Frequency commission says no to operators in extending 5G resource

MOSCOW, Apr 15 (PRIME) -- Russia’s State Radio Frequency Commission refused to prolong use of frequencies in the range of 3.4–3.8 GHz to Rostelecom and MegaFon to research the 5G technology in pilot zones at a meeting on Monday.

The period granted the operators for pilots expired in 2018, and was supposed to be extended till December 31.

“An effort of the Digital Development Ministry to continue the study in this band stumbled on unswerving resistance of the law enforcement entities,” Deputy Minister Oleg Ivanov told reporters after the meeting.

The research will be continued by the ministry jointly with Radio Research and Development Institute, and operators can also take part, the official said.

The study will explore a potential way of converting the frequencies, allocated for fixed-line connection, into mobile for 5G and segmentation of the band to meet demands both of the law enforcement entities and 5G development.

If a compromise is found, the 3.4–3.8 GHz range could be partially opened for trial zones in September–November, Ivanov said.

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