Column by Yulia Tishina about the prospects for releasing frequencies for 5G

The struggle for frequencies for the development of 5G networks in Russia has been going on for several years and, it seems, will not end soon. After all, one has to compete for them not only with the special services that occupy the “golden range”, but, for example, with television broadcasters. Since 2011, operators should have received the spectrum used for analogue broadcasting due to the transition of television to digital for the development of LTE, but this decision is constantly being postponed. Now frequencies are needed for 5G, and broadcasters, as it turns out, recognize this fact, but do not plan to retreat.

An industry report on the development of television in Russia in 2022–2023, published on February 13 on the Ministry of Digital Development portal, states that the release of upper decimeter channels (1450 MHz) is required for 5G networks, but in the fall of 2023, the State Commission for Radio Frequencies and the Ministry of Digital Development will request an extension analogue broadcasting, in addition to the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS; asked for an extension of frequencies in the summer; see “Kommersant” of July 18, 2023), federal (NMG, Media 1) and regional (TNV, Republic of Tatarstan; NNTV, Nizhny Novgorod; State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Dagestan RGVK “Dagestan”, etc.) broadcasters.

The 1450 MHz bands (federal and regional broadcasters) and 700 MHz (RTRS is needed to deliver a TV signal via satellite channels) are more effective for 5G in terms of signal penetration than the 24.25–27.5 GHz frequencies currently allocated for testing the standard (have limited range), until the end of 2024 they will remain with television people.

The latter justified the need to work in an outdated format “by the need to inform the population in the year of presidential elections, the low prevalence of cable networks due to predominantly low-rise buildings or mountainous terrain, a significant number of dacha audiences, etc.” Among the important factors for preserving analogue broadcasting, market participants also named the norms of advertising legislation: by leaving the open air, the TV channel automatically becomes “cable” (that is, “paid”) and loses the opportunity to place advertising if there are Less than 75% of national content is present.

The problem with content can be solved as early as 2024: thus, according to Mediascope, the share of Russian cinema aired on Russian federal TV channels in the last television season 2022/23 increased to 67%, not to mention the growing demand for Russian TV series (see “Kommersant” ” dated January 31). But other arguments made by broadcasters are unlikely to lose relevance in the coming years: first of all, the need to inform the population about major political events, especially in the regions.