Russia is taking a new step towards the introduction of fifth-generation networks. The Ministry of Digital Development and the Ministry of Defense are forming a joint working group that will work out the possibility of using radio frequencies of the "golden range" (3.4–3.8 GHz) for 5G by the end of 2025. This was announced by the head of the Ministry of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev at the Kazan Digital Week forum.
According to him, the task of the working group is not only to check the technical feasibility of the project, but also to determine the necessary amount of funding for the conversion of these frequencies. The minister stressed that this instruction was given by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
The "golden range" is considered key for the introduction of 5G networks around the world: it provides a balance of high data transfer rates and wide coverage. However, in Russia, these frequencies are occupied by law enforcement agencies and other services, which complicates their release.
In the spring, Shadayev noted that the discussion on this issue was "carefully resumed" and the allocation of a band for individual regions is allowed, but not in the largest cities.
At the same time, the Ministry of Digital Development is preparing for an auction for the distribution of other frequencies — in the range of 4800–4990 MHz. The auction should be held before the end of the year. Two lots will be put up for them with a starting price of 26.2 and 21.2 billion rubles. The winners will be obliged to develop networks in cities with a population of over one million and provide a certain number of base stations. However, the operators themselves consider this range auxiliary: it is difficult to develop full-fledged 5G networks without the "golden" one.
Read materials on the topic:
- The Ministry of Digital Development will launch auctions for frequencies for 5G by the end of the year: operators will be offered the range of 4800–4990 MHz
- Breakthrough in mobile communications: 5G antenna developed by MIPT engineers
- A radio frequency band for 5G has been allocated in Russia: the Ministry of Digital Development will hold auctions for telecom operators
