The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) allowed Rostelecom, Bashinformsvyaz, VimpelCom (Beeline brand) and Megafon to conclude an agreement on joint work to build 5G networks in Russia. At the same time, they must ensure equal access to radio frequencies for all market participants.
The regulator noted that the companies participating in the transaction will develop and agree with the FAS the conditions for the use of infrastructure and (or) the sharing of radio frequencies and the conditions for the provision of infrastructure for MVNO operators. These are mobile operators who use someone else's infrastructure, but sell services under their own brand.
The antimonopoly authority approved the deal, since its participants guaranteed the access of other telecom operators to the released radio frequency spectrum if the agreement was implemented.
Earlier, the FAS allowed the Big Four (Rostelecom, MTS, Megafon and Vimpelcom) to create a joint venture (JV) called New Digital Solutions for the development of 5G networks in Russia. It is assumed that this will be a joint venture with equal shares of all participants. It will be engaged in clearing the frequencies provided for 5G in all regions of Russia and building its own new generation networks. The state will not enter this joint venture.
5G in Russia
At the end of January, analysts estimated the total spending on the development of fifth-generation communication networks in Russia until 2027 at 1-1.1 trillion rubles. According to experts, the active introduction of 5G in the Russian Federation will not begin before 2024.
In the meantime, operators cannot agree on frequencies for 5G development. The most promising frequencies for operators are 3.4-3.8 GHz (“golden range”) in Russia are occupied by law enforcement agencies.
As an alternative, operators were offered to use frequencies in the range 24.25-24.65 GHz and frequencies 4.8-4.99 GHz. In a joint report by the Big Four, it was said that the cost of 5G will not pay off in 20 years if this range is used.
In early March 2021, MTS launched the first pilot 5G user network in Russia in the 4.9 GHz band in Moscow.
Photo: Pixabay, Pixabay License
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