RBC: broadcasters estimated the amount of compensation for the transfer of frequencies for 4G and 5G to mobile operators at 150 billion rubles

Telecom operators must pay compensation to broadcasters in the amount of 15 billion rubles. every year for ten years for the transfer to them of the frequency band 694-790 MHz (referring to the 700 MHz band) for the development of 4G and 5G. This was reported RBC with reference to sources. According to the interlocutors of the publication in the “big four” operators, this amount is “out of touch with reality.”

According to RBC, at the end of 2022, at a meeting with operators, the broadcasters announced that they could redistribute frequencies only after the consent of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS, provides on-air television and radio broadcasting services). According to the publication, operators can receive these frequencies with compensation of 15 billion rubles. per year for ten years after the decision was made to transfer or finance the development of a frequency-territorial plan for digital terrestrial television broadcasting (broadcasters’ expenses for transferring transmitters from the range).

RTRS denied RBC information about the consent of broadcasters to transfer these frequencies to operators for 150 billion rubles. for ten years. They also deny that the calculation of 150 billion rubles. was made by them. According to RBC, the amount of compensation was calculated by B1 (formerly EY in Russia). They declined to comment to the publication. The Ministry of Digital Transformation told the publication that they had no information about the consent of broadcasters to transmit frequencies.

An anonymous interlocutor of RBC in one of the Big Four operators named the amount of 150 billion rubles. “out of touch with reality”. According to him, the cost of rescheduling television networks for 5G operation without equipment will be 1.5-3 billion rubles. Another source in another operator said that the amount of compensation should be a multiple of less than 150 billion rubles. He added that the owner of the frequencies is the state, so the operators do not understand the validity of compensation claims from the broadcasters.

Earlier, Kommersant wrote that Skoltech and the Radio Research Institute (FSBI NIIR) want to allocate about 23 billion rubles. for technology research for 5G Advanced/6G communications equipment from 2023 to 2030. At the same time, the government believes that it is necessary to focus on the development of domestic 4G and 2G base stations.

More details – in the publication “Kommersant” “Conflict in the Sixth Generation”.

Olesya Pavlenko