Deputy min supports setting up infrastructure operator for 5G

MOSCOW, Nov 30 (PRIME) -- Russian Deputy Digital Development Minister Oleg Ivanov, in charge of the telecommunications industry, said on Friday he supports the creation of a single infrastructure operator to unroll 5G networks.

“Personally, I’m a supporter of an infrastructure operator in a low range of frequencies, up to 6 GHz. Unfortunately, we lack frequencies. Preliminary researches show that we have a problem with frequencies and all options should be used,” Ivanov told reporters.

Media earlier reported citing sources that state-controlled telecom operator Rostelecom and big mobile operator MegaFon were holding talks to set up a consortium to act as a single infrastructure operator to build 5G networks in the country. State industrial corporation Rostec could also join the companies.

Ivanov said that one connection company could not be such an infrastructure operator. “As we see, it should be a consortium,” he said.

On the part of the ministry, there will be no “enforced decisions” on the matter, which should be tackled by connection operators themselves. “We’ll certainly get together all operators and discuss it. We should understand that if existing participants of the industry fail to agree, other actors could emerge. They clearly see it and, I hope, will come to a common solution,” Ivanov said.

The decision should be made as soon as possible otherwise implementation of 5G in the country could be delayed till 2021–2022, he said.

Ivanov also said that three telecom operators had submitted applications for frequencies in the range of 25 GHz for 5G networks, but the companies were not named.

The applications will be considered in late December at a meeting of the State Radio Frequency Commission and then will pass an expert appraisal. The whole process could take some six months, he said.

Bids for the construction of 5G networks can be submitted to the State Radio Frequency Commission by any legal entity, not only by connection operators, if a company proves the possibility of monetizing the network in a certain zone and in a certain range, but networks can be built only by connection operators.

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