Skolkovo launched a separate 5G network

On October 4, 2021, the launch of Russia's first autonomous dedicated 5G network, built on Russian software, was announced. She worked at the Skolkovsky Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech).

According to RIA Novosti in the press service of the platform of the National Technology Initiative (STI), whose representatives participated in the development, Skoltech deployed a fifth-generation private network in the range of 4.8-4.99 GHz. The solution uses software developed by specialists of the STI Competence Center "Wireless Communication and Internet of Things Technologies" for the network core and base station with support for OpenRAN technology.

Skolkovo launched a separate 5G network

According to Dmitry Lakontsev, head of the NTI Competence Center on the basis of Skoltech on wireless and Internet technologies, the network was tried and recognized as operational by the beginning of October 2021. To demonstrate the work of the network, experts made a "real 5G call" using Voice over New Radio technology (VoNR; it is used in autonomous networks for voice transmission), he said. To demonstrate the work of the service, public smartphones with 5G support were used - Huawei P40. The first call took place on September 20, 2021.

According to STI, the solution created at Skoltech has limited application. Initially, it is intended for private networks. For example, such infrastructure can be used in large enterprises. Interest in creating its own 5G network earlier in 2021 was indicated in Norilsk Nickel. According to experts, such solutions will be in demand by other companies both in Russia and abroad.

Earlier, Skoltech and MTS launched a 5G pilot network on the territory of the Skolkovo innovation center to test developments in the field of 5G technologies and create domestic promising industrial ICT solutions and services based on them with the involvement of Skolkovo residents and Skoltech industrial partners^[1]

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