The joint venture of Rostec and Sistema intends to begin production of radio modules for communication base stations in Tomsk

The Element group of companies, owned by Rostec and AFK Sistema, intends to establish the development and production of radio modules for communication base stations in Tomsk. We are also talking about the development of components. Tomsk State University can become a partner of Element, which will undertake the training of specialists, as well as conducting research. Currently, a number of Russian electronics manufacturers are developing radio modules as part of the government “road map”. Market participants assess the project positively, but cautiously: they hope that import substitution will not be declarative.

JSC Element (owned by Rostec and AFK Sistema, shares are not disclosed, unites about 20 manufacturers and developers of microelectronics, including the Mikron plant) intends to begin the development and production of radio modules for communication base stations in Tomsk. We are talking not only about the assembly of products from finished electronic components, but also about the production of the entire range of components for equipment. This follows from the “road map” of the project, which Kommersant got acquainted with. So, judging by the document, the development and production of components for radio modules will have to be undertaken by the Research Institute of Electronic Technology, the Research Institute of Molecular Electronics, JSC Semiconductor Devices Plant, etc.

It also follows from the “road map” that Element plans to implement the project in partnership with Tomsk State University (TSU) – on the basis of a certain collective design center at TSU, it is planned to carry out functional control of products, and the company wants to attract university students, about 150 people in total to the design and production of components. The estimated project budget for 2024–2025 is RUB 2.5 billion.

Element did not deny the authenticity of the document. The company representative recalled that radio modules are one of the main components of communication base stations, which must be localized and adapted to operating frequencies permitted for use in Russia. “Russian companies can be the first to be transferred to the domestic electronic component base. For manufacturers of base stations, it is necessary to provide a full cycle of their setup and calibration, including in finished products, which we intend to do within the framework of this project,” Element clarified, adding that the partnership with TSU also involves conducting research, training of specialists, as well as “creation of a technological base for the development, production and testing of wireless communications equipment.” The press service of TSU did not respond to Kommersant’s request.

Kommersant’s interlocutor at one of the electronics manufacturers sees it as logical to try to implement such a project in Tomsk: the city has several large technical universities, on the basis of which specialized research can be carried out.

Bulat (the developer of base stations) called the news about the Element project positive, “since it is aimed at creating a domestic component base… but a lot will depend on commercial conditions and the willingness to saturate the market for this electronic component.” A representative of Protea (the company also develops solutions in the field of communications as part of the implementation of the government “road map”), in response to a request from Kommersant, refused to comment on the possible risks of the project, only expressing the hope that “the intentions of colleagues will be translated into the correct implementation of real import substitution, and not declarative.”

Nikita Korolev