Russian government to allocate 24.25-27.5 GHz band for 5G services (Russian made base stations)
The Russian Ministry of Digitization has proposed the allocation of the 24.25-27.5 GHz band [1.] for 5G services. The band is currently used by radio-relay stations. The 4 GHz band is also planned to be used by public networks, for 5G services.
Note 1. While WRC19 allocated the frequency bands of 24.25-27.5 GHz, 37-43.5 GHz, 45.5-47 GHz, 47.2-48.2 and 66-71 GHz for the deployment of 5G networks, ITU-R WP5D has not yet agreed on the revision of M.1036 – the Frequency Arrangements for Terrestrial IMT (including 5G).
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The Russian Ministry also proposed the conversion of the 4 GHz band to “civilian,” which will help Russian network operators simplify the necessary expertise for 5G networks and obtain guarantees of the use of the band. Part of the initiative is expected to go into effect in 2023. It will help improve Internet speed and facilitate the introduction of 5G in Russia.
In late June 2022, the Ministry of Digital Science reported that the 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency range [2.] will not be used for 5G networks. Instead, a frequency band of 4.8-4.9 GHz was chosen for Russia’s 5G networks.
Note 2. The Ministry noted 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.
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The ministry also expects that the implementation of 5G networks will be carried out with network equipment of local origin. That edict was promulgated BEFORE sanctions on Russia for its war in Ukraine. In September 2021, the Ministry of Finance of Russia decided that by 2023 only Russian made base stations could be installed on the communication network. It is assumed that within 2-3 years mass production of such LTE standard stations will be organized, then it is planned to switch to 5G standard base stations.
References:
https://tadviser.com/index.php/Article:Frequencies_for_5G_in_Russia
WRC 19 Wrap-up: Additional spectrum allocations agreed for IMT-2020 (5G mobile)
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Russia’s largest mobile operator, MTS, has joined forces with its domestic peers in what appears to be a concerted effort to get 5G up and running in the market.
In 2017, two of Russia’s biggest operators, MegaFon and Rostelecom, joined forces in an attempt to overcome the huge cost challenge of building a 5G network in the Russian market. Around a year later, they formed a joint venture that is now called New Digital Solutions, which has the stated aim of helping to build a common 5G network.
Vimpelcom (Beeline), the Russian operator owned by the VEON group, then joined the venture in 2021. Now, according to an Interfax report, MTS has also taken a 25% stake to match the holdings of the other three players.
Russia’s 5G network deployment was already lagging behind the rest of the world and the situation has been further exacerbated by the country’s invasion of Ukraine. A number of telecoms vendors have ceased trading in the country because of the Ukraine war, and international sanctions are in place.
It seems that Russian operators are taking 5G into their own hands, although details of what they plan to do and when are thin on the ground.
According to Interfax, the JV aims to test 5G for electromagnetic compatibility, conduct research on frequencies for building 5G networks, and implement measures to free up spectrum from existing applications, including but not limited to the bands 694MHz-790MHz, 3.4GHz-3.8GHz, 4.4GHz-4.99GHz and 24.25GHz-29.5GHz.
The news agency further noted that in November 2021, the State Commission for Radio Frequencies (SCRF) allocated bands to New Digital Solutions in the 4400MHz-4990MHz range for testing 5G technology for two years. However, the commission did not allow the JV to test the bands 4555-4630 MHz and 4990-5000 MHz, which are used by Russian security agencies.
https://www.lightreading.com/5g/mts-joins-russian-operators-5g-party/d/d-id/778849?
The launch of mainstream 5G mobile service remains a distant dream for Russia, as other countries race ahead with deployments, services and further enhancements such as separate 5G core networks.
A spokesperson for Beeline Russia (owned by VEON) confirmed that the mobile network operators (MNOs) are “seeing significant technical limitations in the use of existing radio services using the main spectrum band for the development of 5G mobile networks over the 3.4-3.8GHz band. This currently prevents allocation of this band to MNOs and the reallocation of this band is required to enable conversion activities to start.”
Indeed, the 3.5GHz band is prime spectrum real estate for 5G, with MNOs in multiple countries now using the mid-band frequencies for network deployments.
Beeline’s comments echo earlier remarks from MTS, Russia’s biggest mobile operator. In 2020, Andrey Kamensky, the chief financial officer of MTS, told Light Reading that regulators in Russia “are unwilling to allocate in the 3.4-3.8GHz range, which is the bandwidth for 5G in most countries.”
New venture
The country’s four mobile operators Beeline, MegaFon, Rostelecom and MTS all now own a 25% stake in a joint venture called New Digital Solutions, which has the stated aim of helping to build a common 5G network. The MNOs are hoping that the venture will help overcome some of these spectrum hurdles.
According to the Beeline spokesperson, the creation of the joint venture “will help the conversion of 3.4-3.8GHz and other 5G bands, and its future use for next generation network development. The joint approach by the four MNOs is more cost efficient and allows [us] to create [a] single party for more effective use of the existing spectrum.”
The spokesperson added that the role of the joint venture will be to arrange and execute technical and organizational projects.
“This includes working with existing spectrum users on spectrum release and rearrangement for 5G. The scope of these projects will mainly cover EMC testing, implementation of system improvements and coordination in the 5G network launch in order to ensure fair spectrum distribution among parties. We will also be providing recommendations to the regulator on possible options for 5G implementation,” the spokesperson said.
The Interfax news agency reported this week that the JV aims to test 5G for electromagnetic compatibility, conduct research on frequencies for building 5G networks, and implement measures to free up spectrum from existing applications, including but not limited to the bands 694MHz-790MHz, 3.4GHz-3.8GHz, 4.4GHz-4.99GHz and 24.25GHz-29.5GHz.
The news agency further noted that in November 2021, the State Commission for Radio Frequencies (SCRF) allocated bands to New Digital Solutions in the 4400MHz-4990MHz range for testing 5G technology for two years. However, the commission did not allow the JV to test the bands 4555-4630 MHz and 4990-5000 MHz, which are used by Russian security agencies.
https://www.lightreading.com/5g/russia-still-hung-up-on-spectrum-for-5g/d/d-id/778877?