, and the networks bring income to both new and previous generations, "said Konstantin Ankilov, head of TMT Consulting.

According to him, the usual payback period when introducing a new technology is five to ten years, but it significantly depends on specific conditions.^[33]

Rostec and the Moscow Government will jointly develop 5G

The Moscow government and Rostec State Corporation signed an agreement on the development of fifth-generation communication technologies. This was announced on September 23, 2020 by DIT of Moscow. Read more here.

Ministry of Digital Development decided to cut 5G costs by 6 times

On September 23, 2020, it became known about the decision, Ministry of Digital Development communications and mass media of the Russian Federation to cut costs for the development of 5G networks by almost six times - from 43 billion to 7.4 billion. rubles

As Izvestia writes with reference to the corresponding document prepared by the department, in 2021 it is proposed to allocate 504.5 million rubles for these purposes, in 2022 - 3.5 billion, in 2023 - 1.7 billion rubles, in 2024 - 1.6 billion rubles.

The change in funding is associated with the approval on July 21 by President RFVladimir Putin of new national development goals until 2030, Konstantin Ganeev, deputy head of the project office for the implementation of the Digital Economy national program of the analytical center under the government of the Russian Federation, explained to Izvestia.

At a meeting of the Information Infrastructure working group on September 14, it was decided to send all changes to the passport of the federal project for revision, including in terms of adjusting the budget, its participant, General Director of the Telecommunications Technologies Consortium (ANO TT) Gulnara Khasyanova told Izvestia. The working group includes representatives of operators, the Ministry of Digital Development of Digital Science, the Ministry of Defense, the ANO Digital Economy, the analytical center under the government and experts.

In VimpelCom"" (the Beeline brand), Rostelecom"" and Megaphone"" told Izvestia that they did not support the savings in clearing the spectrum for deployment. In 5G MTS refrained from commenting.

Cutting the budget for conversion measures will have an extremely negative impact on the development of the telecom industry and other areas that the introduction of 5G will give additional growth opportunities, "said Alexander Balyuk, head of the department for the introduction of new technologies at VimpelCom.[34]

Announcement of a base station layout for 5G networks from Kryptonit NPK

On September 23, 2020, Rostec presented a layout of a base station for 5G networks. The equipment was developed by domestic specialists with the participation of Kryptonit NPK, the state corporation said in a statement. Read more here.

Creating a Base Station 5G/IMT-2020

On September 18, 2020, it became known about the creation of the first base stations in Russia for 5G networks. The development is carried out by the leading research center (FACE) "Global Wireless Communication Systems" on the basis of the company "GlobalInformService." Read more here.

Skoltech has taken up the development of open 5G platforms for operators

On September 14, 2020, it became known about the purchase by Skoltech of software from the American company Radisys. Thanks to this acquisition, the Skolkovsky Institute of Science and Technology has started creating open 5G platforms for telecom operators. Read more here.

The Ministry of Communications has developed rules for the use of equipment for 5G networks

At the end of August 2020, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications presented the rules for the use of equipment for 5G networks developed by the department. They extend to elements of the 5G core network with the following network features:

• an authentication server;
• access and mobility management;
• Storing unstructured data
• storing information about network functions;
• Select a network segment
• policy management, etc.

According to the order of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, when implementing procedures for identifying and authenticating 5G network subscribers, cryptographic information protection tools using the S3G-256 algorithm should be used.

To protect the communication channel between 5G base stations and 5G switching equipment, equipment and software must be used that has confirmation of compliance with information security requirements established by the federal executive body in the field of security, not lower than class KS3.

Each subscriber in a 5G network must be assigned a unique 5G network subscription identifier (Subscription Permanent Identifier), which must be stored in UDM/UDR modules on an ongoing basis.

The accompanying documentation for the project indicates that it complies with the provisions of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the provisions of other international treaties. It is noted that the implementation of the draft order will not affect the achievement of the goals of state programs, and will not entail additional expenses from the federal budget and budgets of other levels.

The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications states that the document was developed in order to ensure the integrity, stability of functioning and security of the unified telecommunication network of the Russian Federation. The document approves mandatory requirements for the parameters of 5G switching equipment when providing data services and telephone connection.^[35]

The emergence of the first domestic equipment for 5G networks in the Russian Federation

On August 21, 2020, it became known about the appearance of Russia's first domestic equipment for 5G networks. Oleg Ivanov, deputy head of the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media, said this in an interview with the Digital Journalism project.

Just the other day, we had a working group within the framework of the Digital Economy ANO on this issue. And colleagues from the industry invited telecom operators to participate in testing domestic developments, [operators] are interested. They are studying [this proposal], - he said, answering the question when the first Russian equipment for 5G will be ready (quoted by TASS).

At the same time, Ivanov noted that the use of domestic developments instead of foreign equipment for the introduction of 5G in Russia could shift the timing of network coverage by a year and a half. There is also another obstacle for the rapid introduction of 5G - obtaining the necessary frequency bands.

The launch of fifth-generation networks in Russia also delays the difficulty in allocating frequencies. The priority for 5G is the 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency range, but it is occupied by other services, including the military.

Unfortunately, in 3.4-3.8 GHz, the conversion problems are the most difficult, they cannot be solved in one fell swoop. And now it is very difficult to emphasize only this range. We hear colleagues from the power unit that this is often impossible. We hope for a bilateral dialogue, we continue to work. As an opportunity arises, we will take advantage of it, - said the deputy minister in an interview, excerpts from which were published on August 21, 2020.

According to Ivanov, the cost of converting the radio frequency spectrum in the "golden" range will be very high - more than 360 billion rubles for the first stage alone. At the same time, even the allocation of these funds will not provide free opportunities to use this range, he added.^[36]

Announcement of a roadmap for the development of 5G networks from Rostelecom and Rostec

Rostelecom and Rostec have developed a roadmap for the development of 5G technology. This was announced on July 28, 2020 by the Deputy Chairman of the Scientific and Technical Council of Rostec Alexander Kashirin. According to him, the document was prepared as part of the implementation of the agreement concluded with the Government of the Russian Federation in order to develop fifth-generation networks in Russia.

The timing of the creation of domestic equipment for 5G will be determined after the approval of the roadmap, it is in the process of approval by July 28, Kashirin said in a conversation with TASS.

Rostec is responsible for the sections of the roadmap regarding the development of domestic technologies and equipment, the development and promotion of domestic solutions to the market, the formation of a market and stimulating demand for domestic solutions and equipment, ensuring leadership in global technological markets.

Rostelecom created sections related to the deployment of infrastructure for the introduction of fifth-generation mobile communication networks mainly using domestic solutions and technologies, as well as the formation of a market and stimulating demand for services and services based on 5G mobile networks.

An architectural council has been created to implement the agreement concluded with the government in order to develop 5G networks in the Russian Federation and develop an appropriate roadmap. Its co-chairs were Director-at-Large of Rostec Vasily Brovko and Vice President for Strategic Initiatives of Rostelecom Boris Glazkov. In addition to representatives of Rostec and Rostelecom, the council also included representatives of Kryptonit, the Sozvezdiye concern, the Avtomatika concern, the National Center for Informatization, New Digital Solutions and Tele2.

Based on strategic goals, the architectural council consolidated positions on the prioritization of radio frequency resources and the necessary cooperation for allocating spectrum for 5G/IMT-2020 networks. The requirements for information security, for the construction of a network infrastructure and for the implementation of individual network functions are determined.^[37]

MTS received the first 5G license in Russia

On July 28, 2020, it became known that Roskomnadzor began issuing licenses for 5G networks. The first operator to receive it was MTS. Read more here.

DIT of Moscow ordered a study on the impact of 5G networks on health

In July 2020, the Department of Information Technologies (DIT) of Moscow ordered research to identify the level of exposure of people and the urban environment to radiation from equipment for 5G networks. Testing will be carried out by the Research Institute of Labor Medicine named after N.F. Measerova (NIIMT). The results of the experiments will be sent to Rospotrebnadzor and Mizdrav. Read more here.

Operators in Russia opposed the launch of 5G on domestic equipment

On June 18, 2020, it became known that the Digital Economy ANO working group, which presents telecom operators, did not agree on the proposal of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications to build 5G networks exclusively on Russian equipment, Kommersant reports with reference to the minutes of the group's meeting.

When voting on the amendment, the opinions of the members of the working group, which includes representatives of business and the state, were divided equally. As a result, the final decision remained with the head of the group, President of the Big Data Association Anna Serebryanikova, who opposed it.

The ministry proposed to introduce a requirement for the construction of 5G networks on domestic equipment into the federal project "Information Infrastructure." It was assumed that as a result, 5G communications will appear in Russia in 2024 in ten million-plus cities, and on domestic equipment.

The department confirmed to the newspaper that they made this proposal within the framework of the general policy on the consolidation of indicators. They also noted that changes in federal projects must be coordinated with the working group.

According to Kommersant, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications has already taken the initiative to force Russian telecom operators to use mainly domestic 5G hardware. This is stated in his draft concept for the creation and development of a new generation of communications in Russia, presented in May 2019, and at that time it was supposed to appoint Rostec as the supplier of such equipment.

Anna Serebryanikova said that citizens and businesses should have the opportunity to use 5G in 2021, and the proposal of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications will postpone the launch until 2025.

Alexey Bogdanov, Director of Investment and Capital Markets at KPMG in Russia and the CIS, believes that when deploying 5G networks, it would be more logical to enter into partnerships with one of the foreign equipment suppliers or allow the new standard to develop in a competitive environment for which the leaders of the Russian communications market are ready.^[38]

Rostec: reducing government spending on 5G will delay the development of networks for several years

At the end of May 2020, Rostec sent a report to the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, in which it warned of the risks of insufficient financing of technological projects, including those related to the development of 5G networks. The state corporation believes that in the event of a 50% decrease in state support for the technology planned for 2020, the development of fifth-generation networks may be postponed for several years.

As a representative of Rostec told Vedomosti, the government proposed to limit some of the items of expenses from the national program "Digital Economy." The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications told the publication that the process of balancing the budget of the federal project by May 29 continues. The saved funds will go to support the population and commercial enterprises in the current epidemiological conditions and economic situation, says a newspaper source familiar with the government's plans.

According to Rostec materials, instead of 4.3 billion rubles, they plan to allocate 2.4 billion rubles for the development of 5G in 2020 in terms of the creation of equipment, including base stations. So, for example, according to Vedomosti, by 2024 Rostec will be able to create not 20 thousand base stations, as planned, but 5 thousand.

In addition, as stated in Rostec, sequestration may affect the execution of road maps on quantum technologies (instead of 1.8 billion rubles, it is proposed to subsidize only 608 million rubles), as well as the Internet of Things and blockchain (halving - up to 50 million rubles for each).

Mikhail Alekseev, managing partner of the analytical company AC&M Consulting, doubted the expediency of developing fifth-generation networks in Russia in a situation where the problem with allocating frequencies to operators has not been solved. It is also unclear when the construction of such networks may begin, he points out.^[39]

The Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation intends to reduce the cost of developing the 5G network

The agency plans to redistribute funds allocated for the implementation of the federal project "Information Infrastructure" of the national program "Digital Economy." We are talking about the development and implementation of a plan for the conversion of frequencies for the deployment of 5G on the territory of the Russian Federation in cities with a population of one million, TASS reports the Russian Information Agency in May 2020 . For these purposes, 470 million rubles are provided .

The changes will affect the cost of creating wireless communications for socially significant objects in small settlements. Spending will amount to 2 billion rubles. It is also proposed to redistribute for other purposes 619 million rubles allocated to connect socially significant objects to the Internet, another 1 billion rubles - in terms of the development and implementation of a plan for the conversion of the radio frequency spectrum for 5G, as well as 3.3 billion rubles of funds allocated to provide radio telephone coverage of federal roads.

The Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation sent its proposals to the ANO "Digital Economy," as well as the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation.

The ANO "Digital Economy" believes that the actual termination in 2020 of budget financing for the development of the 5G network will affect both the development of the industry as a whole and will lead to the impossibility of fulfilling tasks within the framework of the national program "Digital Economy" to create promising communication networks of the next generations (5G/IMT2020), which are the base of the country's information infrastructure.

Chance to accelerate: Why mobile carriers need 5G

For the past two years, 5G networks have been successfully tested in Europe, the United States, China and South Korea. For several years now, the LTE advanced format has been operating in many countries, which is approaching the fifth generation in terms of data transfer speed. In Russia, the most common frequencies for which all 5G devices are sharpened (this is 3.4-3.8 GHz) are occupied for state needs, and they are not given to operators. It is difficult to make forecasts in such conditions.

For operators, the introduction of 5G is a significant investment with an unclear payback period, but they are ready for them. In fact, the market has long been in the middle between 4G and 5G thanks to the LTE advanced format. At maximum speeds, it reaches 5G speeds. Whether subscribers are willing to pay for 5G for the most part is a more difficult question. Read more here.

The Russian government is ready to give 5G frequencies without a competition in exchange for a share in the joint venture of operators

On April 6, 2020, it became known about the draft concept for the creation and development of 5G networks developed by the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications. According to the document, operators will be able to get frequencies for 5G without bidding if they give the state a stake in a joint venture (JV), which will clear them.

As Vedomosti writes with reference to this project, the initiative is aimed at reducing operating costs of operators and stimulating investitsionnoy̆ activity.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Oleg Ivanov proposed transferring the joint venture to the state to control the activities of the enterprise. Later, Ivanov did not rule out that the SCRF could transfer part of its regulatory powers to the enterprise.

Also, as stated in the document, the joint venture can become a "collective negotiator" with organizations and individual users of the 5G spectrum to agree on options for its release. Ideally, the JV can act as a bulk buyer of capacity from satellite operators for the 3400-3800 MHz band for its subsequent resale to individual commercial owners of satellite communications earth stations (SSSS). This can free up the most promising range (3.4-3.8 GHz) for the construction of 5G "without a one-time negative effect on satellite operators."

The development of 5G networks in cities with a population of one million is estimated at 161 billion rubles, which will have to be spent by the Big Four operators. The final costs will depend, among other things, on the allocated frequencies. If for the 3.4-3.8 GHz range, network equipment is already produced by several large vendors, then for 4.4-4.99 GHz, which Russian officials see as an alternative to it, the offer of network equipment is much less, market participants told Vedomosti earlier.^[40]

Russia will produce equipment for 5G networks

In early February 2020, it became known about the cooperation of Globalinformservice (GIS) and the Sozvezdiye concern (part of the Rostec Group of Companies), within which joint development of equipment for 5G networks will be established. Read more here.

2019

New frequencies earmarked for 5G to speed up launch of networks around the world

At the end of November 2019, the World Radio Conference (WCR) allocated to 5G accelerate the launch of networks around the world. More. here

Financial support for 5G and the Internet of Things cut four times

On November 7, 2019, it became known that the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications published the final version of the roadmap "Wireless Communication Technologies." The document was prepared by the "daughter" of the state corporation "Rostec" "National Center for Informatization" (NCI) as part of the activities of the federal project "Digital Technologies" of the national program "Digital Economy of Russia."

The first version of this document, prepared in May 2019, assumed an astronomical amount of costs for the development of wireless technologies in Russia - more than 1 trillion rubles. for the period until 2024. Including 550 billion rubles. it was supposed to spend on satellite communications, 423 billion rubles. on cellular communications.

In the final version of the roadmap, the total costs of implementing the activities of the roadmap will be significantly less - 105.16 billion rubles. Of this amount, extrabudgetary sources will allocate 69.16 billion rubles, the federal budget - 36 billion rubles. Additionally, another 139 billion rubles will be allocated outside the tools for supporting the roadmap.

Wireless Technology Roadmap Implementation Cost Plan (bln) rubles

That is, the total cost of supporting manufacturers of wireless communications for the period until 2024 will amount to 244.16 billion rubles. - four times less than originally planned.

According to support measures, the distribution of costs is as follows. Support for leading companies will cost 28.7 billion rubles, of which extrabudgetary sources will allocate 16.7 billion rubles, the federal budget - 12 billion rubles.

The provision of subsidies by credit institutions will cost 25.68 billion rubles. Most of this amount - 23.28 billion rubles. - will be allocated by extrabudgetary sources. The federal budget will add 2.4 billion rubles.

Support of programs of activities of leading innovation centers (PERSONS) will require 19.7 billion rubles. Of this amount, extrabudgetary sources will allocate 11.98 billion rubles, the federal budget - 8.32 billion rubles.

Grant support for small enterprises will cost 11.88 billion rubles, of which the federal budget will allocate 6.88 billion rubles, extrabudgetary sources - 4.4 billion rubles. Support for the development and implementation of industrial solutions will require 7.5 billion rubles. Of this amount, extrabudgetary sources will allocate 5 billion rubles, the federal budget - 2.5 billion rubles.

Supporting industry solutions will cost 6 billion rubles. Of this amount, extrabudgetary sources will allocate 4 billion rubles, the federal budget - 2 billion rubles. support for regional projects will require 5.7 billion rubles, of which extrabudgetary sources will allocate 3.8 billion rubles, the federal budget - 1.9 billion rubles.

The document divides wireless technologies communications into five sub-technologies (sub-SCT, "sub-technologies of end-to-end digital technologies"). WAN The sub-technology (Wide Area Network) includes fourth generation (4G, standard) LTE and fifth generation () cellular communications. 5G

The LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) sub-technology includes wireless narrowband Internet of Things technologies both based on cellular networks (NB-IoT) and in individual sections of the 800 MHz band (LoRaWan, XNB, NB-Fi). WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) subtechnologies include Wi-Fi technologies and its analogue - Li-Fi (similar to Wi-Fi, but uses light as a channel for transmitting information).

Sub-technologies of PAN (Personal Area Network) include technologies for automatic identification and collection of data using electromagnetic or inductive communication carried out through radio waves. The main technology is RFID.

Finally, Satellite Internet of Things, Satellite Broadband and Satellite Personal Communications (STS) are sub-technologies of satellite communication networks. Including we are talking about the construction of a constellation of satellites on the high ellipse "Express-RV," covering the entire territory of Russia and the Arctic, as well as the satellite system of the Internet of Things "Marathon-IOT."

In the original version of the document, there was also a subtechnology of professional mobile communications (PMR). As part of the relevant measures, it was supposed to be carried out import substitution by Russian radio stations, now in use. MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS the American The project was estimated at 7 billion rubles. But it was decided to abandon this subtechnology in the final version of the roadmap, although the process of import substitution of radio communications for the Ministry of Internal Affairs is still ongoing.

Of the sub-technologies, the highest costs will be required for 4G and 5G - 122 billion rubles. Of this amount, within the framework of the roadmap, the federal budget and extrabudgetary sources will allocate 20 billion rubles each. Another 82 billion rubles. will be directed outside support tools.

56.41 billion rubles will be spent on LPWAN. Of this amount, extrabudgetary sources will spend 21.71 billion rubles, the federal budget - 8.7 billion rubles, another 26 billion rubles will be allocated outside support tools.

27.95 billion rubles will be spent on satellite communication technologies. Of this amount, extrabudgetary sources will allocate 7.75 billion rubles, the federal budget - 2.2 billion rubles, another 18 billion rubles. will be sent outside support tools.

24.6 billion rubles will be spent on WLAN technologies. Of this amount, extrabudgetary sources will allocate 12.56 billion rubles, the federal budget - 3.6 billion rubles, outside of support tools, another 8 billion rubles will be received.

27.95 billion rubles will be spent on sub-technology PAN. Of this amount, 7.75 billion rubles. will spend extra-budgetary sources, the federal budget - 2.2 billion rubles, another 18 billion rubles. will be directed outside the tools of support^[41] and the^[42].

Huawei intends to invest 50 million rubles in the development of 5G in Russia within 5 years

On October 8, 2019, Huawei announced that Ken Hu, Deputy Chairman of the Company's Board, made a presentation on accelerating the deployment of 5G networks in Eurasia. The expert also stressed the importance of training qualified professionals and supporting 5G innovation. As an example, he cited the 5G curriculum for customers, partners and students, which started in 2019. The objective of the program is to train 10,000 specialists over the next 5 years, and the company's investments in this project will amount to more than 50 million rubles. Read more here.

ICT.Moscow and DIT of Moscow opened free access to a single 5G knowledge base

On October 3, 2019, the Moscow Department of Information Technology (DIT) announced that, together with ICT.Moscow, they opened free access to a single 5G knowledge base. Read more here.

The head of Rostec called the timing of the launch of a 5G network on Russian equipment

In mid-September 2019, the head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, in a conversation with RBC, said that an experimental network for the implementation of 5G technology in Russia could be launched in one of the regions in 2022-2023. Moreover, localization of production is possible only in Russia, he noted.

Technologies are available, we can produce this equipment. There are already developments, and I think that in 2022-23 we will be able to create an experimental network in one of the regions, "Chemezov said.

According to him, individual modules or components should be produced completely in Russia, since otherwise the country will completely depend on an external manufacturer. At the same time, negotiations on 5G technologies with other countries continue, but with the obligatory condition - to produce components in Russia.

It is clear that it is almost impossible to negotiate with Europe or America now, there is little constructive. East Asia is quite..., - said the head of Rostec.

Rostec negotiated with Huawei to create big data storage systems, but, in the end, "safely did everything themselves," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov said earlier that the rules for localizing the production of telecommunications equipment for 5G networks should be "rather strict." According to him, about 650 billion rubles will be spent on creating a fifth-generation communication network by companies, and it would be undesirable for all this money (or a significant part of it) to be given to foreign vendors - equipment suppliers (Cisco, Huawei, Nokia). At the same time, Russia by September 2019 does not produce equipment for 5G - all pilots were launched by operators using the technologies of foreign vendors.

According to Rostec forecasts, with state support, the share of Russian telecom equipment in the domestic market will grow from the current 6-8% to 15% by 2024 and to 30% by 2030.^[43]

NTI Competence Center based on Skoltech launched the first base station within the 5G test zone

On September 12, 2019, RVC announced that the Skolkovsky Institute of Science and Technology launched the first base station as part of the creation of a 5G experimental zone for Russian equipment developers in the Skolkovo information center. Read more here.

Akimov: Medicine, transport and defense need 5G more than Internet users

On September 9, 2019, TASS News Agency of Russia published an interview with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov. He said that 5G networks are needed  by medicine, transport and defense more than Internet users.

According to Akimov, the Russian government has not done enough to ensure that the issues of creating a 5G network are not only issues of telecommunications operators.

It should not be me and not Noskov (head of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications - TASS note), but the Minister of Health, the Minister of Transport, all those who are engaged in our protection, to shout that these networks are needed. Because the technologies that are provided by this infrastructure are industry technologies, these are industry cases in education, health care, national security, urban economy, he said.

Maxim Akimov believes that the mayors of Russian cities need to demand the conversion of the frequency spectrum. They are not heavily involved in the development of fifth-generation networks because they have not been explained enough and what the benefits will be from here. 

He also noted that broader explanatory work should be carried out on the prospects for using 5G so that a wide audience does not get the impression that "only four operators and people who want to look at virtual reality glasses online at gigabit speed need this," and promised to radically change the approach to this topic.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, solutions from foreign manufacturers will be used to build 5G networks. There are no plans to carry out full import substitution of foreign equipment to create infrastructure.^[44]

We will not sacrifice the stability and technical parameters of the network - these will be world-class solutions, "Akimov said in an interview with TASS on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.

MGTS is testing whitebox switches in preparing the network for 5G

On August 19, 2019 MGTS , she announced that she was one of the first Russia to start testing network switches the whitebox type, providing for the use of network non-network operating systems hardware suppliers, the use of which will answer the requirements of the standard 5G for transmission rates and volumes without data significant costs for network modernization. More. here

Russia has begun to develop 5G equipment

On July 11, 2019, it became known about the start of development in Russia of equipment for fifth generation (5G) networks. Such equipment was created by the Sozvezdiye concern, which is part of the Roselectronics holding of the Rostec State Corporation . Read more here.

Rostec and Rostelecom shared areas of responsibility in the development of fifth generation mobile technologies in Russia

On July 10, 2019, Rostec announced that it had entered into a tripartite agreement with PJSC Rostelecom and the Government of the Russian Federation on the intentions of joint development in Russia of the high-tech region "New Generations of Mobile Wireless Communications (5G )." The agreement defines the directions of development included in the area of ​ ​ responsibility of each of its participants. Read more here.

Agreement of Rostec and the Government of the Russian Federation on intentions to jointly develop four high-tech areas

On July 10, 2019, Rostec State Corporation, in the presence of President RFVladimir Putin, signed agreements of intent with the Government of the Russian Federation on the joint development of four high-tech areas - distributed registry technologies, quantum sensors, the latest generations of narrowband wireless communications for the Internet of Things and short and medium range communications, as well as the latest generations of mobile wireless communications (5G) (together with Rostelecom). Read more here.

The business community will be able to test its developments in the Moscow 5G demo center

A 5G demo center will appear in Moscow, on the basis of which promising technologies and urban services will be tested using an advanced communication standard. This was announced on July 4, 2019 by the deputy head of the Moscow Department of Information Technologies (DIT of Moscow) Alexander Gorbatko.

The operator of the demo center will be DIT of Moscow. It is assumed that the laboratory will simplify access to 5G technologies for entrepreneurs, form a local competence center, and help companies find and retain specialists. Read more here.

Virtualization technologies will be used to build 5G networks

On June 19, 2019, it became known that during the construction of fifth generation cellular networks (5G) in Russia, it is advisable to actively use virtualization technologies . This follows from the draft Concept for the construction of 5G networks prepared by the state-owned enterprise "Research Institute of Radio" (NIIR).

We are talking about technologies such as NFV (network function virtualization), SDN (Software Defined Network, software-defined networks), Cloud RAN (cloud infrastructure) and Virtualized Backhaul (transport network virtualization).

The use of these technologies will provide the following advantages: high network scalability, flexible centralized management of the network and network resources; Lower capital expenditures by using virtual features Improved energy efficiency with high-performance data center servers (DPCs) Shorter time to start network services possibility to use equipment of various vendors; increased level of security and use of cloud platforms in data center on operator periphery to improve service quality.

NFV technology allows you to separate software (software) from physical equipment and implement the functions of telecommunication equipment on universal equipment - servers. In turn, SDN is a technology that allows you to separate the functions of the data transfer layer from the functions of the control layer of the switch and the traffic transmitted by it. This approach involves transferring the intelligent component from the network device to a dedicated server, and, as a result, maximally simplifying and reducing the cost of network elements - switches and routers.

Cloud RAN cloud infrastructure is part of the NG-RAN radio access network, which will replace the traditional radio access network (RAN) in 5G networks. This network is based on the implementation of base station models for 5G networks - gNB - using NVF virtualization technology and has several advantages. In particular, the implementation of software-defined multi-standard NR/E-UTRA base stations, the flexibility and scalability of virtual solutions, as well as the placement of base station equipment in the data center of a high degree of reliability and security are provided.

In addition, the Cloud RAN single cloud infrastructure manages a large number of radio modules and covers a large area of ​ ​ radio coverage, provides more optimal use of the frequency resource, more efficient operation of ICIC (Inter-Cell Interference Coordination) interference compensation algorithms, multi-point CoMP (Multi-Cell Handover Coordination) and Intra-RAT handovers (ensures that communication is maintained when the subscriber moves between cells).

Regarding Virtualized Backhaul, it is worth noting that the classic mobile network transport network consists of two main parts: a distribution network (Backhaul) connecting base stations with functional elements of the backbone network, and a backbone network providing high-speed communication channels between functional elements of the backbone network.

Base stations in 5G networks - gNB - consist of three modules: gNB-RU radio modules, distributed gNB-DU modules and central gNB-CU modules. The transition to the Cloud RAN architecture led to the allocation of two segments in the Backhaul network: the Fronthaul network, which combines the pools of gNB-RU modules and the gNB-NG and the DuHAul and MidbNbnb networks

The set of networks Fronthoul, Midhaul and Backhaul received the generalized name of the X-haul network and can be built using various technologies, including fiber-optic communication lines, radio relay lines, satellite communication lines, Carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS, Segment Routing, etc.

The introduction of SDN/NFV technologies in the 5G network is also planned to be carried out to modernize the functional nodes of the transport network. Therefore, in order to build a transport network, it is possible both to use the NFV concept, that is, to implement virtualized routers and switches operating on commercially available servers (COTS), and to use the integrated SDN/NFV concept, which means a different approach to organizing network interaction (using the controller and SDN switches, both virtualized and not).

The software-defined SDN/NFV transport network allows you to separate the control functionality (Control Plane and Management Plane) from the functionality of receiving, processing and sending data packets (Data Plane), as well as implement the control functionality using virtualization technology. The virtual transport network allows you to increase the efficiency of network bandwidth control mechanisms, centralize network management algorithms, increase network scalability and ensure the automated implementation of new network services and network layers of the 5G backbone network^[45].

Agreement between MTS and Huawei on the development of 5G technologies

On June 5, 2019, Huawei announced the signing of an agreement with MTS PJSC on the development of 5G technologies and pilot launches of fifth-generation communication networks in Russia in 2019-2020. Read more here.

Ericsson invested 1 billion rubles in the opening of the 5G innovation center in Moscow

On May 21, 2019, it became known that Ericsson opened the 5G Innovation Center in Moscow. The center is located at Ericsson headquarters in Russia (Moscow, Metropolis business center) and combines a test laboratory, Ericsson Academy and a demo studio with modern equipment and company solutions in the field of 5G and IoT. In 2019-2021 a total of 1 billion rubles will be invested in the project . Read more here.

Four 5G experimental sites to be launched in Moscow

On May 31, 2019, it became known about the statement of the Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin that by the end of 2019, four experimental platforms for the introduction of a mobile connected generation will be launched in the city. Also, the mayor of the capital proposed to give Moscow additional legal opportunities to create breakthrough solutions in the field of information technology and artificial intelligence.

For the deployment of Russian 5G networks, it is planned to allocate a range of 3.4-3.8 GHz. Operators that operate in this range are supposed to compensate for the loss of frequency resource. But neither the mechanism nor the amount of compensation has yet been determined even approximately^[46].

Main article Moscow - Smart city. Information technologies in Moscow

Organization of the pilot zone of the fifth generation communication network

On May 20, 2019, it became known that at the end of 2019, an experimental zone of the fifth generation communication network could be organized in Russia, for this the State Commission for Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) will have to allow the use of the priority frequency band 3.4-3.8 GHz. This follows from the draft concept for the creation and development of 5GMincommunication.

Applications for the organization of 5G experimental zones were submitted by MegaFon, VimpelCom, MTS, Rostelecom and Tele2.

Evgeny Novikov said:

If before that in the pilot zones it was checked whether the equipment works or not, now operators will study the integration of 5G with existing networks, the applicability of new services, and evaluate the economics of projects. Evgeny Novikov, representative of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications

For pilot zones, 4.8-4.99 GHz and 25.25-27.5 GHz bands will be used, for which there is already GKRCH resolution; in addition, operators want to use 3.4-3.8 GHz.

In the 4th quarter of 2019, the SCRF can also determine the frequencies for 5G, which will subsequently be put to auctions, and a decision on their implementation is expected in the first quarter of 2020.

A joint venture between Rostelecom and MegaFon, New Digital Solutions, will be ready to create experimental zones, testing is important to continue in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range, a Rostelecom representative said. MegaFon confirmed its interest in the development of 5G in Russia and participation in other projects. MTS is also interested in organizing experimental zones, including in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band. VimpelCom calls this range "basic for the development of 5G in Russia," is preparing the launch of several pilot 5G zones by the end of 2019 and is "certainly interested in a frequency resource." Tele2 is waiting for a decision on the allocation of frequency bands, while technologically the company's network is ready for testing.

At the end of March 2019, it was reported about the unwillingness of the Ministry of Defense to transfer frequencies in the range of 3.4-3.8 GHz to cellular operators for use. The ministry gave the corresponding feedback to the draft concept for the development and creation of fifth-generation networks in Russia, the Ministry of^[47].

The authorities will allocate 28 billion rubles to create equipment and software in Russia for 5G networks and IoT

On April 26, 2019, it became known that the Ministry of Industry and Trade developed a draft target program "Development of industrial production of fifth-generation networks and the Internet of Things in the Russian Federation for 2019-2024." As part of this program, it is planned to allocate about 28 billion rubles, 16 billion rubles from the federal budget and about 12 billion rubles from extrabudgetary sources to create equipment and software in Russia for 5G networks and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Among the project participants are Rostec, the Skolkovsky Institute of Science and Technology and companies whose products are included in the register of domestic telecom equipment (the newspaper clarifies that there are several dozen of them on the list, but sources called the main beneficiaries of the RDP.RU, Eltex, NPP Polygon, NPF Mikran and T8 programs).

At the first stage, in 2019-2021, companies will have to carry out a set of research and development work, and at the second, in 2022-2024, to establish the production of these products and its use on the networks of Russian and foreign cellular operators.

It is planned to establish the production and introduction of micro- and macro-base, switchboards for various types of networks, systems of operational-search measures () SORM and other network equipment, as well as 5G modules for smartphones other user devices, SIM a map of USIM/SIM standards, digital platforms IoT and for software monitoring and managing 5G networks.

As one of the priority areas of research work in the draft program, "the development of Russian security algorithms on 5G networks" is listed. This work involves the study of the characteristics of security algorithms, the development of proposals for their implementation in network functions, base stations and the 5G transport network, including in SIM cards and mobile devices of subscribers. It is separately emphasized that domestic algorithms for key formation, authentication, cryptography and message integrity control will have to provide the necessary level of resistance, that is, resist cryptanalysis.

The project, among other things, provides for subsidizing the production of equipment for mobile operators from Russia and countries EEU and the allocation of subsidies for its purchase to foreign companies. The Ministry of Industry and Trade expects that by 2022 the share of domestic equipment in Russian 5G and IoT networks will be 16.1%, by 2024 -18.7%. In the same year, export deliveries will begin, and in 2024 of the volume should be more than 2 billion rubles (the corresponding amount is provided as subsidies to foreign buyers). Priority foreign markets are called, and Yerevan. Tashkent Astana

The authors of the project write that the deployment of 5G networks in Russia will begin in 2022 and will take at least ten years. The total projected capacity of the equipment and software market for 5G and IoT networks until 2030 is estimated at more than 300 billion rubles.

Recall that in early April, the concept of the development of IoT in Russia was approved by the Ministry of Communications. It involves the creation of the Register of Internet of Things Identifiers, which will provide a single identification of users of these networks and, in fact, will create a closed IoT network in the country. The concept also spelled out a four-level model for the operation of Internet of Things networks. As for the deployment of 5G networks, Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov told President Vladimir Putin that about 650 billion rubles would be spent on these purposes. He added that he would not like most of this amount to go to "foreign vendors - equipment suppliers, this is the so-called big three oligopoly: Cisco, Huawei and Nokia"^[48].

Deputy Prime Minister Akimov suggested that Putin complicate the admission of Cisco, Huawei and Nokia to the construction of 5G in Russia

On April 19, 2019, the President Russia Vladimir Putin discussed with the Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov the implementation of a number of national projects. Among other things, it was about creating a modern infrastructure in the country for the development of fifth-generation mobile communications (). 5G

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Russia has good high-speed Internet and good positions in the world on this indicator, but this would not have happened if the work on clearing the frequency spectrum had not been carried out.

The situation is not easy. We have a spectrum that we can provide, of course, but this will lead, let's say, to monopolize the market. And the upper range - which is 3.4-3.8 gigahertz - is mainly in use for special tasks. Of course, to intensify this work, appropriate decisions are necessary, we will coordinate on the side of the Government. But they would also ask for your relevant instructions and opportunities to report periodically on this issue in the framework of the report on the national project at the Council for the Implementation of National Projects headed by you. It would be a powerful support for this project, "Akimov said.

5G is a huge market, he said. Companies will spend about 650 billion rubles to create a next-generation communication network.

We would not want all this money (or a significant part of it) to be given to foreign vendors - equipment suppliers, this is the so-called big three oligopoly: Cisco, Huawei and Nokia. We have good groundwork. And I myself held a meeting in Novosibirsk. This issue was also raised at your meetings with Business Russia. We have good groundwork for telecommunications equipment in the fifth generation. It is important to note that a significant part of the costs there is not the equipment itself, but the program code, and we are very strong here, "the official explained.

He believes that there will be strong pressure, because foreign companies have a good position in Russia. There will be a competition, so the localization rules when creating fifth-generation communication networks should be satisfied with the tough ones, Akimov believes.

Ministry of Communications develops requirements for mobile devices with 5G support

The Ministry of Communications and Communications of the Russian Federation announced the beginning of the preparation of "rules for the use of subscriber terminals of mobile radiotelephone networks of the 5G standard of NR technology." The document on April 12, 2019 was published on the Federal Portal of Draft Regulatory Legal Acts.

The description of the problem indicates that in the case of using on a single telecommunication network of the Russian Federation "subscriber terminals of mobile radiotelephone networks of the 5G standard of NR technology, there are significant risks of disruption of stable functioning associated with non-compliance of the parameters of this equipment with the necessary mandatory requirements." At the same time the Russian , the legislation does not contain formalized requirements for such equipment - that is, for devices with 5G support. Which is what is proposed to be corrected.

IMT2020/5G is the fifth generation of mobile communications, operating on the basis of telecommunication standards following existing 4G/IMT-Advanced standards.

5G technologies are designed to provide higher throughput compared to 4G technologies, which will ensure greater availability of broadband mobile communications, the use of device-to-device modes (we are talking about direct connection between devices), as well as shorter latency.

The 5G standard also assumes an Internet speed of 1-2 Gbps and less battery power consumption than 4G equipment.

The implementation of 5G on the territory of the Russian Federation is hampered by the fact that the frequencies in which it is planned to deploy fifth-generation networks (3.4-3.8 GHz) in Russia are occupied by the military. At the end of March, it became known that the Ministry of Defense considers it premature to transmit these frequencies to cellular operators.^[49]. One of the reasons is that satellite communication^[50] the military department works in this range.

Later, however, it became known that Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the Security Council to work out the issue of using the above frequencies for fifth-generation networks in order to find an option that would suit all parties.

The deployment of fifth-generation communication networks in Russia is inevitable, "said Dmitry Gvozdev, General Director of Information Technologies of the Future. - In fact, it has already begun - at the end of 2019, it is planned to launch test zones, as well as the creation of a consortium that will act as a single infrastructure operator for fifth-generation networks. Over the past decade, the Russian Federation has been among the leaders in the development of communication networks. Now, given the rapid deployment of 5G in other countries, the very preservation of competitiveness will require the early implementation of fifth-generation communications throughout the Russian Federation.

You can get acquainted with the draft regulatory act "Rules for the use of subscriber terminals of mobile radiotelephone networks of the 5G NR technology standard" here npa = 90573.

Losses of the economy from the creation of a single 5G operator can amount to 250 billion rubles.

On February 18, 2019, it became known that operators can invest 360-480 billion rubles in the development of 5G in Russia. for five years - while maintaining competition with each other. When creating a single 5G infrastructure operator according to the scenario of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, investments may decrease by 161-214 billion rubles, experts from the Institute for Enterprise and Market Analysis of the Higher School of Economics (HSE) estimated.

HSE Professor Svetlana Avdasheva explained that the calculations in the study are based on world forecasts of the economic effect of the introduction of 5G extrapolated to Russia, as well as the growth of traffic on networks of previous generations (3G and LTE). As a monopolist, a single operator is likely to begin introducing 5G 1-2 years later than competing operators would have done, while the traffic growth rate of a single operator will be 1.5-2 times lower. Other losses of the economy over five years may range from 20 billion to 250 billion rubles, the HSE warns: this is a lost fee for services that operators and their partners (for example, telemedicine services, smart car management services, etc.) will not be able to provide.

Avdasheva believes that Russian operators can avoid losses and reduce the cost of developing 5G infrastructure by sharing independent infrastructure facilities.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Oleg Ivanov explained the need to create a single operator, in particular, the shortage of frequencies necessary for 5G: they may not be enough for all operators.

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) opposes the creation of a single operator. According to Elena Zayeva, head of the FAS communications and information technology regulation department, "this is the worst option proposed."

According to the representative of MTSlexey Merkutov, losses for consumers, industry and economy exceed the benefits of creating a single infrastructure operator. VimpelCom believes that a single operator is not the best option for deploying 5G networks, since it does not meet market requirements in terms of security. A more justified scenario is the creation of a consortium for frequency sharing.

At the same time, Tele2 advocates the creation of a single infrastructure operator. Cooperation of several players is considered the most profitable option in Megafon. The operator created a joint venture with Rostelecom for the development of^[51] 5G networks^[52]

2018

The Big Four operators agreed to create a single 5G operator in Russia

On December 25, 2018, it became known that Russian mobile operators VimpelCom, MTS, Megafon and Tele2, after a series of negotiations, came to a preliminary agreement on the joint development of fifth-generation cellular networks (5G) in the country. The agreement provides for the joint efforts of all four companies, including the creation of a new single telecom operator.

Oleg Ivanov, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, announced the achievement of an agreement between telecom operators after a meeting with representatives of companies. At the last event, according to the RIA Novosti agency, the concept of the development of 5G cellular networks, developed by specialists of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NIIR (Radio Research Institute), was considered. It also implies the creation of a single telecom operator as the optimal development option, since if each of the representatives of the Big Four wants to build their own 5G network, then everyone may not have enough frequencies allocated to Russia.

The State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GRKCH) takes an active part in the development of next-generation cellular networks. At a meeting of the commission held on December 24, 2018, it was decided to allocate separate radio frequency bands for the implementation of the so-called "pilot" zones of 5G networks. Frequencies were allocated in the 4800-4990 MHz and 27.1-27.5 GHz bands to an unlimited range of individuals. According to Oleg Ivanov, the decision of the GRKCH to allocate frequencies to an unlimited circle of people is important. This is a kind of backup option in case the Big Four operators fail to reach a final agreement, and everyone ultimately decides to build their 5G network.

Oleg Ivanov does not exclude that in the future the number of ranges for Russian 5G networks will increase, but does not name the exact dates. A separate working group will be created in the Ministry of Communications, the main task of which will be to search for frequency bands that are potentially possible for release.

Representatives of the Big Four generally accepted the proposal to create a single mobile operator. This was announced by a representative of MTS, adding that all parties have come to a decision on considering the possibility of freeing frequencies in the 3400-3800 MHz range.

The NIIR concept includes not only the idea of ​ ​ creating a single operator, but also, among other things, a preliminary calculation of the cost of investments in 5G infrastructure nationwide. The document takes into account both options for the development of events - and the foundation of a single 5G operator, and the construction of its own next generation networks by each of the representatives of the Big Four separately.

The second option provides for total capital and operating expenses in the amount of 163 billion rubles and 39 billion rubles, respectively, moreover, for each of the four operators. At the same time, if the operators finally decide to join forces, then their total costs will already amount to 73 billion rubles and 17 billion rubles (capital and operational, respectively).^[53]

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. Read more here.

Approved the concept of the development of 5G networks in Russia

On November 7, 2018, information appeared that the Information Infrastructure working group at the Digital Economy autonomous non-profit organization (ANO) approved the concept of creating and developing 5G/IMT-2020 networks in Russia. The document submitted by the Russian Union of LTE Mobile Operators (LTE Union) was prepared by Spectrum Management LLC.

Earlier, global market participants agreed that fifth-generation networks need radio frequency bands in three different bands: below 3 GHz (to provide wide coverage), 3-6 GHz (to cover and network capacity, primarily in large cities) and above 24 GHz (in the so-called millimeter band, for large network capacity and point coverage). In accordance with this scheme, in Europe and many other countries, frequencies in the 700 MHz, 3.4-3.8 GHz and 26-28 GHz bands are allocated for the development of 5G. However, in Russia, most of these ranges are subject to various restrictions due to the electronic means of various departments operating in them.

As a result, the concept proposes to allocate 5-20 MHz wide channels to operators in a band of up to 3 GHz, 40-100 MHz channels in a band of 3-6 GHz, and 200-800 MHz channels in bands above 24.25 GHz. To endow 5G networks with frequencies in all three bands, the authors of the concept recommend freeing the 694-790 MHz band from DVB-T2 digital broadcast television networks (having rescheduled them below 694 MHz, taking into account the disconnection of analog TV broadcasting in 2019), and in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band in the 19 largest cities to transfer earth stations fixed satellite communications (C-band) in the Ku band or out of these cities, from December 15, 2019, stop using radio relay stations there, as well as decide on the withdrawal of fixed wireless access from this RES range.

In addition to separate radio frequency bands in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, the concept involves the use of a 4.4-4.99 GHz radio frequency band, as Japan, China and Vietnam plan to do. The authors of the document clarify that radio relay stations operate in Russia on sections of the spectrum 4.4-4.5 GHz and 4.8-4.99 GHz, but in areas of large cities their use is not so intensive. The 4.5-4.8 GHz section is used for fixed satellite communication (in the direction of "space - Earth"), but also non-intensively.

As for the high frequencies (24.25-27.5 GHz), which have the least employment problems, the concept proposes to remove earth stations of the Earth exploration satellite service from this range in the 19 largest cities of the country (with the creation of a data center for the distribution of data from this service in such cities), radio relay lines and fixed wireless access networks (also in the 19 cities with the largest population).

The approved concept will now have to be approved by the Government Commission on Digital Development, the use of IT to improve the quality of life and business conditions. It is assumed that the document will be submitted to the commission by the Ministry of Communications and the ANO "Digital Economy." Approval of the concept is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019.^[54]

The introduction of 5G networks in Russia was postponed until 2021

In early September 2018, it became known about the postponement of the introduction of 5G networks in Russia. The government explained this by the need to mature commercial demand for technology within the economy.

The fact that the authorities decided to postpone the implementation of 5G in Russia from 2019 to the end of 2021 was reported by RBC, citing materials prepared for the meeting of the supervisory board of the Digital Economy ANO.

It follows from the documents that in the first quarter of 2019, the authorities are going to approve the concept of creating and developing 5G networks, and by the end of 2019 - to determine frequency bands. By the end of 2020, pilot projects are expected to be completed to introduce fifth-generation networks in five "key industries," as well as in one million-plus city.

My personal view is that 5G is a story in which a commercial request for it must mature. The technology has already appeared, and the request for it inside the economy should be born, - said Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov.

According to him, by the end of 2021, the government is counting on the commercial operation of "a significant number" of base stations that would ensure stable network operation in large cities. 

The head of the Ministry of Digital Development Konstantin Noskov clarified that in order to introduce 5G, it is necessary to free radio frequencies from military systems.

According to Olga Galushina, a representative of T2 RTK Holding (Tele2 brand), the postponement will allow operators to better prepare for the introduction of the new technology.

To date, the standard for the development of 5G has not yet been finalized, this will happen only in 2019. An attractive consumer ecosystem - devices and services - according to our idea, will appear no earlier than in three to four years, - she said in a conversation with RBC.[55]

The Russian authorities may allocate about 180 billion rubles for the development of 5G networks

The Working Group on Information Infrastructure at the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization (ANO) "Digital Economy" agreed at the beginning of 2018 a plan to stimulate investment in the development of fifth-generation communication networks (5G), the volume of state support for this area in the next five years may exceed 180 billion rubles, writes Kommersant^[56]

In March, the developed plan must be approved first by the Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation, and then by the government subcommittee on the digital economy.

According to the operating director of MegaFon, Serebryanikova Anna Andreevna, who is the head of the working group, it is assumed that over the next five years the costs of operators for the introduction of 5G will amount to about 300 billion rubles. The amount of state support provided for in the plan may range from 87.1 to 181.1 billion rubles.

The authors of the document propose to introduce a moratorium for the state to increase the payment of operators for the use of frequencies. It is assumed that in 2019-2024 this will help operators save 6.7-9.5 billion rubles. At the same time, it is proposed to accumulate payments from operators in a special fund and spend only on conversion - the transfer of frequencies from government agencies to operators. The developers estimated the effect of this at 19-24 billion rubles for all five years.

2017

How the authorities will help build 5G networks in Russia

The draft action plan of the Information Infrastructure section of Digital economy the program "" pays considerable attention to the construction of fifth generation cellular networks 5G (). The program itself was written on behalf of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media President How Russia Vladimir Putin^[57]

According to the action plan of the Information Infrastructure section, by the end of 2017, a concept for the construction of these networks should be developed and appropriate R&D (research and development work) should be carried out, writes CNews in November 2017.

These documents will define 5G network services, technological solutions and high-level requirements for network construction, financial and economic justification for the construction of networks, the needs of the economy in them and the radio frequency resource necessary for them.

At the same time, the document already states that 5G networks will be built in the bands 694-790 MHz, 3.4-3.8 GHz, 4.4-4.99 GHz, 5.9 GHz, 24.25-29.5 GHz, 30-55 GHz, 66-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz.

Next, the noise immunity of the selected ranges will be analyzed and the principles of building 5G networks will be developed with the reflection of the necessary density of the RES installation (radioelectronic means), radiation power, suspension heights, the use of fiber-optic communication lines, packet network, existing infrastructure, etc.

By the summer of 2018, a list and assessment of the capabilities of the domestic industry for the production of telecommunications equipment for 5G networks will be determined. The requirements for network equipment and the architecture of the 5G network and the criteria for assigning the equipment the status of Russian origin will be determined. It is also planned to develop measures to stimulate the production of 5G equipment in Russia.

Also in the summer of 2018, it is planned to select territories for organizing pilot 5G zones. In a year, the work of these zones will be assessed with the formation of relevant proposals.

To deploy 5G networks, the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF) will have to adopt changes to the radio frequency spectrum distribution tables and a plan for the prospective use of radio frequencies. In addition, the regulatory framework should be changed in order to remove barriers to the sharing of the frequency spectrum, equipment and access to federal infrastructure, as well as resource virtualization and network structure.

How authorities will help operators build 5G networks

Among other things, it should be possible to place 5G network infrastructure facilities at facilities other than communication facilities, as well as simplify the procedure for obtaining permits for the construction of infrastructure facilities and simplify the procedure for obtaining permission to commission base stations.

In connection with the launch of 5G networks, the practice of licensing services that will be provided in such networks will be changed. The changes will also affect the practice of paying for the radio frequency spectrum - it will take into account the need to compensate for the expected growth in operating costs of operators in connection with the launch of 5G networks.

Regulatory changes will also lead to a simplification of the electromagnetic compatibility examination (EMC) procedure taking into account the technological features of SDN (software-defined network, software-defined network) networks and next-generation flexible radio interfaces (New Radio), as well as a revision of the relevant spectrum authorization procedures.

In addition, the permitting procedures for installing the infrastructure (siting) of the radio subsystem (smallcells and distributed antenna systems) and the wireless backhaul 5G/IMT-2020 (wireless backhaul) will be simplified. Nondiscriminalization access to sewer infrastructure to build optical networks will be provided and the sharing of 5G network infrastructure will be simplified.

At the regulatory level, high-level requirements will be implemented to build 5G network infrastructure taking into account network element virtualization and functionality (SDN/NFV), the introduction of cloud radio access technologies (Cloud RAN) and transport network virtualization (Virtualized Backhaul). High-level requirements for the protection of privacy and the protection of personal data in 5G mobile networks will also be determined.

When 5G networks appear in million-plus cities

In 2020, an analysis of the load of the radio frequency spectrum in the above frequency bands will be carried out and conversion will be carried out based on its results. In particular, certain frequencies will be transferred from the "PR" category (preferential use by government services) to the "SI" category (joint use by civil and government services), and from the "SI" category to the "GR" category (preferential use by civil services).

The conversion will be carried out at the expense of funds allocated by operators to pay for the radio frequency spectrum. Promising technologies for ensuring the compatibility of 5G networks with current users of radio frequencies will also be introduced and reframing (frequency exchange) will be carried out. Based on the employment of the radio frequency spectrum, a financial and economic assessment of capital costs for the deployment of 5G networks will be carried out.

According to the Digital Economy program, 5G networks will appear in five Russian million-plus cities by the end of 2022. And by the end of 2024, all cities with a population of 1 million or more will be covered by 5G networks.

Operators offer to test 5G in companies

In October 2017, Russian operators proposed to first test fifth-generation (5G) networks in the corporate sector. The technology will become in demand among the population no earlier than 2023, according to MegaFon.

According to Kommersant, citing MegaFon's operating director Anna Serebryanikova, a commercially attractive number of 5G-enabled devices for operators will appear on the market only by 2023-2025. Only by the end of the first quarter of 2019 will the first commercial 5G chipsets be available on the market, she said.

The Digital Economy program involves the commercial launch of 5G networks in "pilot industries" by March 2019. By 2022, the technology should work in five million-plus cities.

We have concluded that by this point penetration in the market for 5G-enabled b2c subscriber devices will not be enough, as will the population's need for such coverage in cities. At the same time, big business may be interested in piloting technology in different directions. There are also no necessary devices for 5G in the b2b segment, but since corporations can specifically buy them for specific programs, devices for pilot projects may be available by 2020, Anna Serebryanikova said.

VimpelCom agrees that 5G testing first needs to be carried out in the b2b sector, including the Internet of Things market.

Tele2 names remote medicine, logistics and the augmented reality entertainment industry among the most likely industry applications of 5G.

It is clear that in addition to the mass user, this network is needed in projects such as smart cities, smart transport, the Internet of Things, smart services. But it is too early to talk about final decisions, - the press service of Rostelecom told the publication. [58]

The first tests of 5G networks on unmanned vehicles can be held in Moscow in 2018

In 2018 To Moscow , the first tests of fifth-generation communication networks () on may take place 5G in. unmanned vehicles The possibility of this was discussed at a meeting held by the Chairman, Governments of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev they said on July 21. Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media RUSSIAN FEDERATION

According to the Minister of Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation Nikolai Nikiforov, Moscow is well suited as one of the key cities for testing drones. However, this will require a high density of base stations. In particular, every 400-500 meters a new base station must be installed, connected via a fiber-optic communication line, the head of the department said.

Nikolai Nikiforov also drew attention to the fact that the use of standard communication networks in unmanned vehicles is impossible due to the low speed of the signal from the base station to the car. In particular, in fourth generation (4G) networks, the information transmission delay is approximately 20 milliseconds. In his opinion, it is necessary to use technologies of fifth-generation communication networks, which have fundamentally different characteristics: only one millisecond of information delay.

"In 5G networks, information is transmitted at tremendous speeds - up to 10 Gbps. Up to a million devices can operate simultaneously on one square kilometer. 5G networks also support high speed by moving objects - up to 500km per hour. All this gives not only the convenience of using modern technologies, but, most importantly, safety for all road users, "the minister stressed

.

On July 4, 2017, the State Commission on Radio Frequencies issued radio frequencies for testing in fifth-generation communication networks. In particular, as Nikolai Nikiforov recalled, fixed and mobile 5G segments at the 2018 World Cup will be deployed on the 3400-3800 MHz and 2520-29500 MHz lanes.

UBS: Costs for operators to implement 5G will be prohibitive

The costs of operators for the introduction of fifth-generation cellular technology using frequencies above 24 GHz will be prohibitive, Vedomosti reports, citing the conclusions of UBS Evidence Lab and UBS Bank (SWS, United Business Systems)^[59]. Analysts simulated the use of fifth-generation networks in the agglomeration of New York - taking into account the contour of houses and terrain.

Now there are 1251 base stations in New York, for confident coverage by the fifth generation network, another 635,639 stations will need to be added to them, that is, to increase their number by more than 500 times, UBS calculations showed. The creation of such an infrastructure will not make economic sense for operators, UBS analysts conclude and suggest that operators will limit themselves to building fifth-generation networks in separate hot zones - by analogy with WiFi zones: in densely populated and rich urban areas.

In five Russian cities with a population of one million, the technology of the fifth generation of communications should appear in 2022 - as stated in the draft program of the digital economy of Russia, which the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications submitted to the government. The question at what frequencies the new standard will develop in Russia has not yet been resolved. The 700 MHz band due to the problem of interaction between broadcasters and mobile operators is not put into circulation and is not used to provide services. And the International Telecommunication Union (ITU, approves communication standards) proposed high frequencies for the fifth generation, which UBS investigated.

The capital costs of operators for the fifth generation will be orders of magnitude higher than for previous standards, says Oleg Ivanov, deputy head of Roskomnadzor, but UBS does not comment on the calculations. For this reason, the rapid growth of the fifth generation infrastructure should not be expected in the near future, he said.

Moscow or St. Petersburg will also need hundreds of times more base stations, says Telecom Daily CEO Denis Kuskov, but without a big study like what UBS did, it is impossible to name a more accurate figure: you need to take into account many factors - from the number of buildings to the terrain, says Kuskov.

The building density of Moscow and New York cannot be compared: agglomerations have a porous and ragged structure, the presence of a densely built-up center in New York is compensated, for example, by a huge water area, everything is completely different in Moscow, says Alexei Krasheninnikov, professor at the Higher School of Urban Studies named after A. A. Vysokovsky, although the population density is quite comparable.

Georgy Muratov, a leading expert on Ericsson's fifth-generation communications in Russia, shares some of the concerns of UBS analysts, but is generally wary of their findings. For analysis, he draws attention to, only frequency bands above 24 GHz are taken, where the widest frequency bands and free from use by other systems are located. But, as the authors of the study admit, there is an alternative in the form of lower frequency bands in the 3.4-3.6, 3.6-3.8 and 5 GHz bands, as well as even lower frequency bands occupied today by analog broadcasting and previous generations of mobile communications that will be decommissioned.

Moving to the lower ranges will mitigate some engineering and financial problems, but the range at low frequencies for full-fledged work of the fifth generation is clearly not enough, UBS analysts say, and then the fifth generation will not give fundamentally new communication capabilities, which means it will not become a major technological breakthrough. Network capacity and information transfer rate depend on the width of the spectrum and the lower the range, the less possibilities for using a broadband signal, Ivanov agrees.

It is too early to talk about specific costs, but without a low-frequency spectrum, the costs of operators will increase, says a representative of Megafon. It is worth adding that the fifth generation will be available as an addition to existing fourth generation networks, and this will significantly reduce costs, he notes.

It is too early to count investments, the fifth generation should appear as a standard closer to 2019-2020, says the representative of MTSDmitriy Solodovnikov. The operator does not dramatize the topic of upcoming investments, he continues, for example, along with coverage with the help of familiar base stations, high data transfer rates will be provided by small cells that are easier to mount, connect and adapt to the needs of subscribers.

T2 RTK Holding (Tele2 brand) does not expect that at the first stage of development the fifth generation will become a mass technology, says the operator's representative Olga Galushina: its use will not be carpeted, but focused on certain scenarios and groups of users - for example, clusters of interacting IoT devices, urban transport management system, intelligent security systems.

5G in the program "Digital Economy" of Russia

In June 2017, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Nikolai Nikiforov announced that the Digital Economy of Russia program was prepared and presented to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The minister noted that the program has an indicator that directly concerns the development of 5G communication networks in Russia: it is assumed that by 2024 5G networks in one form or another will be deployed in all cities with a population of 300 thousand or more residents. The head of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications separately noted that the state should not interfere in the process of creating infrastructure for digitalization: "We want these to be strong, independent private companies that feel confident in the Russian market, which have global ambitions and which have created these potential breakthrough digital platforms for their work. The same, we believe, will happen with the telecommunications sector. The role of the state should be reduced only to general regulation, training, and stimulating research and development. "

The minister spoke about the advantages of 5G communication networks: "In conditions when we will have millions of connected devices per square kilometer, and we will come to this very quickly, and in conditions when many critical tasks will be assigned to these devices, including for the life, health and safety of our citizens - in these conditions, no networks created using old technologies will cope. The peculiarity of 5G technology is that the network can serve a much larger number of devices per unit area and significantly reduce the number of milliseconds that pass when transmitting a signal from a base station to a device. In these conditions, we will get a fundamentally new data transmission environment that will spur further digitalization. "

Nikolai Nikiforov recalled the rapid speed of development of modern technologies, noting that in 2012 there was not a single base station in Russia operating in the fourth generation 4G/LTE communication standard. At the same time, today about a quarter of the entire civilian cellular infrastructure or about 120 thousand base stations work in this modern standard. "If there were no 4G networks, then it would be difficult to imagine such a consumption of video content. Or it would be difficult to imagine 66 million users of smartphones and tablets that are in the Russian Federation today. All this became the basis. Without smartphone users, we could hardly imagine such an accelerated transformation, which occurs, for example, in the taxi service market or in the online banking market, when today more and more transactions, financial services are provided through the bank's mobile application. There are examples of banks that do not have a single office, but there are only 500 programmers and it is already unclear whether this is a bank, or an IT company, "the minister said.

Voronezh scientists have created a 5G antenna

Scientists of the Voronezh Technical University (VTU) have invented an antenna that will allow conducting Internet 5G, television and cellular communications not only to cities and villages, but also to anywhere in the world: in the Arctic, taiga, open sea, etc.

According to Vladimir Pendyurin, general director of Automated Communications CJSC (a Voronezh company that cooperates with VTU), fifth-generation mobile communications are being developed around the world, which will speed up data transmission from 300 Mbps to 2-7 Gbps. Voronezh scientists managed to create a compact device worth about 5 thousand dollars - 10 times less than foreign competitors - due to the use of inexpensive modern methods.

Now pilot tests of the device are being carried out in urban conditions, and the necessary design documentation is being developed, after which serial production of antennas will begin. Moscow FSUE Cosmic Communications and two Asian telecommunications firms that have decided to equip cars with Russian devices have already shown interest in the new product: the devices are able to work smoothly while the machine is moving. Mass application of the technology is expected in 2020.

Note that it was in Voronezh that the world's first mobile communications appeared: developments began in 1958, and in the mid-60s special communications stations were introduced in the USSR, which could be transferred from place to place^[60].

2016: Owners of failed 4G operator Osnova-Telecom plan to invest in 5G projects

AikomInvest, which owns the Osnova Telecom 4G operator, plans to invest in projects related to 5G technology. This was announced at a conference in mid-December 2016 by the director of the subsidiary of the enterprise - the National Research Institute of Technology and Communications (NIITS) Alexander Minov. Read more in a separate article.

2015: The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications orders a draft concept for the development of 5G networks in Russia from the Radio Research Institute for 6.9 million rubles

Main article: Concept for the development of 5G networks in Russia

At the end of June 2015, the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation chose a contractor at the competition to analyze the prospects for the development of 5G networks^[61] of the Ministry of^[61].

The winner was the only participant in the competition - the Research Institute "Radio." The cost of work in the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications was estimated at 6.9 million rubles. As a result of the competition, she did not fall. The work must be completed within 90 days of the date of the contract. Read more here.

2014

5G networks will be "device-oriented"

According to a number of experts cited by CNews^[62] in 2014^[62]5G^[62] will be "device-oriented," not "cell-oriented." In other words, the concept of "cellular communication" will no longer apply. Cellular communication means that the operator's network consists of cells - base stations providing communication within a certain range. Within this range, the device forms the outgoing and downlink communication channels, controlling both the connection itself and the amount of traffic transmitted, while the base station controls the entire cell in which the plurality of subscriber units reside.

In 5G networks, devices exchange multiple streams of information simultaneously with different types of nodes, the task of which at a particular moment in time will be to serve this particular device.

"We believe that the architecture consisting of cells will be replaced by an architecture consisting of devices," explains the engineer (Nokia Bell Labs (Bell Laboratories) research unit) Alcatel-Lucent Federico Boccardi, one of the authors of the joint work on the new principles of the fifth generation networks.

Ericsson says that 5G networks are a combination of pre-existing radio access technologies, in the form they will have by 2020, with new data technologies:

"When talking about

5G, we do not mean replacing the current standards, but adding new technologies that meet new needs in various areas."

Now radio access networks consist of large (macro-) cells that provide coverage continuity/mobility of subscribers, and small (micro-) cells that are installed in places with the highest subscriber density (hot spots) and provide the necessary additional capacity there, "Alexey Potryachaev, leading manager for access network development, explained to CNews magazine." "VimpelCom

The size of macrosotes, mainly, according to Potryakhaev, is determined by the frequency range used (for low frequencies - more, for high frequencies - less). For radio networks of 2G/3G/4G standards, frequencies from 800 to 2600 MHz are now used in Russia. If higher frequencies are not involved for 5G networks, the installation density of base stations forming macrocells will not need to be increased, the expert said.

As for microcells, their number (installation density) is proportional to the required capacity.

"Since capacity requirements are growing by orders of magnitude from generation to generation of mobile communications, it is possible to predict a significant increase in the required number of microcells when implementing 5G," said a representative of VimpelCom.

According to Ericsson's forecast, in the future there will be from 50 to 500 billion such devices around the world - 10-100 times more compared to the current number of active subscriber Internet devices. An important task of the standards developers is to provide a reliable wireless connection to each of them. For each device, a different network interaction policy will be determined, taking into account the amount of data transmitted, the amount of permissible delay and other parameters.

In addition, if now one base station serves several hundred simultaneously connected devices, then in the coming years, due to the spread of machine-to-machine communications (M2M), the number of devices will multiply. And in some cases, the base station will have to process up to 10,000 devices at a time. This requires both the development of new nodes that will be able to manage networks and the modernization of the supporting infrastructure.

Thus, 5G is not the solution that will come to replace 4G in the form that 4G replaced 3G, and 3G supplanted 2G. 5G will be a heterogeneous network. It will use various technologies to service traffic and users of different types.

The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications monitors the development of 5G development

At the moment, the topic of fifth-generation technologies is a range of issues that have to be investigated in order to create an appropriate standard, "Alexander Ponkin, deputy director of the infrastructure projects department of the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media, told CNews in 2014 (since April 2015 - director of the same department). The Russian ministry, according to Ponkin, is closely monitoring research activities in this area ( in particular, the METIS2020 project, initiatives of Chinese and European manufacturers).

All activities at that time, according to Ponkin, affected the basic requirements and technologies for standards of ultra-high-speed systems above 10 GHz up to 80 GHz. In addition, work was underway on new protocols to minimize delay in communication networks and provide mass M2M connections.

The goals of the development of 5G technologies are a significant increase in the data transfer rate , the number of subscribers connected to the network, a multiple reduction in signal transmission delays, "the representative of the Ministry of Communications noted.

Several international organizations are engaged in the study of fifth-generation technologies. Among them are the Next Generation Mobile Network (NGMN), which includes about 20 operators, including the Russian VimpelCom, and about 30 suppliers of communication equipment.

The development of a new architecture and new alarm principles is among the key tasks of the developers of the standard, says Alexey Potryashaev from VimpelCom . - At this stage there is no specifics on this topic. Among the innovations under consideration is direct (without the participation of other network elements) exchange of both traffic and service information between subscriber devices.

The European METIS2020 organization, founded with the participation of the European Commission, is engaged in determining the basic principles of 5G networks. It includes about 30 partners, including the largest manufacturer of communication equipment. Ericsson It is also worth mentioning International Telecommunication Union (ITU) one of the oldest organizations involved in the formation of communication standards around the world. Founded in 1865 in,  Paris the union is a specialized institution UN  and has 193 states and over 700 private organizations and academic institutions.

Deputy CEO of Huawei, the second most revenue provider of communications equipment after Ericsson, Ken Hu (Ken Hu) said in August 2013 that Huawei plans to launch the first commercial fifth-generation networks in 2020 , subject to the allocation of the necessary frequency spectrum by regulators.

Issues of allocating radio frequency bands for promising radio technologies are being considered, including within the framework of research commissions, the International Telecommunication Union, recalls Alexander Ponkin from the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications. So far, the frequency bands for 5G technologies have not been determined by ITU, and the timing of the commercial launch of networks will depend on these solutions.    The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications is waiting for the first networks around 2020, but note that they will appear only in large cities.

At the same time , operators can start testing the world's first 5G networks in 2018-2019 , as soon as the required equipment is presented. "We hope that there will be Russian developers," Ponkin said in 2014 in a commentary for CNews^[62]

See also

• LTE (Long-Term Evolution, 4G)

Notes