Frequencies in Russian communication

2024

The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation will change the rules for the distribution of frequencies between TV broadcasters and telecom operators

On October 22, 2024, it became known that the Ministry of Digital Development was working on new rules for using the 694-790 MHz frequency band, which is used in Russia for digital broadcasting. This range is one of the preferred and effective for mobile operators.

The newspaper Kommersant told about the upcoming changes. The 694-790 MHz band is fixed as an additional for the development of 5G networks in Russia. Since 2011, operators have been paying to use the spectrum in this range. Moreover, since 2024, the Ministry of Digital Development has canceled the reduction factor, as a result of which the fee has increased to 700 million rubles. per year for one company.

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Freepik

Several options for further use of this strip are considered. One of them is the cancellation of operator fees for unused spectrum. Another option is to de-prioritize the use of the 694-790 MHz band in broadcasters. In this case, digital TV broadcasting is proposed to be transferred to the lower frequency band - 470-694 MHz. However, this can lead to difficulties in reaching the audience.

It is necessary to make sure that the frequency resource in the 470-694 MHz band is enough to introduce modern standards for digital television broadcasting, its development and full coverage of viewers and territories, "says Oleg Ivanov, General Director of the Research Institute of Radio.

The issue of further use of the 694-790 MHz band on behalf of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF) as of October 2024 is being discussed with operators, broadcasters and other departments. TV broadcasters say their costs of migrating to a different range should be paid by telecom companies. At the same time, expenses are estimated at 150 billion rubles over ten years. It is the scale of the problem, according to experts, that prevents the transmission of frequencies from broadcasters to telecom operators.^[1]

Cancellation of benefits for the use of LTE frequencies will replenish the budget by 23.1 billion rubles

The abolition of benefits for the use of LTE frequencies will replenish the budget by 23.1 billion rubles. This became known in early June 2024 from the draft amendments to the federal budget for 2024 and the planning period 2025-2026.

As reported by Interfax"" with reference to this document, the indicated amount of revenues to the budget of the Russian Federation as a result of the abolition of benefits for paying for the use of LTE radio frequencies applies only to 2024. It is assumed that these funds will be used to provide access Internet to state educational organizations and election commissions.

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Freepik

Also, the funds released in the results of the abolition of benefits for 4G frequencies are planned to be used to organize Wi-Fi access points in classrooms, provide verified digital educational content in schools and professional educational organizations and online access to digital educational resources and services based on Innopolis University.

Another expected expenditure item of these funds is the construction and design of trunk fiber-optic communication lines (FOCL) for connecting remote areas of Yakutia, Tuva, Chukotka, Khabarovsk Territory and other regions to a single telecommunication network, the agency adds, referring to the explanatory note to the draft amendments to the federal budget for 2024 and the planning period 2025-2026.

A reduction factor of 0.1 to pay for the use of LTE radio frequencies was in effect from 2011 to the end of 2023 to stimulate the development of technology. According to the head of the Ministry of Digital Science Maksut Shadayev, the benefit was canceled because LTE is no longer a new technology.^[2]

Telecom operators for the year will contribute 20 billion rubles to the budget for LTE frequencies after a 10-fold increase in tariffs of the Ministry of Digital Development

Telecom operators in 2024 will contribute Russian budget to an additional more than 20 billion rubles per - LTE frequency after a 10-fold increase in tariffs. This was announced in Ministry of Digital Development early February 2024 by the general director of "."VimpelCom Alexander Torbakhov

Since 2011, Russia has had a preferential rate on the LTE spectrum with a reduction factor. In Ministry of Digital Development and the Ministry of Finance reported the abolition of this benefit for 2024. Additional revenues that the federal budget will receive will be used, among other things, to develop communications and ensure the availability of the Internet in regions such as Yakutia and Chukotka, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov noted.

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Pexels

Izvestia, citing a source in one of the operators, wrote that the four largest federal mobile operators of the Russian Federation pay 15-17 billion rubles a year for using all the necessary frequencies. According to Konstantin Ankilov, General Director of TMT Consulting, the 20 billion rubles that telecom companies will pay in total in the form of fees for LTE frequencies is 2% of mobile revenues in Russia. According to experts interviewed by Vedomosti, this may be a reasonable burden for large companies, but for small players, a tenfold increase in tariffs can be a problem. Because of this, they can leave the market.

Ankilov believes that an increase in the cost of frequencies will lead to a slight increase in communication tariffs. Nevertheless, according to the strategy for the development of the communications industry until 2035, operators will not be able to raise tariffs above the inflation rate without certain conditions. In order to exceed this indicator, operators will have to undertake obligations to develop new generations of communications, modern technologies and also to build infrastructure in new territories (DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions), the newspaper notes with reference to the document.^[3]

The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation has simplified operators to share frequencies in the 3G standard

On January 15, 2024, the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation announced the decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH), according to which the procedure for sharing frequencies by operators in the 3G communication standard (UMTS) is simplified. We are talking about bands 880-890 MHz, 925-935 MHz, 890-915 MHz, 935-960 MHz, 1920-1980 MHz, 2010-2025 MHz and 2110-2170 MHz in Russia, with the exception of Crimea and Sevastopol.

As noted by the Kommersant newspaper, as of the beginning of 2024, companies with sharing (sharing) frequencies must receive a separate permission from the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting. This complicates the procedure and leads to a delay in the process as a whole. The new rules eliminate the need to issue separate permits of the commission, provided that the technical characteristics of radioelectronic means comply.

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Market participants note that in fact, the GKRCH solution summarizes several old rules on technological neutrality into one. Due to the change in requirements, the load on regulatory authorities will decrease, and telecom operators will be able to more effectively use their frequency resource.

Alexey Slukin, editor of the specialized Telegram channel Telecommunalka, believes that the initiative will not only simplify the sharing procedure in the 3G standard, but will also help in transferring part of the frequencies to the 4G/LTE standard. And this will make it possible to continue the development of mobile communications in the Russian Federation, maintaining data transfer rates at a high level. It is profitable to do this primarily in "commercially uninteresting locations," for example, in settlements with a small number of residents, where the download of cellular networks is not too high.

If now operators begin to cherish 3G more actively, then everyone together will be able to take voice communication there, and to transfer data, focus on LTE, "says Sergey Polovnikov, head of Content Review.[4]

2023

The Ministry of Energy requested frequencies to create LTE networks at Russian enterprises

On December 4, 2023, the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation appealed to the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF) under the Ministry of Digital Development with a proposal to allocate frequencies for building LTE technological networks at enterprises. It is assumed that this will help Russian organizations in the deployment of internal communication and data transmission systems, which, ultimately, will contribute to the development of domestic production. Read more here.

The Ministry of Digital Industry allocates frequencies for launching LTE in the LPR, DPR, Ministry of Digital Development and Kherson regions

On December 11, 2023, it became known that the Ministry of Digital Development Russian Federation intends to allocate frequencies for the development of cellular communications of the standard/and 4GLTE its subsequent modifications in the territory Luganskaya Donetsk and people's republics, as well as Zaporozhskaya Hersonskaya regions. We are talking about the 450 MHz band, which is expected to be provided to only one operator.

As of the end of 2023, mobile communications in the annexed regions are provided by the Republican Telecom Operator (DPR, Phoenix brand), Lugak (LPR), Crimean Vivacell-MTS (+ 7Telecom brand) and Miranda Media (19.9% of Rostelecom). According to the Kommersant newspaper, referring to information received from knowledgeable persons, the frequencies in the 450 MHz range will go to Miranda media.

Frequencies in the 450 MHz band in Crimea will go to Miranda Media

In Russia, this strip is used as part of the state program to eliminate digital inequality, which is being implemented by Rostelecom. It is aimed at providing communication to hard-to-reach and sparsely populated regions. Market participants explain the decision to allocate a 450 MHz band to the Miranda Media operator for several reasons. In particular, in the Russian Federation, only Rostelecom has the right to use these frequencies. In addition, the band of the range "is too narrow for several companies to work on it at once."

It is also noted that in the current geopolitical situation in Russia there is a shortage of telecommunications equipment, including base stations. Miranda Media will be able to solve the problem thanks to support from Rostelecom. In addition, the 450 MHz band provides large coverage with a small number of base stations: the radio wave penetrates well through obstacles, for example, buildings. This will make it possible to reduce the amount of necessary equipment. The coverage area of ​ ​ one station can reach 19-20 km, but the data transfer rate is low - at the level of 2 Mbps.^[5]

The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation creates a single register of frequency assignments

On December 6, 2023, the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation announced the preparation of a resolution "On the Unified Register of Frequency Assignments for Civilian Electronic Means." This database will publish in the public domain information about the submitted and considered applications of operators for frequencies, compatibility with various types of devices, etc.

The Ministry of Digital Development document defines the requirements for the formation and maintenance of the register, as well as the rules for providing information from it to federal executive authorities in the field of state security, defense and security of the Russian Federation. It is said that the adoption of the provisions provided for by the resolution will not entail socio-economic, financial and other consequences, including for subjects of entrepreneurial and other economic activity. The implementation of the project will also not require additional expenses from the federal budget.

The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation announced the preparation of a resolution "On the Unified Register of Frequency Assignments for Civilian Electronic Means"

The registry entry will contain data on a single avionics belonging to a particular user. Public information includes information such as the radio frequency or radio frequency channel authorization number, the start and end date of the recording, data about the user on the radio frequency spectrum (legal entity or individual entrepreneur), the status of the entry in the registry (not yet valid, valid, suspended or terminated).

In addition, the registry will contain other information. This is the number and date of the GCRF decision on the allocation of radio frequency bands for the use of the radio frequency spectrum, its validity period; information on the conclusion of the expert review of the possibility of using the declared avionics and its electromagnetic compatibility with the current and planned avionics for use; specific radio frequencies or radio channels used by said type of electronic means; communication network category; type of avionics used. The document comes into force on September 1, 2024.^[6]

In Russia, benefits for LTE frequencies are canceled. Expenses of telecom operators will grow 10 times

In early November 2023, it became known that the fee of cellular operators for the use of the entire radio frequency spectrum in 2024 could double if the Ministry of Digital Development agrees on a new methodology for calculating this payment and excludes a discount to companies for using the spectrum for 4G.

The abolition of benefits on LTE frequencies was reported by Izvestia, citing sources in the communications market. One of them said that the issue of raising frequency fees has already been resolved, it will allow attracting an additional 20 billion rubles to the budget.

Cellular operators' charge to use entire radio spectrum could double in 2024

Mobile Research Group analyst Eldar Murtazin expressed his opinion about the possible impact of the new methodology for calculating fees for 4G frequencies on tariffs. According to the expert, the fee of operators will increase 10 times. At the same time, the regulator limits the growth of tariffs, but they will have to compensate for 20 billion expenses.

This will inevitably lead to an increase in prices for all goods and services in the country without exception within two years, "Murtazin said.

The new tariffs could become "prohibitively expensive," he said. As the specialist notes, such "crazy management" on the part of the Ministry of Digital Development will force operators to transfer costs to end users. The expert estimated the likelihood of approving new rules at 99.9%.

On November 1, 2023, Ministry of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev said that the department does not expect an increase in the cost of communication tariffs above the inflation rate when the preferential rate for the use of 4G is canceled.

Since 2011, we have had a preferential rate for paying for LTE use, it is 0.1. But this rate stimulates the penetration of new technologies, and LTE is definitely not a new technology. In this sense, we are considering raising the fee, - said the Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation.[7]

Russian mathematicians have found a formula for the optimal operation of the frequency range in radio communications and telecommunications

Mathematicians from St. Petersburg University, together with colleagues from abroad, found a formula for the optimal operation of the frequency range in radio communications and telecommunications. The press service of the Russian university announced this on June 21, 2023.

In this work, for the first time, we presented an accurate analytical dependence of the fast capture range without slipping cycles on the parameter values ​ ​ of the main components of the scheme. Such components include a phase error detector, a voltage-controlled generator, and a low-pass filter. The obtained data - strict, mathematically accurate, analytical estimates - made it possible to significantly clarify the previously available approximate engineering calculations and give an accurate solution to a number of known problems, - said the head of the study, head of the Department of Applied Cybernetics, St. Petersburg State University Nikolay Kuznetsov.

We are talking about the so-called phase-locked loop (PLL) systems. These are electronic circuits that are used to stabilize the frequency of oscillating systems. They automatically adjust the frequency and phase of the output signal, comparing it with the reference signal and correcting it with feedback. This makes it possible to ensure the accuracy and stability of the frequency in telecommunications, radar, radio communications and more.

A group of Russian scientists led by Nikolay Kuznetsov created new modifications of phase locked loop systems, and also created the basis for the implementation of mathematical models of PLL in practice. According to Kuznetsov, one of the key tasks of the phase locked loop analysis is to determine the physical parameters and the permissible range of deviations of the frequency of the input signal from the natural frequency of the adjusted signal, for which the PLL provides adjustment with various additional requirements for transients.^[8]

In Russia, allocated frequencies for drones

On April 24, 2023, a Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation meeting (State Commission on Radio Frequencies GKRCH) was held, at which, among other things, issues related to (operation of unmanned aerial vehicles in Russia UAV) and networks were considered. mobile communication

Photo: mirquadrocopterov.ru

As stated in a message published on the official website of the Ministry of Digital Development on April 24, 2023, the SCRF decided to distribute frequencies in the 5030-5091 MHz band to control drones. In this case, a special working group will be formed, which will discuss what additional frequency bands can be used to interact with drones.

Separately, the issue of suppressing the signal of drones was discussed. The Ministry of Digital Development receives appeals from business, in particular, from the owners of KII facilities, with a request to determine the procedure for using electronic suppression means. A separate working group will also be created to solve the problem, and the results of the SCRC will be released in the second quarter of 2023.

In addition, during the meeting, issues related to the work of mobile operators were resolved. Thus, "Vivacell-MTS" and "Miranda media" will receive frequencies for the development of cellular communications in the DPR and LPR, which is expected to "create the necessary level of competition." Within three years, these companies will have to cover priority settlements and routes with communication.

Discounts have been determined for operators for the use of the radio frequency spectrum if they are ready to deploy from one to four base stations of cellular communications per quarter in settlements with a population of up to 1 thousand people. Each region has its own quota for the number of stations from one operator, and the support measure itself will be valid from July 2023 to the end of 2025. In general, as noted, 52 regions have been approved for operators, in which they will be able to mount base stations.^[9]

The Ministry of Digital Development introduces a new methodology for calculating fees for frequency examination

In April 2023, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation presented a new methodology for calculating fees for the examination of communication frequencies. The departmental order will enter into force on January 1, 2024.

The document determines the amount of payment for the provision of paid services for the examination of the possibility of using the declared radioelectronic means and their electromagnetic compatibility with the current and planned for use radioelectronic means.

The Ministry of Digital Development presented a new methodology for calculating fees for the examination of communication frequencies

Also, the order of the Ministry of Finance provides for the determination of the size of the fee by the stages of the provision of paid examination services. Thus, the cost of providing the service includes: labor costs for employees, payroll charges, depreciation of fixed assets and intangible assets, material costs associated with the provision of the paid service, other costs included in the cost and related to the provision of the paid service.

In addition, in the appendices to the project, it is proposed to clarify the names of technological operations in order to bring the methodology, adjust the values ​ ​ of labor costs of some technological operations and coefficients for them, introduce new technological operations and corrective coefficients for them, including in order to establish labor costs for the provision of services for the examination of electromagnetic compatibility of fifth generation communication networks.

The draft act corrects the parametric coefficients used in calculating the cost of the electromagnetic compatibility examination service, which will lead to an increase in the costs of individuals and legal entities in the field of entrepreneurial and other economic activities, the summary report attached to the developed order says.[10]

2022

In Russia, frequencies will be allocated for drones

On December 22, 2022, it became known about the plans of the Russian authorities to allocate frequencies for the control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). We are talking about the 1.7-1.8 GHz range used by LTE networks, Izvestia writes with reference to the documents of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH).

By the end of December 2022, frequencies from other mass technologies are being reused to communicate with drones in Russia, the newspaper notes. Civilian drones are mainly controlled and transmit video data at 2.4 GHz, which also runs Wi-Fi networks.

Russian authorities have determined the frequencies for drones

As the Ministry of Digital Development told Interfax, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will represent the interests of aircraft developers, the Federal Air Transport Agency is responsible for legislative regulation of the use of radio frequencies. Other representatives of the SCRF as part of the working group will participate in the allocation of frequencies for UAVs.

As Vadim Poskakukhin, project manager of Spectrum Management, explained to Izvestia, the development of frequency resources in Russia and the West is going on in different ways. For example, the fact that in the West can be used unhindered for UAVs in the Russian Federation can intersect with cellular communications. The 900 MHz range is accepted for unlicensed use in North America and Asia, and in Russia, 2G cellular communications operate at these frequencies, he noted.

This is a step towards turning cellular networks into full-fledged drone control systems that cover almost the entire country, Poskakukhin said, commenting on the use of 1.7-1.8 GHz frequency for drones.

By the end of December 2022, only one frequency band in the range of 5.85-6.43 GHz was allocated for the operation of unmanned aircraft in Russia, according to the materials of the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting. But this strip is used only for air surveillance and patrolling of remote industrial facilities, the documents explain.^[11]

Siemens Healthineers asked for frequencies for medical equipment in Russia

Siemens Healthineers asked for frequencies for medical equipment in Russia, which became known in mid-December 2022. The company asked the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF) to include a 23.6 MHz band in the list of bands for high-frequency devices. Read more here.

The State Commission on Radio Frequencies has simplified the launch of "super networks"

The State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH), chaired by the head of the Ministry of Digital Science Maksut Shadayev, at a meeting on March 28 approved the work plan for 2022. The Ministry of Digital Development announced this on March 30, 2022.

Decisions were made to simplify the launch of "super networks" - the sharing of communication facilities in hard-to-reach and sparsely populated areas to provide services to subscribers of all operators.

Universal service operators are required to provide access to other mobile operators to infrastructure built from the Universal Service Fund. At the same time, the procedure for obtaining permission to use radio frequencies when using them together has been simplified. Now, an examination of the electromagnetic compatibility of radioelectronic means is not required with the invariability of radiation conditions. Previously, this procedure took up to six months and required payment.

Among other decisions taken at the meeting of the State Committee for Emergency Situations is the moratorium on encumbrances on covering federal highways and small settlements with LTE networks announced as part of the anti-crisis program to support telecom operators.

By the end of 2022, Ministry of Digital Development will monitor the telecommunications equipment market and consult with telecom operators to adjust the relevant special conditions for the use of the radio frequency spectrum.

2021

Operators extended permission for 4G frequencies, but with tolerances

On August 2, 2021, the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) extended the validity of permits for the use of frequencies in the 800 MHz and 2600 MHz bands for the development of LTE networks for telecom operators for 10 years, but established several additional conditions:

• from 2023, only equipment from the Russian register can be used for the development of networks; electronic engineers
• by September 2024, provide communication to all settlements of more than 1000 people;
• by 2031, cover 99% of the length of all federal highways in the country.

Operators have extended 4G licenses with permits - LTE will appear in villages and along routes

As a representative of MegaFon told RBC, difficulties may arise from 2022, since in order to fulfill the conditions approved by the SCRF, it will be necessary to invest in the digitalization of "the most remote regions and sections of federal highways, where it is not only economically unjustified to build 4G infrastructure, but also there is a shortage of resources accompanying the construction of base stations - power supply, supporting structures, equipped access roads." According to preliminary calculations of the operator, the total investment for LTE coverage of these areas will be about 100 billion rubles.

Such investments from the industry will either be forced to fall on the shoulders of subscribers, which we consider socially dangerous, or returned to operators by reducing the amount of contributions for the use of the [radio frequency] spectrum, or go through a scenario that has proven its effectiveness, for example, in the digitalization of the M-11 route - public-private partnership, - MegaFon reported.

Tele2 told the publication that the size of the necessary investments to fulfill the encumbrances to ensure coverage will become clear only after an additional assessment. The company stressed that in order to cover LTE networks with roads, federal and regional authorities cannot do without support, since infrastructure is needed - land for placing antenna-mast structures, connection to power grids.^[12]

Operators of the Russian Federation are obliged to build LTE networks in villages

On July 9, 2021, it became known about the decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) to oblige telecom operators to build LTE networks in villages. Telecommunications companies will have to fulfill this and some other conditions in order for them to renew permits to use 700, 800 MHz and 2.5-2.7 GHz frequencies for fourth-generation cellular networks. Read more here.

The Ministry of Digital Development will exempt operators from frequency fees during the construction of networks in villages

In mid-June 2021, it became known that Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation would exempt telecommunications operators from frequency fees when building networks in remote villages.

These are operators who invest in the development of infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas, we will support them until 2024, - said Yury Zarubin, deputy director of the department for coordination and implementation of projects on the digital economy of the Ministry of Digital Development of Digital Economy of the Russian Federation.

Operators building networks in remote villages will be able to avoid paying for frequencies

It is noted that the largest project for the construction of telecommunications infrastructure in remote settlements is being carried out by Rostelecom as part of the program to eliminate digital inequality (UCP), the second stage of which began in April 2021.

The Ministry of Digital Development is empowered to determine the list of settlements in which access points should be installed, including access points that should be equipped with communication facilities used to provide mobile radiotelephone services.

Earlier, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that by 2021 the Internet connection to all small settlements where from 250 to 500 people live will be completed. A government law was adopted, thanks to which the Internet will be held in more than 10 thousand settlements, where from 100 to 250 people live. In subsequent years, we will provide all these settlements with mobile Internet and cellular communications, the head of the Government of the Russian Federation reported.

Along with global issues, equally important tasks must be solved. Provide Internet and communication every settlement - all hospitals, clinics and schools. It must be understood that today access to the Internet is as necessary as heating or light, - said Mishustin, speaking in the State Duma with a report on the work of the government in May 2021.[13]

Allocation of new frequencies for IoT in the Russian Federation

In March 2021, it became known about the allocation of additional frequencies to Russian telecommunications operators in the 301,125-305,825 MHz, 337,125-341,825 MHz, 343-344 MHz and 390-394 MHz bands for the development of the Internet of Things.

As Izvestia writes with reference to the materials for the meeting of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH), the frequency resource is allocated for 10 years to an indefinite circle of people. However, only those who deploy IoT networks on equipment of domestic origin included in the unified register of Russian electronic products will be able to use it .

It is expected that in these frequency bands, mainly devices for collecting data from metering devices, as well as sensors that are not designed to transmit a large amount of information, will operate.

New frequencies for the Internet of Things are allocated in the Russian Federation

In the meantime, equipment for the Internet of things from domestic manufacturers will not appear in Russia, no one will work at these frequencies, experts interviewed by the publication say.

According to industry representatives, the new initiative will do more harm than good. In many European countries, this range is used for emergency services, which can lead to difficulties with border coordination. In addition, the lack of necessary equipment can create obstacles to the introduction of smart devices in residential buildings and industrial enterprises.

At the same time, as stated to the newspaper in Rostec, the state corporation already has the opportunity to adapt existing developments for work in the allocated frequency ranges in the presence of stable demand.

In the future, these frequencies may be of interest to Rostelecom, since the operator has long been developing LTE networks in the neighboring 450 MHz band, said Maxim Savvatin, an analyst at iKS-Consulting.^[14]

2020

The Ministry of Digital Development wants to allocate radio frequencies instead of Roskomnadzor

In mid-October 2020, it became known about Ministry of Digital Development 's intention to obtain the powers of Roskomnadzor to allocate radio frequencies. This issue will be considered by the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF), but not in the near future.

The issue will be removed from consideration at the next meeting of the State Committee for Emergency Situations in connection with the need for a detailed study of this topic, - a representative of the Ministry of Digital Development told RBC.

According to the decision of the SCRC of December 20, 2011, any applications for obtaining frequencies or amending previously issued permits must receive a positive conclusion from three departments - the Ministry of Defense, the Federal Security Service (FSO) and Roskomnadzor. After receiving their support, the issue can be submitted for consideration and voting by other members of the State Commission. As of mid-July, 24 representatives of various departments were included in the SCRC.

The Ministry of Digital Development wants to receive powers to allocate radio frequencies instead of Roskomnadzor

Earlier, a RBC source familiar with the position of the Ministry of Digital Development explained that the replacement of Roskomnadzor by the ministry is logical, since it will allow reflecting the consolidated position of the ministry and Rossvyaz and Roskomnadzor subordinate to it.

As a representative of one of the Big Four operators told the publication (these companies are considered the main commercial users of the radio frequency spectrum in Russia), by mid-October 2020, the Ministry of Digital Development represents the GKRCH apparatus and aggregates the opinions of all members of the commission, including bodies subordinate to the ministry.

Changing this order, according to the interlocutor, may lead to the fact that the opinions and votes when voting by the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the civil members of the State Committee for Human Rights - Roskomnadzor and Rossvyaz - will be replaced by a single opinion. This, in turn, will lead to the loss of votes by the civil bloc, as well as part of the examination when discussing issues.

Another telecom company agrees that "excessive monopolization, when the Ministry of Digital Development closes another authority, can worsen the quality of management."^[15]

The Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation issued a draft order to reduce the amount of payment for the radio frequency spectrum

On June 11, 2020, it became known that a public discussion began and an independent anti-corruption examination of the draft order of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media was launched. The document is posted on the portal of regulatory legal acts.

The draft order provides for a revision of the rates of one-time and annual fees for the use of the radio frequency spectrum. Rates will reduce the amount of payment for the radio frequency spectrum by three times until the end of 2020. A one-time fee for cellular radio technologies should be 23.3 thousand rubles. instead of 70 thousand rubles, annual - 88 thousand rubles. instead of 264 thousand rubles. A one-time and annual fee for other technologies will be 100 rubles. and 466 rubles. respectively (instead of 300 rubles and 1.4 thousand rubles).

The explanatory note to the draft order says that the reduction in the amount of payment for the radio frequency spectrum is provided for by the roadmap of the national program "Digital Economy of Russia." This measure was discussed as part of the "sectoral support measures" of the draft national plan for economic recovery at a meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov.

In order to implement the roadmap, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of Russia has developed a draft order "On Amendments to the Methodology for Calculating the Size of a Single Fee and the Annual Fee for the Use of the Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Russian Federation, approved by Order of the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation dated 30.06.2011 No. 164."

The draft order provides for a revision of the rates of one-time and annual fees for the use of the radio frequency spectrum, which allows to reduce the amount of fees for the radio frequency spectrum by three times until the end of 2020.

The explanatory note says that if the order is approved in the third quarter of 2020, telecom operators will be able to collectively save about 3 billion rubles, and also that the adoption of the draft order will not require additional costs from the federal budget.

The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications did not respond to the request.

All cellular operators of the Big Four support the initiative.

A spokesman for the group MTS Alexey Merkutov said that MTS is studying the draft order and generally supports measures aimed at developing the industry and overcoming the consequences of the pandemic.

A spokesman for Tele2 said: {{quote "We welcome regulatory initiatives aimed at reducing operators' costs. Due to the pandemic, the telecom industry faced serious problems - a slowdown in business activity and a decrease in income in the business segment, a decrease in income from international roaming and the migrant segment, an increase in capital expenditures and a decrease in the purchasing power of the population. Therefore, the measure is timely and beneficial, as it is aimed at improving the industry as a whole and developing networks in the regions.}}

The press service of MegaFon PJSC said that reducing the fee for the radio frequency spectrum will not require state budget expenditures and will allow operators to direct funds to the development and modernization of communication infrastructure in conditions of increased load on the network.

The press service Beeline"" said that VimpelCom"" welcomes the adoption of measures aimed at supporting the industry. However, she noted that it is important to understand that for a real effect to appear, any decision made must be fully implemented in practice.

Venture entrepreneur, director of JSC Kazakhtelecom"" and PSD JSC Kcell"" Alexey Buyanov noted that stimulating the investment activity of operators is required in those areas where commercial investments cause certain doubts. {{quote 'So, Kazakhstan in exchange for a decrease in frequency fees from operators demanded to provide coverage 4G in settlements 250 +. This is a reasonable and profitable deal - both for the authorities and for companies. In areas in which the return on investment is obvious, stimulation does not make sense, since operators will make investments on their own, without external influence. Accordingly, the authorities should focus on areas where investments are on the verge of commercial expediency - it is there that participation states with a compensation mechanism is necessary, - Alexey Buyanov told ComNews correspondent. The^[16] }}

Secret resource. The role of security officials in frequency distribution

As of October 2011, only 3-4% of the frequency spectrum was assigned to civilian companies in Russia (although this share is 30-40% worldwide), about 33% is reserved for the military, and the rest is intended for joint use - such figures are provided by a source close to the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH) under the Ministry of Communications.

The first problem that the operator faces: it is not known whether the frequencies he needs are busy or free. In Germany, for example, you can find out by simply going to the website of the local regulator - even the approximate cost of the license is indicated there, says the co-owner of one telecom operator. The representative of Roskomnadzor, however, told Vedomosti^[17]such a base is almost ready in Russia and some of its sections will appear in the public domain from October 15.

But so far, the operator has only one way to understand whether it is possible to count on frequencies: he must apply to the already mentioned SCRF.

If it is not immediately wrapped due to improper registration (this happens), it is sent for approval to the Ministry of Defense, the Federal Security Service and Roskomnadzor. Law enforcement agencies can refuse without explanation, simply citing secrecy. At the same time, it is possible that the frequency is really busy. But perhaps not.

The fact is, explains a source close to the SCRC, that the frequency is entered into the database of the Ministry of Defense as soon as a decision is made to start developing the equipment for which it is needed.

It is even possible that the military will make such a decision after the operator's appeal. Thus, the frequencies in the 2.5-2.7 GHz band, the most desirable for October 2011 for operators intending to develop LTE, were not needed by the military. Until 2006, the Ministry of Defense in most regions did not object to the use of analog television transmitters using MMDS technology in this range, and they "shine" on the entire 2.5-2.7 GHz band, so no other equipment could simply work there, explains the co-owner of one operator. But then Yota (Scartel) (Yota brand) asked him to allocate frequencies in this range, which decided to build a Wimax network on them. The military agreed to give half the range, and the other was secured.

The military can furnish their consent with a number of conditions. Thus, 2.1 GHz frequencies for the third generation network in Moscow were issued to the "Big Three" only after the intervention of President Dmitry Medvedev and with serious restrictions: in terms of the height of the location of base stations, their power and the direction of the antennas - they should not "shine" to the south-west, so as not to interfere with the satellite system for early detection of a missile attack located under Serpukhov station. And within a radius of 100 km around this station, that is, almost immediately beyond the southwestern section of the Moscow Ring Road, operators were generally forbidden to work in this range.

Let's say the security forces gave the go-ahead. Answers come to the apparatus of the State Committee for Emergency Situations, which appoints a conciliation meeting of the members of the State Committee for Emergency Situations - a draft decision of the commission is being formed at it. If it is positive, the operator's business is in the hat: at a meeting of the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting, decisions to give a frequency or select a frequency - and there can be up to a hundred of them - are no longer discussed: they are approved by the osprey.

There are miracles. Thus, the issue of depriving the Antares group of businessman Yevgeny Roitman of frequencies 1900-1920 MHz was submitted to the meeting of the State Committee for Emergency Situations, bypassing the conciliation meeting, and resolved automatically. "Antares" managed to get the court to cancel the decision of the SCRC, and this became a precedent. Prior to this, the courts did not accept claims against the SCRC at all, arguing that the interdepartmental commission is neither a legal entity nor a government body. It was possible to change the situation only with the entry into force in October 2010 of amendments to the Arbitration Procedure Code.

When frequencies can be distributed without competition

If the frequencies did not interest the security forces, this does not mean that they will get to the interested party - the range is often not enough for everyone. Then, according to the law, the State Emergency Committee must declare the resource limited and put it up for competition. But there are a number of tricks that allow you not to bring the matter to the competition. Here are some examples.

Contests should be held if the resource is enough for the full-fledged work of the new operator. In the GSM 900 MHz range, for example, the minimum resource that can be put up for competition is paired bands with a width of 4.8 MHz. But the operator can come to the regulator and say: we agreed with the military and cleared the 3 MHz band, explains the GR manager of one of the cellular companies. You cannot put a strip of such a width to the competition, and the SCRF allocates these frequencies to the operator who cleared them. And six months later, the operator comes with a new band of 3 MHz.

In the most desirable region for operators - Moscow and the region - the frequencies of the so-called expanded GSM (E-GSM) in 2010 went to Megafon also without a competition. The CRCH did not put them up for competition, citing its own decision in 2002 - then competitions were not mandatory - and Megafon was allowed to use these frequencies in Moscow and the region "on a secondary basis," that is, without interfering with the Russian Air Force landing equipment that worked on them. The new GKRCH solution simply removed some of the restrictions imposed on the operator, and in addition, Megafon spent a lot on converting these frequencies, explains a source close to the GKRCH. Who managed to negotiate with the military, he received, sums up the manager of one of the companies engaged in clearing frequencies. In a similar way, Sky Link received 3G frequencies, like Megafon, which was considered close to Leonid Reiman.

Finally, the frequency question can be tried at the highest level. In May 2010, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov wrote a letter to President Medvedev, in which he asked to assist in the issuance of frequencies 2.3-2.4 and 2.5-2.7 GHz by Basie Telecom (25% owned by Voentelecom of the Ministry of Defense, and 75% owned by businessman Vitaly Yusufov; it's funny that she was registered only almost a week later, on June 3). These are the frequencies that are best suited for the construction of the fourth generation communication - LTE. Serdyukov proposed using them to build a dual-use network - both for ordinary users and for the military. The Minister asked to hold a closed meeting of the SCRC specifically for this. Medvedev imposed a resolution: "Take all the necessary decisions together with the Ministry of Communications in the prescribed manner." After that, a "closed" point appeared on the agenda of the meeting of the SCRC.

Here the operators of the "Big Three" were indignant. They wrote letters demanding the competition to the Minister of Communications, the Prime Minister and the President. The main shareholders of MTS Vladimir Yevtushenkov and VimpelCom Mikhail Fridman personally went to settle the issue with Vladimir Putin. The meeting of the SCRC was postponed, then the "closed" item was removed from the agenda.

But Osnova also received something in the end: in September 2011, the SCRF allowed it to build its network in the 2.3-2.4 GHz band, excluding those bands that it had already received at Rostelecom contests. In fact, the "Basis" got frequencies prudently reserved by the military.

As if by competition

When it comes to contests, their conditions often provide an opportunity to guess the winner in advance. For example, in March 2010, Rostelecom won frequencies for Wimax in 39 regions. It would be difficult for the big three cellular operators to compete with him. In total, the company at the competition could receive 99 points. At the same time, for the presence of licenses for 3G or Wimax, a fine of 20 points was charged, and for the presence of its own fiber-optic communication lines - a bonus of 5 points, for work in the market of long-distance, zone and local communications, including payphone, - a bonus of 1 point for each year of work.

In August 2007, 10 contests were announced on GSM frequencies in 60 regions. Only two managed to go through - a scandal broke out. In 11 of 13 regions, the little-known company Summa Telecom Ziyavudin Magomedov won them. Although the company at that time practically did not provide communication services, it won due to the number of licenses - according to the terms of the competition, points were awarded for the presence of a license, and not for work in the region. The fact is that a year earlier, in October 2006, Summa, unexpectedly for the entire market, received a universal set of federal licenses - for IP telephony, communication channels, telematics, long-distance and international communications.

Dissatisfied with the results of the contests VimpelCom"" complained to the Federal Antimonopoly Service FAS (). As a result, eight contests were postponed and passed with new conditions. The results of two scandalous contests were canceled, Summa tried to challenge this decision in the courts for several years, but did not succeed. The frequencies that she did not get were put up for competitions only in March 2011 - and the scandal came out again. Three days before the end of the acceptance of applications, the order of the head Roskomnadzor to change the conditions of the competitions suddenly appeared - from them the assessment of the financial viability of the applicant and the fine for a 3G license were removed.

Roskomnadzor has changed the conditions in order not to give an advantage at tenders of a single company, its representative explains. Until the counting methodology was changed, Tele2 was the main contender for frequencies in Primorye, its general director Dmitry Strashnov argued. As a result, Tele2 won frequencies in six regions out of 17 played, but not in Primorye. According to the results of these contests, there was not a single lawsuit, recalls the representative of Roskomnadzor.

Approvals in Roskomnadzor

But even if the decision to allocate frequencies has already been made, this does not mean at all that you can start building a network. First, the network project must be coordinated at the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "State Radio Frequency Center" (GRCC), which is under the jurisdiction of Roskomnadzor. The operator sends there a list of sites for base stations, their technical characteristics, installation height and direction of antennas - the so-called frequency-territorial plan. This is necessary for the GRCC to check whether the network will interfere with other transmitters, including security officials. And only after passing the examination of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and if necessary, then also after conducting field tests, the operator can finally obtain permits from Roskomnadzor for each base station, the so-called frequency assignments, and start building a network.

The radio frequency center, in fact, is a monopolist for EMC expertise services, but its tariffs are not regulated in any way, are not justified and overestimated, says the general director of one of the communications companies. According to him, the EMC examination, together with full-scale tests of one base station, costs 20% of its cost. In this case, changing the height of the suspension or reconfiguring the antennas leads to the need for new negotiations. In addition, the radio frequency service takes a fee even if the result of the examination is negative, the co-owner of one of the communication companies is indignant. That is, a situation may arise when the operator did not agree on a single site, but received the money.

Frequency conversion

Military equipment, for compatibility with the work of which you need to undergo an examination, often simply stands on the balance sheet of the military unit, but has not worked for a long time, says the general director of one of the telecom operators. Sometimes they can't even turn it on during tests, he said. But despite this, the military usually requires conversion work, which can be done by three organizations close to them - the National Radio Engineering Bureau (NRTB), Geyser and Voentelecom.

According to SPARK, NRTB, Geyser and Voentelecom together earned 5.85 billion rubles in 2010 (the lion's part - Voentelecom: 4.94 billion rubles).

There are few frequency specialists who understand military specifics in the country, one hundred people, this is a closed club and they are all military, says the manager of one of the companies engaged in frequency clearing. According to him, "Geyser" is conditionally close to the Space Forces, NRTB - to the Air Force, and "Voentelecom" - to the leadership of the Ministry of Defense. The price of conversion work can reach 80% of the cost of the base station and varies greatly by region: in Moscow it can be four times more than in St. Petersburg, says the source of Vedomosti. The amounts of these contracts sometimes become public: for example, the NRTB contract with Megafon for the conversion of E-GSM frequencies cost $28.3 million.

In case of interest in frequencies, the military may simply not agree on the use of frequencies. For this reason, for all a year and a half, while the Ministry of Defense lobbied for the issuance of frequencies in the 2.3-2.4 GHz range by Basza Telecom, Rostelecom could not start building a network in this range. The operator submitted to the GRCC applications for frequency assignments in the spring of 2011. "When competitions were held, these frequencies were declared free. Then it turned out that there were some problems with them, "- the general director of Rostelecom Alexander Provotorov was surprised, he threatened to sue if the GRCC did not respond on time. The deadline expired at the end of July, but the company never filed a lawsuit.

The fact is that the provision on conducting an examination in the GRCC gives officials and employees of the radio frequency center a very large freedom of action, explains the general director of one of the telecom operators. In particular, according to him, there are no clear deadlines for certain stages of the GRCC. To force through the GRCC court to conduct an examination of the EMC of its base stations at frequencies of 3.4-3.5 GHz in August 2011, the Wimax operator Freshtel tried, but the court refused him.

How frequencies can be sampled

But having received frequency assignments, the operator cannot be absolutely sure about the future. In August 2010, at the height of the 2.5-2.7 GHz frequency war, Roskomnadzor invalidated five of its own orders to assign "Yota (Scartel) at" frequencies in this band. According to a representative of Roskomnadzor, they were appropriated with violations by "a number of officials of the GRCC and Roskomnadzor." He referred to the decision of the CRRC, according to which such frequencies can only be obtained by someone who already has frequencies in this range.

A source close to the operator claims that the Yota satisfied this condition. According to him, the problems of "Yota" began after in May 2010 the company announced that it was going to switch from Wimax technology to LTE. If earlier the operators of the "Big Three" considered "Yota" as a representative of the side technological branch, then after that they recognized a competitor in it, he said.

Yota appealed the order of Roskomnadzor in court, and the head of one of the company's shareholders, the state corporation Russian Technologies, Sergei Chemezov, turned to Putin and Medvedev. Nevertheless, in December 2010, the court denied Yota a lawsuit against Roskomnadzor, and the GRCC refused to agree on the installation of new equipment by Yota all the time this story continued, a source close to the operator said. Only in April 2011, a month and a half after, in the presence of Putin, the big cellular troika and Rostelecom signed an agreement with Rostechnologies on the joint use of the Yota network, he managed to conclude an amicable agreement with Roskomnadzor.

Process neutrality

While the operator spends time getting frequencies and agreeing on their use, the technologies do not stand still. However, permission to use frequencies is given to work according to a certain technology, the appendix to the GKRF solution prescribes specific tactical and technical characteristics of the equipment. Therefore, if during this time technologies of a new generation of communications appeared, the operator cannot use them - he is forced to develop the technology for which he received frequencies. Therefore, operators constantly insist on the introduction of the so-called technological neutrality - the ability to use allocated frequencies for any networks.

The SCRC sometimes agrees to this.

So, when it became clear that Sky Link would receive permission to build a 3G network at the frequencies issued to it for the CDMA network, it turned out that it would be in a more advantageous position than the Big Three, says the GR manager of the cellular operator. The fact is that the restrictions imposed on the 3G networks of operators in Moscow and the region do not apply to Skye Link frequencies, which means that its network in the south-west of the Moscow region would be the only one in the 3G standard. Then the Big Three operators asked the regulator to allow the frequencies in the 900 MHz range allocated to them for GSM to be used for 3G networks.

In October 2010, the CRRC gave such permission. But only in Moscow and the region where only the Big Three works in GSM, that is, only the state-owned Sky Link and the Big Three operators were able to take advantage of technological neutrality. At the same time, GKRCH wrapped up similar proposals from Tele2 and SMARTS. It was decided to return to this issue after tenders for four LTE licenses.

Although the competitive conditions have not yet been published, not a single interlocutor of Vedomosti seriously doubted that these frequencies would go to the "Big Three" and the state-owned Rostelecom - companies that developed proposals for the development of LTE in Russia for the State Radio Broadcasting Company. FAS called it an oligopoly.

The transition to technological neutrality is completed

On July 4, 2017, during the next meeting State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRCH), a decision was made allowing the creation of communication networks of the standard LTE and its subsequent modifications in the radio frequency bands 1920-1980 MHz, 2010-2025 MHz and 2110-2170 MHz, in which it is currently allowed to use radio electronic means (RES) of the UMTS standard. It is expected that this solution will speed up the introduction of promising radio technologies and expand the range of communication services available in the territory. RUSSIAN FEDERATION Thus, from a regulatory point of view Russia , the transition of mobile radio communication networks to technological neutrality was completed, they said in. Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the

As you know, the radio frequency bands 1920-1980 MHz, 2010-2025 MHz and 2110-2170 MHz were the last band for mobile radio networks in which it was not possible to build fourth generation LTE communication networks. Now, subject to a number of conditions, including the compliance of the technical characteristics of the RES, their mandatory registration and the fulfillment of special conditions for the provision of communication services, telecom operators will be able to use modern technologies in all frequency bands where mobile communication develops.

According to the ministry, technological neutrality, the first decision on the implementation of which was made at a meeting of the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting in 2013, has already become one of the market regulation measures and made it possible to transfer a significant number of base stations in Russia to the fourth generation LTE communication technology at an accelerated pace. Thus, at present, the number of base stations operating in the 4G/LTE standard in Russia is already about a quarter of the total number of consumer mobile base stations in the country.

During the meeting, it was also decided to allocate 3400-3800 MHz radio frequency bands to Megafon for the test deployment of a fixed segment of the fifth generation 5G communication network and 25250-29500 MHz radio frequency bands for the deployment of the 5G mobile segment at the 2018 World Cup.

Next meeting of the State Committee for Human Rights, July 4, 2017, Moscow

According to representatives of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation, such experimental networks will help determine the conditions for using promising communication networks in terms of compatibility with other radio services. According to the Digital Economy program developed by the ministry, 5G networks in one form or another will be deployed in all cities with a population of 300 thousand or more inhabitants by 2024 (for more information on this, see the article Development of 5G networks in Russia).

In addition, the issue of using radio frequency bands 453-457.4 MHz and 463-467.4 MHz by radio electronic means of the IMT-MC standard in the Russian Federation was considered. This solution is expected to ensure equal conditions for the development of communication networks for all users of the radio frequency spectrum, facilitate the overall planning of the use of the considered radio frequency bands and the introduction of new communication systems of modern radio technologies into these radio frequency bands, as well as simplify regulatory procedures, including those related to the joint use of radio frequencies. A similar decision on equal conditions for the use of frequencies in GSM-900 and GSM-1800 standards was made by the State Radio Broadcasting Company in July 2016.

In addition, an indefinite circle of people will be given access to the radio frequency bands of the C- and Ku-bands for the use of terrestrial satellite communication stations of the fixed satellite service and on-board repeaters of spacecraft of foreign satellite networks in order to organize Russian communication networks for various purposes. This decision will provide the orbital-frequency resource of Russian users operating terrestrial satellite communication stations in the Russian Federation even with a temporary shortage of satellite resources on Russian spacecraft for a period of five years. At the same time, it is allowed to use only foreign satellite networks coordinated with the communications administration of the Russian Federation, the list of which was approved by this decision of the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting.

This decision also defines the procedure for frequency support of satellite communication networks operating on the territory of the Russian Federation when they operate through foreign spacecraft, which takes into account the priority of using the Russian orbital-frequency resource.

Finally, during the meeting, the concept of the development of the system for monitoring the radiation of RES and high-frequency civil devices in Russia for the period up to 2025 was approved, changes were made to a number of previous decisions of the State Committee for Radio Broadcasting on the issues of joining the decisions of the Committee on Electronic Communications of the European Conference of Post and Telecommunication Administrations.

Frequencies for 5G

Main article: Frequencies for 5G in Russia

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