Main articles
Main article: 5G (fifth generation mobile)
- The development of 5G networks in the world
- Development of 5G networks in Russia
- 5G in Megafon
- 5G in Bilaine (VimpelCom)
- 5G in MTS
- 5G in Tele2 and Rostelecom
2024
The government has approved the frequency range on which 5G networks will operate in Russia (4.4-4.99 GHz)
At the end of January 2024, the government approved the frequency range on which 5G networks in Russia will operate. We are talking about the 4.4-4.99 GHz band, which will be used in cities and densely populated areas.
Experts and market participants interviewed by Izvestia note that the 4.4-4.99 GHz range has many restrictions. For example, vendors from other countries, although they produce 5G base stations for it, the share of such suppliers is relatively small. At the same time, there is a chance that this problem will not negatively affect Russia, since only domestic equipment will be used in the country.
According to the 3GPP technical standard, the band n79 (4400-5000 MHz) belongs to the 4.4-4.99 GHz band. It is supported, in particular, by smartphones of the iPhone 13, 14 and 15 series. But the global Samsung Galaxy S24 models do not work in this frequency segment. The approved range is actively used in China, so there will most likely be no problems with devices for the PRC market.
As a specialist in frequency planning of cellular networks told the publication, thanks to this solution, the 4.4-4.99 GHz range can be distributed between mobile operators. However, first the authorities and business will have to convert the radio frequency spectrum. We are talking about his cleaning of equipment that is incompatible with cellular communications. It is also necessary to determine the conditions for the distribution of frequencies, including the rules for holding a competition for their provision to a particular company.
Tele2 told Izvestia that the development of networks at frequencies of 4.4-4.99 GHz is more expensive than 3.4-3.8 GHz. In addition, there are fewer subscriber terminals supporting 4.4-4.99 GHz than devices supporting the 3.5-3.8 GHz band. According to the representative of the telecom operator, the timing of the launch of 5G networks will depend on the readiness of domestic equipment in mass quantities, its cost and the conditions for allocating frequencies.[1]
Tele2 lost frequencies for conversion to 5G
On January 15, 2024, the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation announced the decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) on the allocation of frequency bands for organizing mobile communications in Russia. In accordance with the document, Tele2 has lost its frequency resource for conversion to 5G technology. Read more here.
2023
The Russian television and radio broadcasting network refused to allocate for 5G the range used to deliver a TV signal via satellite channels
The Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS), subordinate to the Ministry of Digital Science, refused to allocate the range used to deliver a TV signal via satellite channels for 5G. This became known on July 18, 2023.
 | Taking into account the built and commissioned RTRS facilities, as well as the potential possibility of creating additional broadcast multiplexes, terrestrial over-the-air digital broadcasting will require frequencies in the 470-790 MHz range, which are claimed by telecom operators to develop the 5G standard, - said in a report on the results of RTRS activities for 2022. Excerpts from the document are quoted by Kommersant. |  |
The RTRS also notes that 3.4-4.2 GHz frequencies are used to deliver the signal over satellite lines, some of which also intersect with the band that can be used for 5G (telecom operators claim the 3.4-3.8 GHz band). Its withdrawal can lead to difficulties in the operation of digital TV of the first and second multiplex, according to the broadcasting network.
Rostelecom believes that RTRS has no reason for concern:
| | The transition to digital broadcasting has freed up a significant amount of frequencies (digital dividend), which RTRS has been in no hurry to give to operators for several years. Although there are solutions that can ensure the reliability of broadcast television without using these bands. | |
According to the author of the profile Telegram channel abloud62 Aleksei Boyko, deploying networks at higher frequencies (outside the 3.4-3.8 GHz range) requires high costs. The source Kommersant said that part of the 3.4-3.8 GHz spectrum by July 2023 is occupied by government special communications services, FSO which confirms the possibility that both power and civilian users can coexist in the "golden range[2]
The Ministry of Digital Development will create a single radio frequency operator with state participation for the development of 5G in Russia
At the end of June 2023, it became known that the Ministry of Digital Development intends to develop 5G networks in Russia on the basis of a single radio frequency operator with state participation. This structure will receive frequencies free of charge in a number of bands in the "compatibility mode with special services."
According to the Kommersant newspaper, the Ministry of Digital Development proposes to provide a single operator with frequency bands for deploying 5G until 2035, including the spectrum used by analog broadcasters (694-790 MHz), as well as 4.8-4.99 GHz bands (chosen as a priority for 5G) and 3.4-3.8 GHz. The latter is the most preferred for 5G adoption in terms of interoperability of subscriber equipment and coverage area across the country. However, the 3.4-3.8 GHz band is already used by the military, space structures, etc.
It is assumed that a single operator will introduce "a frequency sharing system with the ability for power bodies to turn off the radiation of radio electronic communications (RES) operators in a given location." In other words, power structures will have direct access to the systems of network management operators and will be able to deactivate certain services at their discretion - without the participation of the Ministry of Digital Development.
| | Now the Ministry of Defense and other departments do not have such functionality, the operational restriction of communication networks occurs through the channels of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies and the Ministry of Digital Development, the publication says. | |
Kommersant, referring to information received from knowledgeable persons, clarifies that a single operator will be created on the basis of Rostelecom. Market participants note that this concept looks relevant in the conditions of the formed geopolitical situation, which provoked a shortage of telecommunications equipment in Russia.[3]
TV broadcasters agreed to transfer frequencies for 5G to mobile operators for 150 billion rubles
In January 2023, it became known that TV broadcasters in Russia agreed to transfer frequencies for 5G networks to cellular operators for 150 billion rubles. At the same time, the latter said that they were not ready to pay so much.
According to RBC, at a meeting with operators, broadcasters reported that they could redistribute frequencies only after the consent of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network" (RTRS, provides broadcasting services). According to the publication, operators can receive these frequencies with compensation of 15 billion rubles a year for ten years after the decision to transfer or finance the development of a frequency-territorial plan for digital broadcasting (broadcasters' expenses for transferring transmitters from the range).
Sources tell the publication that the amount was calculated by B1 (previously working in Russia under the name EY). RBC reports that the readiness to give part of the frequencies in the 700 MHz band was noted in the draft Concept for the Development of Broadcasting for 2020-2025. two years ago, but nothing was said about the specific amounts of the agreements.
A RBC source in one of the Big Four operators (MTS, Megafon, Beeline and Tele2) said that the amount of 150 billion rubles is "divorced from reality." According to him, the cost of rescheduling networks excluding equipment will amount to 1.5-3 billion rubles. A source in another operator noted that in fact the networks belong to the state. In this regard, operators do not understand why broadcasters demand compensation from them.
One of the interlocutors of the publication stressed that "the withdrawal of broadcasters' transmitters from the 700 MHz band will provide the release of only a small band, when used for 5G, the maximum data transfer rates will be comparable to 4G, which will make these frequencies difficult to use in cities."[4]
2022
The Ministry of Digital Development will direct the funds laid down for the development of 5G networks for other purposes
As it became known on September 14, 2022, the Ministry of Digital Development began to redistribute the funds laid down in the 2022 budget for clearing frequencies for 5G networks for other purposes, namely, to create a situation center under the ministry, designed to eliminate the consequences of emergencies on communication networks.
The frequency conversion plan for 5G was planned to be presented to the president back in 2020, in accordance with the Ministry of Digital Development roadmap, the conversion should affect the bands 2.3-2.4 GHz, 4.8-4.99 GHz and 24-29 GHz, the cost of which was estimated at 7.4 billion, rubles notes. Kommersant In addition, it was supposed to transmit 5G frequencies in the 700 MHz band for the needs, which were released after the transition of broadcast television broadcasting from analog to digital. Broadcasters wanted to allocate compensation in the amount of 2.1 billion rubles. But in June 2022, they extended these frequencies for another year.
In general, 1.3 billion rubles were allocated for the conversion of 5G frequencies by the end of 2022. The Ministry of Digital Development is going to redirect 34 million rubles to the development of the situation center under the ministry.
{{quote "On the basis of the situation center, a backup site of the customer's technical support service is created. The creation of STPZ is aimed at the development of communication infrastructure, including the provision of communication services to provide access to socially significant objects and territorial election commissions to state, municipal, and other IT systems, as well as to the Internet under the Digital Economy program, the department said. }} The source of the publication in the telecommunications market notes that the industry by mid-September 2022 doubts the need to launch 5G against the background of problems with the supply of foreign equipment even for 4G, as well as "vague prospects" for the production of domestic, "against this background, the priority would be to convert frequencies for 4G, for example, 700 MHz band, which are suitable for the standard, this will increase the network capacity."[5]
The Ministry of Digital Development Science proposed to transfer the frequencies of radio relay stations to 5G networks
On July 4, 2022, the Ministry of Digital Development of Russia announced the development of a proposal to amend the table for the distribution of frequency bands between Russian radio services.
Thus, it is necessary to provide conditions for the predominant use of 5G networks in the country. In this regard, it is proposed:
- transmit frequencies in the millimeter band (24.25-27.5 GHz), which are used by radio relay stations, in favor of fifth generation networks;
- The conversion of the 4 GHz band to "civil" will help operators simplify the necessary expertise for 5G networks and obtain guarantees for the use of the band.
Some of the initiatives may come into force from 2023. They will help improve Internet speed and facilitate the introduction of 5G in Russia.
Such changes are planned to be carried out on the basis of domestic base stations. Back in September 2021, the Russian Ministry of Digital Development decided that by 2023 communications only Russian base stations could be installed on the network. It is assumed that within 2-3 years a mass production of such standard stations will be organized, LTE then it is planned to move to the 5G standard base stations.
Broadcasting of analog television in some regions will be extended for another year.
The transition to digital broadcasting was completed in 2019, but in some regions the broadcasting of regional and municipal channels in analog format continues. We are talking about channels that are not included in the first and second multiplex. In order not to turn off broadcasting and not to cause inconvenience to citizens accustomed to watching them, it was decided to extend the broadcasting period of such channels for another year.
The Ministry of Digital Development has determined the frequencies for 5G
At the end of June 2022, the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation named the frequencies that telecommunications companies will use in the operation of their 5G networks.
| | The 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency range will not be used for 5G networks. For the deployment of fifth-generation networks, a frequency range of 4.8-4.9 GHz has been chosen, the Ministry of Digital Development reported (quoted by RIA Novosti). | |
The agency notes that the 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency range is a priority for 5G, but in Russia it is occupied by other services, including power services. After the end of the ten-year licensing period in 2021, operators asked the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) to extend the licenses for another year so as not to abruptly disconnect customers. The SCRF extended the operators' permission to use the frequencies until July 1, 2022. Rostelecom, MegaFon and VimpelCom filed a petition to extend the permit for frequencies of 3.4-3.8 GHz, used to provide wireless Internet access services using WiMAX technology, but were refused.
| | Telecom operators fulfilled the GKRCH order and completed the transfer of subscribers from the 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency range to other communication systems. They had a year to fulfill the order, - said the Ministry of Digital Development. | |
It is noted that after mobile operators stop using 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies, nothing will change for subscribers, communication and the Internet will remain at the same level, since we are talking about outdated technologies that do not affect the end user in any way. By the end of June 2022, all major telecommunications companies in Russia switched to LTE and curtailed the development of WiMAX software.[6]
Ministry of Digital Development refused to give 5G frequencies for analog TV
Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation refused to give up 5G frequencies for analog TV. On June 14, 2022, the newspaper "" wrote about this Kommersant with reference to the agenda of the meeting. State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF)
According to the document, the authenticity of which was confirmed to the publication by sources among telecom operators, Ministry of Digital Development extends the possibility of using 175-230 MHz and 470-790 MHz radio frequencies for the use of analog TV radio transmitting devices for one year, until August 2023. At the same time, earlier the department wanted to transfer frequencies in the 694-790 MHz range, released as a result of digitalization of terrestrial TV, to mobile operators for the development of a new 5G communication standard.
According to the source, Kommersant the extension of the permission to use frequencies by analog TV should lead to a delay in the obligations of operators to cover regional roads with cellular communications. According to experts interviewed by the newspaper, up to 70% of federal highways are covered with mobile communications by mid-June 2022, and things are much worse with regional ones. In addition to the development of networks along federal and regional routes, the 700 MHz range will allow for wide coverage of communications outside large cities using fewer base stations. According to experts, due to a shortage of equipment by June 2022, any projects for the development of communication networks are paused, and a breakthrough in this regard will not occur until at least 2025.
Tele2 told the newspaper that mobile operators are interested in spectrum above 700 MHz, and to use it, it is necessary to free frequencies from digital and analog broadcasters. An interlocutor in one of the operators notes that in the 694-790 MHz range, LTE could be developed by June 2022 .[7]
2021
Frequencies for 5G expanded in Russia
The State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) at a meeting on November 29, 2021 decided to allocate a 4400-4990 MHz band to the New Digital Solutions (NCR) company for testing 5G networks. Read more here.
NIIR received frequencies for 5G testing
The Ministry of Digital Development published the minutes of the meeting of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH), held on August 2, 2021. It follows from it that the Radio Research Institute (NIIR), subordinate to the Ministry of State Enterprise, was allocated frequencies for scientific, research, experimental, experimental and design work using fifth-generation cellular networks (5G). This became known on August 12, 2021. Read more here.
Megafon, VimpelCom and Rostelecom created a joint venture to clear 5G frequencies
The companies VimpelCom"," MegaFon"" and Rostelecom"" have agreed that they will become members of LLC "New Digital Solutions" (NCR) with equal shares in the authorized capital. This was reported on June 3, 2021 TAdviser by MegaFon. The joint venture (JV) of operators will deal with issues of providing radio frequency resources for. creation of fifth generation mobile networks (5G) in Russia More. here
Mishustin approved the use of the 24.25 - 25.25 GHz range for 5G networks
In May 2021, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree of the Government of the Russian Federation "On Amendments to Section II of the Table of Distribution of Radio Frequency Bands between Radio Services of the Russian Federation." The document allows the use of the range in 5G networks.
As the Russian Information Agency in the Ministry of Digital Development explained to TASS, the paragraph in the resolution enshrines the decision taken at a meeting of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) on March 17, 2020 to allocate a radio frequency band of 24.25-24.65 GHz to an indefinite circle of people for use by electronic means (RES ) of the 5G/IMT-2020 standard, including in order to create technological communication networks, on the territory of the Russian Federation.
In addition, the document makes notes regarding the use of fixed service RES on the secondary basis of radio frequency bands 48.5-56.5 MHz and 76-84 MHz.
Earlier, Russian Deputy Head of the Ministry of Digital Development Oleg Ivanov said that the first Russian cities with a population of one million with 5G will appear only in 2024. According to him, in terms of conversion, the ranges 4.8-4.9 GHz, millimeter band frequencies (24.25-24.65 GHz), and the range 694-790 MHz were chosen for 5G deployment. With the latter, as the deputy minister explained, there are problems, there is a dialogue with broadcasters on it. In addition, the Ministry of Digital Development is considering additional bands, for example, from 4.4 GHz and above, wider frequencies in the millimeter band (above 24 GHz).
By May 11, 2021, telecom operators in Russia had not been allocated the frequencies necessary for the development of 5G, including the "golden" range of 3.4-3.8 GHz (occupied by security forces and special communications), which is considered the most optimal for covering the urban environment with 5G networks. Commercial 5G networks in several dozen countries are built on this range today. Telecom operators believe that without the "golden" range, the development of 5G networks in Russia and their massive introduction is in principle in question.[8][9]"
NATO countries opposed the launch of 5G networks in Russia at frequencies of 4.8-4.99 GHz
and Latvia , Estonia included in, as NATO well as (Finland it is not part of the North Atlantic Alliance, but its military systems are unified with its standards) opposed St. Petersburg telecommunication the use of networks 5G at frequencies of 4.8-4.99 GHz for base stations. This became known in early February 2021 from the approval table for the use of the frequency range published (ITU, International Telecommunication Union the unit UN coordinating the interaction of participants in the global communications market).
According to Vedomosti, NATO military aviation systems operate at frequencies of 4.8-4.99 GHz, and Russian base stations can interfere with European intelligence communications, in particular in the "friend or foe" recognition system.
In accordance with the international radio regulations, the consent of neighboring states must be obtained for the use of communications in border areas. The distance from base stations should be up to 300 km by air and up to 450 km to the borders. The closest base station of this range by February 2021 is located in Kronstadt. At the same time, according to the representative of MTS, which owns the equipment, the network operates in test mode. Orders to stop using the station from the Main Radio Frequency Center have not yet been received, the company told the newspaper.
In Ministry of Digital Development, the objections of neighboring states to the work of 5G in the border areas at the "Russian" frequencies are not considered a serious problem. The department told the publication that in such cases, contradictions can be resolved, "taking into account mutual interest," through negotiations. One of the interlocutors of the publication suggested that Russia could offer, in exchange for the consent of its neighbors not to object to 5G networks in the range of 4.8-4.99 GHz, to agree on the use of Russian military frequencies of 3.4-3.8 GHz for cellular communications.[10]
2020
In Russia, allocated new frequencies for 5G networks
For the development of fifth-generation mobile networks (5G) in Russia, additional frequencies are allocated - 24.45-27.5 GHz. This was announced at the end of December 2020 by the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation following a meeting of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH).
According to the decision of the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting, the New Digital Solutions company will present to the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting in the second quarter of 2021 a program of organizational and technical measures to release the 24.45-27.5 GHz radio frequency band and ensure electromagnetic compatibility of radio electronic means (RES) of 5G/IMT-2020 networks with existing and planned other radio communication services for the use of such equipment.
One of the main problems for 5G in Russia is the inability to get the necessary frequencies. The 3.4-3.8 GHz range, which other countries use for fifth-generation networks, is occupied in Russia by the systems of the Ministry of Defense, FSO and Roskosmos.
Also at the meeting of the State Committee for Radio Frequencies, the issue of using radio frequency bands by radio electronic means of wireless broadband access for connecting socially significant objects to the Internet was considered. To solve these problems, the ranges are 48.5-56.5 MHz and 76-84 MHz.
In addition, the commission allowed the use of the bands 791-798.5 MHz and 832-839.5 MHz for the development of LTE networks in Sevastopol.
The introduction and development of fifth-generation networks in Russia is one of the tasks of the Digital Economy national project. Until 2025, 5G should appear in all major cities of Russia, but this requires clearing the frequencies that the government has allocated for the operation of this type of communication. Spending of 2 billion rubles is planned for these purposes. In the summer of 2020, Ministry of Digital Development proposed to postpone the 5G implementation project and send money intended to clear frequencies to accelerate the digitalization of public services for the population and business.[11]
Ministry of Digital Development: Frequencies for military equipment will be transferred to 5G
For the development of 5G networks in Russia, it is planned to fully allocate a frequency range of 4.7-4.9 GHz for these purposes, said the head of the Ministry of Digital Development RFMaksut Shadayev on October 14, 2020. According to him, a plan for spectrum conversion in this range has already been approved.
| | The necessary funds have been allocated to develop samples of military equipment, which will go into other ranges, and 4.7-4.9 will be completely released to us, the minister said. | |
According to the minister, everyone understands that the priority would be the "golden range" of 3.4-3.8 GHz, which is used to develop fifth-generation networks around the world. In Russia, these frequencies cannot be used, since they are occupied by power structures. Technically, it is not yet possible to translate them to other frequencies.
Telecom operators claim that the 4.7-4.9 GHz range does not have a developed equipment ecosystem, and it has restrictions on use.
Most of the European part of Russia may be left without 5G communication due to the fact that the use of radio frequencies allocated for the development of this technology requires the permission of neighboring states in border zones at a distance of 300 km from the border, the president said on October 14, 2020. "Rostelecom Mikhail Oseevsky
| | The 4.8 GHz plus or minus band is not the main one in the world. But today in Russia this range has been determined, so today it is possible to draw conclusions about how 5G will develop. Today, "friend or foe" warning systems for aircraft are operating in this range, and permission from neighboring states is required to deploy 5G in this range in border zones at a distance of 300 kilometers from the border, he stressed. | |
In September 2020, broadcasters agreed to transfer their frequencies to the development of 5G under certain conditions. In particular, for frequencies 694-790 MHz, broadcasters demanded a resource to launch a third multiplex and compensation for transferring television transmitters to other frequency bands.[12]
Ministry of Digital Development: 4.8 GHz frequencies for 5G will receive a single operator
Frequencies in the 4.8 GHz band will be allocated to a single operator to create a 5G network. It in October, 2020 was declared by the deputy director of Department of State Policy in the sphere of communication of the Ministry of Digital Development Andrei Zheglov.
He acknowledged that the 3.4-3.8 GHz band is "globally harmonized and key for fifth generation networks," but it is occupied by power structures, and it is impossible to find frequencies for 5G without conversion in it.
Andrei Zheglov also noted that the 700 MHz range is important for 5G in the Internet of Things, but in Russia its frequencies are excluded from economic circulation in favor of television. Thus, only frequencies in the 25 GHz band are available for 5G in Russia.
Telecom operators note that the 4800-4990 MHz range is not global for 5G, does not have a developed equipment ecosystem, and it also has restrictions on use. In addition, an attempt to develop 5G in it will entail large monetary costs. In addition, questions raise the allocation of frequencies to a single operator, and not to a group of operators working in interaction.
| | In terms of allocating frequencies to a single operator, in our opinion, the preferred option is when 5G networks are not built by a monopoly player, but in conditions of intensive infrastructure sharing. In addition, the concept of active cooperation between operators is the basis of the joint venture being created to implement 5G. World experience has also shown the inefficiency of a single infrastructure operator, the press service of MegaFon told ComNews. | |
Tele2 They announced their participation in discussions of the capabilities of the 4.8 GHz band together with Ministry of Digital Development other operators and manufacturers. By October 9, 2020, there is no final decision on which model is the creation of a joint venture or a single infrastructure operator, Tele2 noted.[13]
Maksut Shadayev: The "golden range" occupied by the security forces will not be used for 5G networks
On September 21, 2020, the Ministry of Digital Science Maksut Shadayev said that the authorities would not cede the so-called "golden range" of frequencies to launch 5G networks.
| | 5G will be in the ranges in which we managed to agree on use. 3.4-3.8 GHz will not be used, he said on the sidelines of the Russian Internet Forum (RIF in the City), adding that the timing of 5G deployment in Russia remains unchanged. | |
According to the Digital Economy national project, mass construction of 5G networks in Russia should begin in 2022, when the first fifth-generation networks will appear in million-plus cities.
According to Interfax, 3.4-3.8 GHz is the best frequency range for 5G, but in Russia it is mainly occupied by special services. At the same time, it is not yet possible to find a sufficient free bandwidth in order for each player to expand the networks separately.
Operators will be able to build 5G cellular networks in the so-called millimeter band (24.25-24.5 GHz) only on domestic equipment included in the Unified Register of Russian Electronic Products. This is stated in the draft decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH), a source who got acquainted with the document told Vedomosti. Such an opportunity will be discussed at the next meeting of the SCRC, a federal official and a person close to one of the telecom operators also know. According to one of the interlocutors of the publication, this meeting may take place in mid-October 2020.
According to Vedomosti Tele2 in and, VimpelCom the companies will be ready to consider the possibility of purchasing domestic equipment if it is high-quality, competitive in price and relevant international standards. Megafon expressed the hope that the solution of issues related to the introduction of Russian equipment will not lead to delays in the development of the fifth generation network in the Russian Federation.[14]
The Security Council of the Russian Federation refused to give operators frequencies for 5G, occupied by the security forces
On May 14, 2020, it became known that the Security Council of the Russian Federation refused to give operators for the construction of 5G networks with frequencies in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range, occupied by the Ministry of Defense and Roskosmos.
According to Vedomosti, telecommunications companies, among other things, asked the security forces to allow them to convert (clear) the frequencies of this range in cities with a population of one million. They motivated the need to use 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies by the inappropriate use of another frequency band - 4.8-4.99 GHz (the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications called it an alternative).
At 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies, 5G networks are built in most European countries - without them it is almost impossible to launch full-fledged fifth-generation services, operators say.
In Russia, the frequency resource 4.8-4.99 GHz has a low load, but it intersects with the 4.4-4.99 GHz band, which is actively used by the military of NATO countries for the identification system of aircraft "own - alien," a source close to one of the operators told the publication. This means that base stations for 5G in this range, operators will only be able to install at a distance of 300 km to the land border or 450 km to the sea border, he explained. In addition, by May 2020, network equipment for 4.8-4.99 GHz is expensive, and there are practically no smartphones operating at these frequencies, experts told Vedomosti.
The topic of allocating frequencies for 5G is not the first time discussed in the Security Council, but in May 2020, as a person familiar with the managers of several operators and a person close to one of the manufacturers of telecommunications equipment told Vedomosti, the Security Council nevertheless rejected the request of cellular companies to allocate frequencies in the range of 3.4-3.8 GHz for the construction of fifth generation communication networks.[15]
Frequencies for 5G networks in Russia will be distributed without auctions
On March 17, 2020, the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF) at its meeting decided not to hold an auction for frequencies for 5G networks.
GKRCH planned to hold a start-up trading in frequencies for the commercial deployment of fifth-generation networks no later than the third quarter of 2020. It was supposed to play two regional lots in each subject of the Russian Federation (a total of 170 lots) in the radio frequency bands 25.25-25.5 GHz and 25.5-25.9 GHz.
However, as the director of the department of state policy in the field of communications of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications Andrei Kantsurov said, there were many comments about the ineffectiveness of the distribution of frequency bands by lots. Therefore, the meeting participants recognized the decision as invalid and agreed to amend it.
According to the State Radio Broadcasting Company, the allocation of frequencies to telecom operators in the entire millimeter band (25.25-27.5 GHz) by auction is unprofitable. The State Commission decided to allocate frequencies in this range to the Research Institute of Radio (NIIR) and the joint venture Rostelecom and MegaFon - "New Digital Solutions," but for scientific purposes.
The remainder of the specified range - 24.25-24.65 GHz - will be allocated to an indefinite circle of people to create 5G networks, including technological communication networks. This means that Roskomnadzor will independently decide who is allowed to install electronic communications in this range.[16]
In addition, the SCRF again rejected all operator applications for frequencies of 3.4-3.8 GHz for research.
| | So far, at 3.4-3.8 GHz, we refrain from any allocations and even assignments until the final resolution of the issue of the possibility or impossibility of using this range in the interests of 5G. First of all , we have the interests of national security, and if there is even the slightest threat to these issues , the SCRC does not make a decision to the detriment of national security , "said Oleg Ivanov, deputy head of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications. | |
Operators in the Russian Federation were not allowed to use their frequencies for 5G
On March 6, 2020, it became known that Russian mobile operators were not allowed to use the frequencies they already have to launch 5G networks. Because of this, the introduction of technology in the country may slow down.
According to Vedomosti, permission to use the bands in which 2G, 3G and 4G communication works should have been given at its meeting by the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF). The draft decision proposed to allow operators to provide 5G services in the ranges from 791-862 MHz to 2500-2690 MHz (LTE networks are now operating at such frequencies, in particular ). The 1710-1880 MHz band mentioned in the document uses GSM (2G) and LTE cellular networks, and 1920-1980 MHz and 2110-2170 MHz use 3G and LTE.
But after the conciliation meeting held in early March 2020, the corresponding item disappeared from the draft decision of the commission.
The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications did not answer why the clause on technologically neutral networks disappeared from the draft decision of the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting. Sources of the newspaper say that representatives of several departments at once spoke out against, including the FSB and Roscosmos.
According to one of the interlocutors, state users whose equipment operates at adjacent frequencies fear that 5G in the bands listed in the SCRF solution will interfere with their radio equipment, including in space communication systems.
According to Vedomosti, the frequencies discussed in the draft GKRCH solution make it possible to implement the combination of 5G and LTE networks in one channel - this would allow you to quickly launch networks without completely replacing equipment. The first 5G base stations would have started operating in the spring of 2020, and large-scale coverage would have appeared by the end of the year. Due to the postponement of the solution, more or less large 5G networks will not work until 2021.[17]
2019
The intention of Rostelecom, MegaFon, VimpelCom and MTS to create a joint venture to clear the 5G spectrum
On December 12, 2019, PJSC Rostelecom informed TAdviser that, together with MegaFon PJSC, VimpelCom PJSC and MTS PJSC, they signed an agreement of intent in order to organize joint work on the development and optimal use of fifth generation mobile networks (5G/IMT-2020) in Russia.
The parties are working on options for combining efforts to create a 5G radio subsystem in priority frequency bands, where there is an acute shortage of spectrum, including the possibility of creating a joint venture (JV) with equal shareholder shares of each operator.
If created, the joint venture will be engaged in electromagnetic compatibility studies, organizational and technical measures to release the radio frequency 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. And also in other possible ranges suitable for creating 5G networks. At the same time, the joint venture will not be a telecom operator.
The activities of the joint venture will be aimed at clearing the frequency resource sufficient for the participants to build their own 5G networks. Four operators will be able to jointly use the radio frequency spectrum allocated to the SP on equal terms.
The implementation of the provisions of the agreement of intent, as well as the creation of a joint venture, will require the parties to agree on legally binding documents and obtain corporate and regulatory approvals.
Draft methodology for determining the initial price of the radio frequency spectrum
On October 9, 2019, it became known that the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications prepared a draft "Methods for determining the initial price of the subject of the auction for obtaining a license for the provision of communication services using the radio frequency spectrum." The document is published on the portal regulation.gov.ru.
The need to change the Methodology is due to the preparation for the auction for the sale of frequencies for fifth-generation cellular networks (5G) in the millimeter band - 25.25-27.5 GHz. The State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF) at the next meeting in October 2019 was supposed to consider putting the relevant frequencies up for auction.
It was assumed that 11 federal lots would be presented at the auction. The Ministry of Communications considers 200 MHz to be the minimum bandwidth required to provide communication services in this range. Nine lots would include 200 MHz frequency bands, one 150 MHz, the other 300 MHz.
However, as the director of the department of state policy in the field of communications of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications Andrei Kantsurov said, the State Committee for Emergency Situations has postponed consideration of this issue to December 2019. Now it is planned to auction six lots, of which four will be federal 400 MHz wide, two regional (one 250 MHz, the other 400 MHz).
The changes proposed by the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications to the existing version of the "Methodology" assume a different formula for calculating the initial cost of frequency lots. Separately, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications will have to determine the number of years from the moment of provision of 5G services, after which telecom operators are expected to reach a payback - in the formula this value appears as "N." The value of this parameter is assumed to be "3."
The basis of the formula will be a sequence of values calculated for each year in the period from N to the end of the validity period of the licenses being played, usually 10 years. For each year from this period, the annual radio frequency fee will be multiplied by the product of another sequence of values. This, the second sequence, will consist of increased by "1" values of the consumer price index calculated by the Ministry of Economic Development for each year of service provision in the period from "2" to the year considered in this sequence.
The resulting final sequence of values for the period from N to "10" must be summed up. Next, the size of the one-time fee for receiving radio frequencies will be added to it, after which the resulting value will be multiplied by the population coefficient and the investment attractiveness coefficient of the territory. Thus, the cost of frequencies for each region will be calculated.
The coefficient of territories will be calculated as the ratio of the number of inhabitants of the territory of the region on which communication services will be provided to the total number of inhabitants of this region. The coefficient of investment attractiveness of the region is established by the Ministry of Communications separately for each subject of the federation.
The largest value of this coefficient in Moscow is 4.6. For St. Petersburg, this coefficient is 4.1, for the Moscow region - 3.9, for the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug - 3.4, for the Sverdlovsk and Tyumen regions - 3.1, for the Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug - 2.8.
For 28 regions, the value of this coefficient is less than "1." The smallest values - from "0.7" to "0.8" - are set for the republics of Tuva, Karachay-Cherkessia, Kalmykia and Altai.
The explanatory note to the draft amendments to the Methodology proposed by the department states that if they are adopted, the initial cost of the lot for Moscow will decrease six times - from 437 million rubles. up to 67 million rubles, for St. Petersburg three times - from 179 million rubles. up to 59 million rubles.
The total cost of the initial lot for 14 million-plus cities will decrease fivefold - from 869 million rubles. up to 181 million rubles [18] for [19]].
The Big Four operators will clear frequencies for 5G in Russia
The Big Four of Russian mobile operators will clear frequencies for the development of fifth-generation (5G) networks in Russia. About this to journalists on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (WEF; September 4-6, 2019) said Rostelecom President Mikhail Oseevsky.
| | The agreement, which was agreed to be signed MTS VimpelCom on 5G, concerns joint work to clear the 3.5-3.8 GHz band. MegaFon It is too early to talk about the creation of an infrastructure operator - including on the basis of our joint venture with - since, in principle, frequencies are not allocated for this, - said Mr. Oseevsky on the sidelines of the WEF (quote from). Interfax | |
The Ministry of Communications proposed to resume 5G testing in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range at the end of 2019. Applications for testing were submitted by MTS, VimpelCom, MegaFon, Rostelecom and Tele2, but the security forces opposed, whose communication systems occupy these frequencies.
In early September, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said that frequencies in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range would not be massively cleared for the civil industry. The emphasis will be on the development of the network in the range of 4.4-4.99 GHz, said Oleg Ivanov, deputy head of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation.
By the beginning of September 2019, Russian telecommunications operators did not come to a common decision on the construction of 5G networks. We are considering options for creating a single infrastructure operator, sharing equipment and self-development of the network.
The joint venture (JV), which was created by Rostelecom and MegaFon, could be used by the Big Four to deploy 5G networks. MTS and VimpelCom signed an agreement to join this joint venture.
| | Work is underway. It's just easier for someone right away, for MegaFon and I, but, for example, for VimpelCom, a satisfied serious legal agreement is required. The question is not in formalities, but in being, "he added.[20] | |
Putin did not give operators popular frequencies for 5G, leaving them with the military
On August 15, 2019, it became known that the president Russia Vladimir Putin imposed the "Agree" resolution on a letter from the Security Council with a negative position on allocating 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies to operators for the development of fifth-generation communication networks () 5G in Russia.
According to Vedomosti, citing sources in the relevant department and telecom companies, the head of state got acquainted with a letter from the Security Council, which said that it was more expedient to leave these frequencies behind the Ministry of Defense and Roskosmos, which often use them.
The 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency is the most popular for 5G networks in the world, as in most countries it turned out to be the lowest of the free bands that guarantee a wide coverage radius. The higher the frequency range, the smaller its coverage radius.
Instead of a 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency range, the government is exploring the possibilities of the Russian industry to work with a 4.4-4.99 GHz band. This idea is also supported by the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media.
The use of the 3.4-3.8 GHz spectrum is complicated by the fact that these frequencies are occupied by military communication systems. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov said that the government will help with clearing the desired frequency range, but now there is no need to wait for this. The final decision on the 5G range will be made by the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF).
Russia creates an "exclusive" scenario for the development of technology, which requires deliberately more expensive network and terminal equipment, the representative warns. In Tele2 the case of rare ranges, the feasibility study of most commercial projects will not converge, because so far they are only niche with implicit prospects, according to v. VimpelCom[21]
The capital began testing the fifth generation of communications in the millimeter band n257 (26.5 GHz - 29.5 GHz)
On August 14, 2019, it became known that the capital began testing the fifth generation communications in the n257 millimeter band (26.5 GHz - 29.5 GHz). For this Department of Information Technologies of Moscow , telecom operators, within the framework of concluded agreements on the development of communication services and information telecommunication technologies, join forces for to construction IT infrastructures the standard. 5G This work is carried out in conjunction with various market participants, including technology companies that supply equipment and. software
The development of fifth-generation data networks is a prerequisite for the emergence of a number of services in the development of telemedicine, unmanned vehicles, education, and will also contribute to the emergence of various business models to increase the economic potential of the Russian capital. The development of 5G networks will allow the city and technology companies operating in Moscow to create additional jobs for specialists in various fields of industry, give an incentive to the development of high-tech companies, and significantly increase the role of Moscow as one of the world's leading centers of innovation. That is why the Moscow Department of Information Technology coordinates and supports participants in the Russian cellular market at all stages of preparation for launch. For this, in 2018-2019, agreements were concluded between the Moscow government and telecom operators.
The result will be the first in Europe locations of fifth-generation networks built in the millimeter band and allow you to test and prepare commercial operation of a wide variety of uses of modern technologies - from improved broadband fixed and mobile wireless access for private users to business solutions.
| | Moscow is one of the most dynamically developing cities in Europe, traditionally occupying the highest places in the world rankings for the provision of digital services. Over the coming years, Moscow plans to provide business centers, stadiums, central streets, congress halls with an almost unlimited capacity of mobile communications with ultra-high speeds and low latency, which will provide a qualitatively different level of services to citizens and businesses of the capital, and the use of the n257 millimeter band will allow telecom operators to solve this problem most effectively. We are glad to see how the Moscow authorities and mobile operators operate smoothly and effectively to achieve their goal. In turn, we are working to bring to life the most advanced 5G NR technologies on the widest range of devices, from smartphones to fixed wireless hotspots. | |
| | Moscow will be the first city in Russia to deploy full-fledged 5G pilot segments with all telecom operators in 2019. Together with the market, we strive to build a safe and reliable infrastructure that will become a prerequisite for creating high-paying jobs and attracting investment to the city. | |
The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications is negotiating with law enforcement agencies to expand the frequency range for 5G
On July 26, 2019, it became known that at a meeting of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH), Deputy Minister of Communications Oleg Ivanov said that "positive negotiations are underway with the power unit" regarding the transmission of 4.4-4.8 GHz frequencies for 5G.
| | I hope that in the event of a favorable outcome, we will bring this issue to the meeting of the SCRC. We want to lobby for the opportunity to conduct research in this range, | |
Answering the question about the allocation of 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies for 5G, which Russian operators call the most preferable for deploying fifth-generation communication networks, Oleg Ivanova said that steps in this direction are planned.
| | We are waiting for the protocol, I do not want to comment in detail, we will inform about it later. The results of the negotiations satisfied us, we would not only find a compromise, but found points of interaction, | |
Earlier it was reported that the union of operators mobile communication LTE is developing a "roadmap," which implies the transfer of the 700 MHz frequency band (more precisely, the 694-790 MHz band) for the deployment of fourth-generation mobile communications, and in the future - the fifth.
On July 25, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications published a draft departmental order, the explanatory note of which states that it was created "to achieve the established indicators for the introduction of 5G networks and to stimulate telecom operators to increase the efficiency of using the radio frequency spectrum." The document proposes to reduce the fee for the total amount of fees for the use of radio frequencies 4800-4990 MHz and 25.25-29.5 GHz throughout the country from 112.5 billion rubles. up to 1.31 billion rubles. per year, the Ministry of[22] the[23].
On the regulatory-spectral issue, Russia lags behind South Korea, the United States and China
Russia in the regulatory-spectral issue lags behind such countries as South Korea, the United States, China, where 5G is already actively developing. This was announced on June 14, 2019 at MegaFon.
| | They are ahead, because the state has cleared the ranges necessary for the standard in advance. And world experience says: the 3.4-3.8 GHz range is optimal for 5G industrial development. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the minimum size of the free band for each of the operators should be at least 100 MHz - if it is less, then the value of the product that the technology gives falls: the speeds will not be high, the delays will increase. Nevertheless, we are starting to start a new testing of capabilities in the 25, 5-27.5 GHz band, for which we have submitted a corresponding application. However, this range is not suitable for 5G mass use. To implement the tasks of developing the digital economy and introducing 5G technologies, it is worth turning the 3.4-3.8 Hz range into a clean spectrum as soon as possible, MegaFon said. | |
According to MegaFon representatives, a commercially attractive number of 5G-enabled devices for operators will appear on the market only by 2023-2025. So far, there are no subscriber devices that support 5G, and the population's need for large-scale coverage in cities is not yet enough, according to the company.
| | The needs of an ordinary user, for example, searching for information on the Internet, watching videos, downloading music and the rest, so far fully satisfy 4G speeds and wide network coverage. 5G will find more use in business, of course. 5G will have a significant impact on the development of key areas of urban life: education, healthcare, housing and communal services. Therefore, the V2V standard will appear in the segment earlier than for the mass market, "added MegaFon. | |
| | The 5G network, along with big data analytics and IT development, is the basic "infrastructure innovation" for convergence and launch of new products and the formation of a full-fledged ecosystem of services. The forecast for traffic growth in Moscow - an increase of seven times on 5G and four times on LTE by 2025 - suggests that a full-format fifth-generation network will be needed in order for all innovative services to be available, and the sectors of the economy will receive a powerful impetus for further digitalization, according to MTS. - In this regard, the most relevant issue is the 3.4-3.8 GHz range, which provides an optimal combination of maximum coverage and high access speeds. It will be global, as it is already distributed in a number of countries in Western Europe, Australia and South Korea. Equipment will be produced for it, therefore, the development of this range in Russia will speed up the launch of 5G networks, making them available to a wide range of users. Conversion of this range is required. | |
MTS also noted that the company is actively testing fifth-generation networks at various sites and in cooperation with vendors. In particular, agreements regarding the testing and development of 5G are concluded with Ericsson and Huawei.
In VimpelCom"," the issue of 5G development Russia in was designated as "very difficult," adding the following:
| | "There is a program" Digital Economy of the Russian Federation, "in which 5G launches should take place in the main cities with a population of one million in 2021. And pilot zones have been implemented this year. But without the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, this will turn into a "Potemkin village." In the millimeter band, it will not be possible to provide the proper level of coverage, plus health services have questions about this range, which require more research. For the 4.8-4.99 GHz range, the ecosystem will not form by this date, since the status of this range is not fully understood even in countries where it was allocated for fifth-generation networks (Japan, China). 3.4-3.8 GHz is the range for which the ecosystem is formed internationally. Devices with support for this range have already been announced by major smartphone manufacturers and will be available to users this year. | |
At the same time, VimpelCom also agreed that IoT and 5G are new (as of June 2019) growth points for media, retail, financial sector, education, medicine, mining, agriculture, power and housing and communal services, as well as security.
| | The reason for this is smart cities. According to a number of forecasts, by 2025 the volume of the world market using digital opportunities in the following industries will be: ICT - $5 trillion, retail - $1.5 trillion, transport - $0.9 trillion, production - $6.4 trillion, "VimpelCom said. | |
For its part, Tele2 (T2 Mobile LLC) noticed that until recently mobile operators and equipment manufacturers predicted that the first commercial 5G implementations would not appear until 2020-2022.
| | Progress in standardizing technology has accelerated this process. Point launches of networks are already taking place in the world, and analysts call 2019 a landmark year in the development of 5G. Global 5G launches, according to analysts, will take place in 2020. In Russia, the main obstacle to the development of the standard remains the unresolved issue with the frequency range, but technologically the Tele2 network is ready to implement 5G, Tele2 said. | |
The company also added that from the very launch in the capital, Tele2 built a network on equipment with 5G support, and at the beginning of 2019 signed a contract with Ericsson for the installation of 50 thousand base stations ready to implement the technology. According to company representatives, 5G technology will become the basis for the transition to the next stage of the digital economy, the emergence of new services, change the principles of operation of government agencies and organizations and will become an important element of citizen security systems.
As for the use of 5G in Russia, according to Tele2 representatives, they are diverse, and as the technology develops, new scenarios will appear, especially those that require ultra-high speeds and low signal transmission delay. First of all, these are industrial automation, unmanned transport management, remote medicine, virtual and augmented reality.[24]
Megafon will transfer 5G frequencies to a joint venture with Rostelecom
On June 11, 2019, it became known that Megafon would transfer the frequencies owned by the Neosprint company purchased by the operator to a joint venture with Rostelecom. Read more here.
The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications reduces operators' fees for 5G frequencies by 112 billion rubles
In early June 2019, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications presented a methodology according to which operators will be able to pay much less for 5G frequencies than expected.
The agency supported the proposal Federal Antimonopoly Service to introduce reduction factors, with the help of which the cost of the spectrum will be reduced from 112.4 to 1.3 billion rubles per year. For comparison, frequencies LTE cost about 25 billion rubles, estimated at. Tele2
The representative of the LTE Union (unites the largest telecom operators) pointed out to Vedomosti that if the calculation method is not changed, then the fee for the 5G spectrum for each operator will be twice as high as the entire market pays now.
The cost of the spectrum depends on the width of the frequency range. For 4G, its width is approximately 20 MHz, 5G - from 40 to 100 MHz in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range, and in 25-29 GHz - 400 MHz and higher.
5G networks need wider bands than previous generation networks, explains Igor Guryanov, CEO of Spectrum Management: "This is physics - the wider the channel, the greater the speed of an individual subscriber and the total capacity of the entire network." The essence of the fifth generation communication is precisely that the equipment is able to simultaneously transmit a unit of information over a wider "beam" of frequencies to a large number of subscribers at once, says Guryanov
According to the head of VimpelCom Vasil Latsanich in an interview with TASS on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the cost of building 5G networks in Russia will be sky-high for operators if promising frequencies are not allocated for these purposes
3.4-3.8 GHz are considered the only frequencies suitable for fifth-generation networks in the world, but it is still difficult to distinguish them in Russia due to disagreements with the security forces.[25]
SCRF decided to expand the frequency range for testing 5G networks
On June 5, 2019, it became known that the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF) decided to expand the frequency range for testing 5G communication networks . This was reported in TASS Information Agency of Russia with reference to the information provided by the Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation. As specified, the SCRF has increased the upper range for 5G tests from 25.25-27.5 GHz to 25.25-29.5 GHz. At the same time, the lower range of 4.8-4.99 GHz, which is also intended for testing, remained unchanged.
The GKRCH also identified two more zones for conducting research on 5G capabilities - the Luzhniki sports complex and the Moscow-City MICC business center. Earlier, such bases, according to the Ministry of Communications, already included: Skolkovo Innovation Center, VDNKh, Tverskaya Street, Vorobyovy Gory, Gorky Park and Zaryadye Park.
| | At the GKRCH meeting, it was decided to expand the frequency band previously allocated for testing fifth-generation (5G) communication technologies, and two additional pilot zones in Moscow were identified. Members of the commission voted unanimously for these decisions, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications said following a meeting of the commission.[26] | |
What bands in Russia will be used for 5G
On April 15, 2019, it became known that a group consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Communications, Roskomnadzor, the Ministry of Defense, the FSO (Federal Security Service), the state corporation Roscosmos and the state-owned enterprise Radio Research Institute (NIIR) has determined the frequency bands available for use by cellular networks of the future, the fifth generation of cellular communications (5G).
Such bands were recognized as 870-880 MHz, 4.4-4.435 GHz, 4.79-4.8 GHz, 4.99-5 GHz, 5.57-5.65 GHz, 5.65-5.67 GHz, 6.425-7.025 GHz, 7.075-7.1 GHz, 10.4-10.6 GHz and 14.5-15.35 GHz. The materials of the working group were transferred to the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GRKCH), which plans to decide on the use of frequencies for 5G networks.
The SCRF in relation to the 4.79-5 GHz and 27.1-27.5 GHz bands recognized the presence of a limit on the possible number of using and telecom operators. This means that frequencies in these bands will be distributed at the auction (tender or auction).
With regard to the rest of the aforementioned frequency bands, as well as the 24.25-27.1 GHz and 27.5-29.5 GHz bands, the GKRCH instructed the Ministry of Communications to work out the issue of possible allocation of frequencies for 5G networks in them.
5G networks will primarily be built in large cities. From the point of view of network capacity and coverage, the most promising frequency bands for work in large cities are ranges from 1 GHz to 5 GHz.
From the indicated decisions of the working group "Express Audit of the RF 5G" and the State Emergency Committee, it follows that in Russia 5G networks will be built, first of all, in certain areas of the 4.4-5 GHz range.
Meanwhile, another range of 3.4-3.8 GHz is considered the most promising for 5G. As explained by Brett Tarnutzer, head of the frequency department of the International GSM Association, the 4.4-5 GHz band is considered for use in China and Japan, but it does not have the same support as the 3.4-3.8 GHz band.
| | Importantly, broadband equipment in 5G will operate over a wide operating frequency range of 3.3-3.8 GHz. This will contribute to the development of the equipment ecosystem for this range, increasing economies of scale for equipment manufacturers and creating favorable conditions for the rapid introduction of affordable devices to the market. Russia will not be able to take advantage of these benefits if it does not consider using at least part of this range for 5G. | |
It was expected that in Russia 5G networks will be built in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range. In 2017, the GKRCH allocated Megafon frequencies in this range on the territory of 11 cities that hosted the World Cup in 2018 (Megafon was a subcontractor of the championship).
Frequencies in the 3.4-3.6 GHz range are also owned by the group Freshtel providing standard transmission services data. Since WiMAX 2015, Freshtel has been under the control of "." At the Rostelecom end of 2017, the SCRF also allocated frequencies in this range to Freshtel companies in a number of cities for 5G testing.
However, now the SCRF plans only to take note of the NIID report on the use of the 3.4-3.8 GHz band for the construction of 5G networks. The report says that, unlike previous generations of cellular communications, the task of clearing the 3.4-3.8 GHz band for 5G cannot be solved only by introducing restrictions on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for various categories of electronic equipment (RES).
As of April 2019, in the range of 3.4-3.8 GHz, electronic communication facilities related to fixed wireless access (FBD), radio relay communications (RRS), radar (radar) and fixed satellite communications (FSS) networks operate.
PDB networks operate in the 3.4-3.6 GHz band. These include the Wirelles Local Loop (WLL) systems that have been created since the late 1990s and more modern wireless broadband Internet access (FBWA, Fixed Broadband Wireless Access) systems. These include WiMAX mobile networks launched in the late 2000s (formally they are assigned to a fixed service in Russia).
For radio relay stations in Russia, the 3.4-3.9 GHz band was originally allocated. But in 2009, the CRRC recognized that it was inappropriate to further develop the RRS in this range, allowing only support for existing networks. At the same time, the commission allowed the use of RMS in a shifted range - 3.6-4.2 GHz - in a simplified mode without issuing separate GKRCH solutions.
Radar networks include, in particular, air defense systems (air defense) using the 3.2 -3.8 GHz range. The Russian Military Space Forces (VKS) has about 1 thousand. Air defense RES, of which 600 are ground, and 400 are aircraft.
GPCS uses frequencies in the 3.4-3.45 GHz band exclusively for transmitting control signals to satellite devices. At the same time, the 3.45-3.8 GHz band is used by 61 trunks on eight GPKS satellites, including for the distribution of federal television channels. Another part of the C-band, which is not planned to be used in 5G - 3.8-4.2 GHz - is almost completely used by individual GPKS satellites.
Among the special consumers of the satellite communication system in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range are the Ministry of Defense and the FSO. The military department has three of its own Lightning satellites, and also uses civilian satellite constellations (Rainbow, Yamal, Express) operating in this range.
In addition, in the range of 3.4-3.45 GHz, the Ministry of Defense operates command and measurement stations (CIS) designed to control satellite devices and are part of a separate command and measurement complex (OKIK). In turn, such a complex is part of the main parts of spacecraft control (NAKU) of the Main Test Center for Testing and Control of Space Facilities named after G.S. Titov.
In addition to the designated satellite systems, the Unified Satellite Communication System (ECSS) also operates in the 3.4-3.9 GHz range. It is used by the Ministry of Defense and the FSO to carry out various tasks in conditions when the use of other means of communication becomes ineffective or impossible. In particular, we are talking about providing the highest persons of the state with access to various special information resources, obtaining confidential information and organizing telecommunications communication. In the 3.4-3.8 GHz range, the FSO uses various types of satellite communication RES, located both at stationary facilities and as part of Russian [27] transport complexes[28].
The Ministry of Defense is not ready to transmit the frequencies necessary for 5G
The Ministry of Defense believes that it is too early to transfer frequencies to cellular operators for deploying 5G communications (3.4-3.8 GHz range), it became known on March 29, 2019.
The Ministry of Defense asks not to rush to use the ranges not mentioned in the previous decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies: 4.8-4.99 and 27.1-27.5 GHz.
At the same time, specialists in the telecommunications industry clarify that if 5G networks do not receive frequencies in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range, 5G in Russia will be 5G only in name, but not in real network characteristics.
The presidential spokesman RUSSIAN FEDERATION Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the Defense Ministry's recall of the 5G concept Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media , saying that the final decision on the topic would be made, "of course, at the level," governments since this is not the prerogative of the head. states
The concept, which Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media was sent to the Ministry of Ministry of Finance Defense, and Ministry of Industry and Trade, FSB FSO involves the creation of a single infrastructure operator for the development of 5G in Russia in the form of a consortium that will unite mobile and fixed-line operators, as well as equipment suppliers. He will be the holder of the radio frequency spectrum and will not be able to transfer the rights to use the frequencies to another legal entity.
In the concept, the cost of 5G coverage of million-plus cities in the presence of a single operator is estimated at 56 billion rubles, Moscow - at 16 billion.
Market participants noted that the creation of a single infrastructure operator can be expedient and attractive only if it facilitates negotiations to free the frequencies necessary for 5G.
At the same time, according to the passport of the national project "Digital Economy," published on the government's website, the radio frequency ranges for creating 5G networks in Russia should be determined by September 30, 2019, and the concept of creating and developing 5G networks approved by March 31, 2019. The plan to release radio frequencies for 5G implementation is expected to be approved by the end of 2020. 2022 year, fifth-generation networks should be launched in at least 10 million-plus cities of the Ministry of[29].
The state will shoulder the cost of clearing frequencies for 5G networks
At the end of January 2019, it became known that the state would bear the cost of clearing (converting) frequencies for the deployment of fifth generation (5G) networks. Deputy Prime Minister for Digital Economy Maxim Akimov told reporters about this after a round table "On the prospects for the creation and development of 5G communication networks in Russia."
| | Funds are already planned in the budget. We are now clarifying the exact estimate, but we are talking about tens of billions of rubles to clear the frequency spectrum. This is the task that we will finance. And the very development of 5G is, of course, a task that operators will solve, the Vedomosti newspaper quotes Akimov. | |
The most attractive for 5G is the 3.4-3.8 GHz range, but it is occupied by other users, including the military and space, and its release is necessary.[30]
The LTE Union, which unites MTS, VimpelCom, MegaFon and Tele2, estimated the cost of clearing frequencies for 5G at 11.8-16 billion rubles by 2022. By the beginning of 2019, this assessment is outdated, and clearing can cost several times more, Deputy Minister of Communications Oleg Ivanov told reporters, adding that the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications has already begun negotiations with frequency owners.
According to Maxim Akimov, the first projects of commercial operation of the 5G network may appear in Russia by 2021.
Communications Minister Konstantin Noskov says that by the end of January 2019, only a small frequency range is free - 190 MHz, while for normal operation it is necessary to have 200 MHz for each operator.
MegaFon considers several players to be the most profitable scenario for deploying 5G networks. Anna Aibasheva, a representative of VimpelCom, says that the joint deployment of 5G by operators in one organizational and legal form will be promising only in the face of continued competition and reliable network operation.
2018: SCRF to consider allocating frequencies for 5G network testing
On December 24, 2018, it became known that the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) intends at its next meeting to consider the allocation of frequencies for testing fifth-generation cellular networks (5G). This follows from the materials of the commission available to CNews.
The issue of allocating frequencies for 5G testing was going to be considered by the SCRF at its meeting in early December 2018. Then it was planned to allocate to the state-owned enterprise "Research Institute of Radio" (NIIR) frequencies in the bands 3.4-4.2 GHz, 4.4-4, 99 GHz and 24.25-29.5 GHz for joint 5G testing with telecom operators.
At the same time, it was assumed that frequencies in the same bands would be allocated to cellular operators who already have frequencies in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 450 MHz bands. These are VimpelCom, MTS, Megafon, Tele2 and a number of regional operators.
The decision was not made at the last meeting. This time, the commission plans to allocate frequencies in the same bands - 3.4-4.2 GHz, 4.4-4.99 GHz and 25.25-29.5 GHz - to an indefinite circle of people for 5G testing. Testing will be carried out in certain territories.
From the materials of the commission it follows that testing will be carried out in a total of 17 regions. Including in Moscow and the Moscow region, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, it is planned to allocate a range of 27.1 - 27.5 GHz for testing.
Also in Moscow, frequencies in the range of 3.4-3.6 GHz are planned to be allocated in the territories of Expocenter, Moscow City MMDC and the Comcity Office Park (there are offices of Rostelecom and Tele2).
All other alleged allocations relate to three bands at once: 3.4-4.2 GHz, 4.4-4.99 GHz and 25.25-29.5 GHz. Including in Moscow, it is planned to allocate frequencies subway in and in the following territories:, ENEA an office MGTS on Petrovsky Boulevard, a building in the MTUSI Aviamotornaya metro area Zelenograd , a factory, Micron a district, a park Troitsk,, and. Zaryadye Skolkovo Gorky Park art park "Museon"
In the Moscow region, frequencies are planned to be allocated at the territories of Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo airports, Dmitrovsky district (here is the NAMI car polygon for testing unmanned vehicles) and along the M11 highway (from 315 km to 330 km).
In St. Petersburg, frequencies are planned to be allocated in the metro, in the territories of the Container Terminal and the MTS office on the Petrogradskaya embankment, as well as in the Kalininsky district. In the Krasnodar Territory, frequencies are planned to be allocated on the territory of Sochi Airport, Tuapse Seaport and Gymnasium Street in Krasnodar.
In the Republic of Tatarstan, frequencies are planned to be allocated in the cities of Innopolis, Arsk and Almetyevsk. It is also proposed to allocate frequencies on Yamasheva Street in Kazan and on the territory of the KAMAZ plant in the city of Naberezhnye Chelny. In Yekaterinburg, frequencies are planned to be allocated on Mamin-Sibiryaka Street.
It is also planned to allocate frequencies in the territories of the following cities: Kaluga, Ulyanovsk, Kaliningrad, Polar Dawns (Murmansk region), Tomsk (it is proposed to make a separate allocation for the building of Tomsk State University on Lenin Avenue), Derbent ( Republic of Dagestan), Kemerovo and Mezhdurechensk (Kemerovo region).
Another place where it is planned to allocate frequencies for 5G testing is the Murmansk seaport. In addition, frequencies are planned to be allocated on the territory of the M4 route in the Voronezh and Lipetsk regions.
It follows from the materials of the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting that Megafon, MTS and Tele2 have already submitted applications for the allocation of frequencies for 5G testing for December 2018. Including "Megafon" asks for frequencies in the range of 27.1 - 27.5 GHz in Moscow and the region, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region.
MTS asks for frequencies in a number of territories in the bands 3.4-4, "GHz, 4.4-4.99 GHz and 25.25-29.5% GHz. In a number of other territories, the company asks for frequencies in the 4.8 - 4.99 GHz and 27.1 - 27.5 GHz bands. Tele2 asks for frequencies in the 3.43-3.6 GHz range in Moscow in the Comcity, Moscow City and Expo Center office center.
Of the Russian mobile operators, Megafon was the first to receive frequencies for 5G testing. In 2017, the SCRF allocated frequencies in the 3.4-3.8 GHz and 25.25-29.5 GHz bands to the company.
At the end of 2017, Rostelecom received frequencies in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range in eight regions, including Moscow and the region, St. Petersburg, Leningrad Region, Tatarstan and Kaliningrad. As of December 2018, these frequencies are occupied by the WiMAX operator Freshtel owned by Rostelecom.
At the same time, GKRCH considered the applications of MTS and VimpelCom for the allocation of frequencies for 5G testing, but issued a refusal. In the fall, GKRCH considered the issue of issuing VimpelCom frequencies for 5G testing in the 3.4-3.8 GHz, 4.4-4.5 GHz and 25.25-29.5 GHz bands in a number of regions, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. The minutes of the meeting of the commission have not been published. According to CNews, VimpelCom's application was granted.[31]
2017: Perspectives on different frequency bands for 5G networks - J&P report
The availability of the required frequencies is one of the main necessary factors for the development of such networks, along with the readiness of the network architecture and infrastructure, business models and subscriber devices [32]].
One of the most important prerequisites for the development of 5G networks is the lack of frequency resource necessary to ensure the acceptable quality of services related to mobile data transmission in the context of the continuing exponential growth of traffic and the coming era of the Internet of Things (IoT). The problem of lack of frequencies in the lower parts of the spectrum, including the 5 GHz band for Wi-Fi, is especially acute . In this regard, there are proposals to use not only low frequencies (up to 6 GHz) for 5G networks, but also high frequencies (tens of gigahertz), the characteristics of which are very different from traditional bands for mobile communications. Therefore, new network solutions, including new architectural solutions, are likely to be used for 5G networks.
In the development of fifth generation technologies, there is a certain set of "input" characteristics that serve as a guide for the new standard. For example, compared to the best existing LTE networks, the data transfer rate in 5G networks should be 10-100 times faster, the response time - 5 times less, networks should support 100 times more devices, etc.
It is assumed that the sequential transition from fourth generation to fifth generation networks will take a longer time compared to the transition from 3G to LTE. The first 5G networks will use LTE-Advanced advances, such as aggregation of licensed and unlicensed spectra.
The first meeting of 3GPP on 5G development, at which the development plan for this standard was determined, took place in 2015. In this plan, in particular, it is envisaged that the standard will develop in 2 phases, the first of which is expected to be completed in 2018 (not all requirements for 5G networks will be implemented), and the second in 2019.
Large-scale rollout of 5G infrastructures can be expected by 2020. By 2021, 5G services will account for 1.5% of the total mobile data traffic, on average, one 5G connection will generate 4.7 times more traffic than a 4G connection, and 10.7 times more than a 3G connection.
Ericsson predicts that all urban areas and the largest highways in Europe will be provided with continuous 5G coverage by 2025.
In June 2016, the 3GPP consortium announced a plan to standardize 5G. As expected, by the time Release 15 is released in mid-2018, technological recommendations and standards should be ready, which will form the basis for further technological developments and industrial production of infrastructure solutions and subscriber devices. Approval of the 5G standard is expected in 2020, after the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) gives a positive conclusion, as well as after the World Radio Conference (WRC-19), which will be held in the fall of 2019, agrees on frequency bands for 5G.
The massive emergence of 5G solutions is unlikely to take place earlier than 2020-2022, since vendors need to optimize the cost of supplied solutions and ensure the availability of equipment, and operators need to decide on priority business tasks in a new area for them.
According to experts at Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG), successful adoption of 5G systems for a number of applications will require simultaneously 5G systems in the low-frequency part of the spectrum (below 6 GHz), which have already been agreed at the past World Radio Conferences, and in high-frequency (dozens of gigahertz), some of which have already been allocated for the provision of mobile services and will be considered at the upcoming WRC-19 conference in 2019.
For the development of 5G networks in Europe, at the initial stage, it is planned to use the frequency bands 700 MHz, 3400-3800 MHz and 24.25-27.5 GHz. They provide full coverage of the territory, providing cost-effective provision of mobile connectivity services; wider frequency bands (hundreds of MHz) can be used compared to 3G/LTE systems - this will allow you to receive both capacity and coverage; 5G systems will require new frequency bands in the range up to 6 GHz.
Low frequencies (e.g. 3.4-3.6 GHz) and wide bands are expected to allow mass availability of speeds up to 100 Mbps. This option can be used, for example, to implement eMBB technology.
Low frequencies and good coverage will give extensive and well-penetrated coverage, which is important in order to achieve a mass market IoT. This applies primarily to the 700 MHz band and, to a lesser extent, 3.4-3.8 GHz. This 5G option is designed for mMTC solutions (massive M2M communication systems, smart city systems and smart homes/smart buildings). Low frequencies will also be used to ensure reliable connection of various devices to 5G networks, for example, cars (700 MHz and 3.4-3.8 GHz bands). This 5G variant could be used to automate industry, for delay-sensitive applications, for connecting self-driving cars.
The main deterrent to the use of the C-band band (3.4-3.8 GHz) in the European macro-region is its rather strong fragmentation. In addition, there are many regional (local) frequency assignments; in some cases, the deadlines for the completion of these licenses expire no earlier than 2021.
In Russia, this range is occupied by fixed broadband access systems (including WiMAX technology, which is practically minimized) and with relatively narrow-band satellite communication systems. According to experts, with the latter "some kind of joint coexistence can be found."
In most countries, solid bands 300-400 MHz wide are expected to be allocated for 5G systems. We can expect that up to 100 MHz of a solid band in the range of 3.4-3.8 GHz will be issued per operator.
Frequencies below 1 GHz, which provide good coverage at low cost, can be used to implement a number of 5G-based applications that do not require high speeds, for example, to implement some services in the IoT segment.
High frequencies and very wide bands can be used to connect users with high peak speeds up to 20 Gbps (in the 24.25-27.5 GHz and 37-43.5 GHz bands). Such speeds, for example, will be required for 3D video with UHD resolution, work and games in the cloud, augmented reality, holographic calls, tactile Internet and other applications.
The 24.25-29.5 and 37-43.5 GHz bands are the most likely bands for global commercialization of 5G in the high frequency domain.
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[33] of the Ministry of[33].
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.
Notes
- ↑ We talked about the frequency: in Russia we decided on the bands for 5G
- ↑ " Broadcasters got in touch
- ↑ They decided not to grind with frequencies
- ↑ Broadcasters estimate 4G and 5G frequency compensation at ₽150 billion over 10 years
- ↑ Conversion prevented on networks
- ↑ Mobile operators will no longer use 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies
- ↑ Analogue hovered in the range
- ↑ The government approved the distribution of the 24.25-25.25 GHz range for 5G networks
- ↑ Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 04.05.2021 No. 719 "On Amendments to Section II of the Table of Distribution of Radio Frequency Bands between Radio Services of the Russian Federation
- ↑ Russia's 5G disrupts NATO planes
- ↑ The last meeting of the SCRC took place in 2020
- ↑ Shadayev: Frequencies 4.7-4.9 GHz will be released for 5G networks
- ↑ 4.8 GHz frequencies for 5G will be given to a single operator
- ↑ Authorities won't cede 3.4-3.8 GHz range for 5G rollout
- ↑ Security Council again refused to give operators frequencies for 5G
- ↑ 5G divided into two
- ↑ operators lost another opportunity to quickly launch 5G in Russia
- ↑ [cnews.ru/news/top/2019-10-09_rossijskie_vlasti_v_razy The Russian authorities significantly reduce prices
- ↑ 5G frequencies
- ↑ The "big four" operators will be engaged in clearing frequencies for 5G
- ↑ Putin does not give operators popular frequencies for 5G
- ↑ [https://telesputnik.ru/materials/tekhnika-i-tekhnologii/news/minkomsvyazi-predlozhila-rasshirit-diapazon-chastot-dlya-5g-i-umenshit-stoimost-ikh-ispolzovaniya/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email Communications proposed to expand
- ↑ frequency range for 5G and reduce the cost of their use]
- ↑ 5G faster than forecasts
- ↑ The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications will reduce frequency fees for 5G by 110 billion rubles
- ↑ Decision to expand test range for 5G made
- ↑ [http://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2019-04-15_rossijskie_5g_v_opasnosti_vlasti_vydelili_im 5G
- ↑ in danger: The authorities have allocated them the most marginal frequencies]
- ↑ Defense is not ready to transmit the frequencies necessary for 5G
- ↑ The state will pay for clearing frequencies for 5G
- ↑ Where in Russia, first of all, 5G will work. List
- ↑ [http://www.cnews.ru/news/line/2017-03-17_json_partners_consulting_kommercheskie_perspektivy J'son & Partners Consulting: Commercial prospects for the use of frequencies for 5G networks in Russia and in the world
- ↑ 33,0 33,1 [http://zakupki.gov.ru/epz/order/notice/ok44/view/common-info.html?regNumber=0173100007515000025. The competition
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