Tele2 lost frequencies for conversion to the 5G standard in Yekaterinburg

Tele2 did not extend access to frequencies for fixed wireless access in the territory of Yekaterinburg in the bands 24.549–25.249 GHz and 25.557–26.257 GHz. According to Kommersant, the company no longer used the frequencies, and their withdrawal may be related to the Ministry of Digital Development’s plans for conversion for the new 5G communication standard in cities with a population of over a million. But building a 5G network in the range requires additional costs, and this frequency band cannot be used as the main one, experts say.

“Kommersant” got acquainted with the decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF) dated December 27, 2023, published on the Ministry of Digital Development website on January 15. It follows from it that the commission refused to extend Tele2’s license to use the radio frequency band “on the basis of a negative conclusion.” The SCRF decision does not indicate which frequency bands in which regions the commission had in mind. Tele2 clarified to Kommersant that we are talking about the 26 GHz bands, “which were allocated in Yekaterinburg for MDMS networks.” The company refused to explain whether it retained frequencies in other cities. A Kommersant source in one of the major telecom operators says that the SCRF decision refers to “fixed wireless access in the territory of Yekaterinburg in the bands 24.549–25.249 GHz and 25.557–26.257 GHz.”

“Failure to renew the validity period is not fraught with anything for the company, since due to the spread of other technologies, this solution has almost lost its relevance and is not used in modern networks,” the Tele2 press service told Kommersant.

A Kommersant source in one of the major telecom operators explained that the license was not renewed, “since the band is promising for 5G, and Tele2 did not use it.” The Ministry of Digital Development told Kommersant that at each meeting of the SCRF they receive applications for the allocation or extension of radio frequencies, “the commission may decide positively, or it may refuse.”

In accordance with the “road map” of the Ministry of Digital Development, frequency conversion for 5G should affect the ranges of 2.3–2.4 GHz, 4.8–4.99 GHz and 24–29 GHz (see “Kommersant” dated October 25, 2023). 4.4–4.9 GHz was chosen as the base frequency range for the development of 5G in Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko told Interfax in September 2022. In most countries of the world, 3.4–3.8 GHz has been chosen as the main range for 5G development. In Russia it is used for the needs of law enforcement agencies. In July 2022, the Ministry of Digital Development proposed to transfer frequencies of 24.25–27.5 GHz in favor of fifth generation networks. It was assumed that first of all they should make money in cities with a population of over a million.

“Technically, any radio technology can operate in the 26 GHz frequency bands. The range is now used by satellite communication systems, for example Starlink, and can also be used for radio relay lines,” says Alexey Boyko, an analyst at the abloud62 Telegram channel. Now, he recalls, 29 operators in 19 countries are deploying or have already launched 5G networks in the millimeter frequency range (30-300 GHz).

“The non-renewal of the Tele2 license may be due to the conversion of frequencies announced earlier by the Ministry of Digital Development. The millimeter range is better for industry than for the mass implementation of 5G,” explains Alexey Slukin, editor of the specialized Telegram channel “Telekommunalka.” “It has high throughput, but a short range. Its potential purpose is to pick up busy urban locations, as well as industrial Private LTE.”

“If you try to create continuous 5G coverage in the 26 GHz band, it will be more expensive than when working at lower frequencies—you need a larger number of base stations in a limited area,” adds Mr. Boyko. But at the same time, the expert clarifies, speeds can be expected up to 5 Gbit/s.

Alexey Zhabin