PRESS: Regulator to eye allocation of band for 5G test in big cities

MOSCOW, Apr 1 (PRIME) -- The State Radio Frequency Commission will consider allocating a range of frequencies to test 5G in Moscow and other big cities of the country, which will enable operators Rostelecom and MegaFon to check functioning of networks of the new generation, business daily Kommersant reported on Monday.

For a full-fledged development of the project, a resource currently occupied by satellite systems of the Defense Ministry, 3.4–3.8 GHz, could be needed, while the ministry is reluctant to cede the band.

Several sources told the daily that connection operators had proposed the commission to allocate a 3.4–3.8 GHz range to test 5G in big cities with the population over 1 million people.

A spokesperson for state-controlled Rostelecom said the company is ready to continue and expand 5G testing within its joint venture with mobile operator MegaFon, which was set up earlier in 2019. The operators tested the new standard at rather small trial zones in 2018.

“At a new stage, we should expand the area of testing to check networks in the conditions of a real urban build-up area and their interaction with other radio electronic means,” the spokesperson said.

Affiliates of both Rostelecom and MegaFon already have 3.4–3.8 GHz frequencies in Moscow.

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