The Ministry of Digital Development plans to allocate frequencies for the LTE communication standard in the annexed territories for Miranda Media

As Kommersant learned, the Ministry of Digital Development plans to allocate 450 MHz frequencies for the LTE communication standard in the annexed territories for Miranda Media (19.9% ​​from Rostelecom). The range will allow you to quickly cover a large and sparsely populated region with a communications network, but data transfer rates will be low. In the future, the infrastructure can be used to develop the Internet of Things (IoT), experts say. They note a lack of equipment and high risks for the operator in regions where military operations are taking place.

“Kommersant” got acquainted with the agenda of the next meeting of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (SCRF). According to a Kommersant source on the market, it is scheduled for December 27. It follows from the document that the commission, among others, plans to consider the use of radio frequency bands in the 450 MHz range by radio electronic means of the LTE (4G) standard and its subsequent modifications in the territory of the Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics, as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. Another Kommersant interlocutor confirmed that the issue will be raised at the meeting. The Ministry of Digital Development did not respond to Kommersant over the weekend.

Currently, mobile communications in the annexed regions are provided by the DPR cellular operator Republican Communications Operator (Phoenix brand), Lugacom (originally worked only in the LPR), Crimean K-Telecom (+7Telecom brand) and Miranda- media” (19.9% ​​for Rostelecom). In April, SCRF already allocated bands to K-Telecom and Miranda-Media for the development of mobile communications in the DPR and LPR; the frequencies were not specified.

Rostelecom, MTS, VimpelCom, MegaFon, and +7Telecom declined to comment. Miranda Media, Phoenix and Lugacom did not answer Kommersant.

A Kommersant source close to the Ministry of Digital Development suggests that only one operator will receive frequencies in the 450 MHz range: “Most likely, it will be Miranda Media, associated with Rostelecom.” Firstly, in the Russian Federation it is the only one that has 450 MHz frequencies; they are used, in particular, by the state company’s subsidiary operator, Tele2. Secondly, the band is too narrow for several companies to operate on it at once.”

This frequency in the Russian Federation is intended for the state program for eliminating the digital divide (it is implemented by Rostelecom), mainly to cover hard-to-reach and sparsely populated areas, a Kommersant source in one of the regional telecom operators clarified.

A Kommersant source in one of the major telecom operators also believes that the frequency will go to Miranda Media. “Now building up a whole new region is a big problem for any of the Big Four, even regardless of sanctions, it’s just expensive and difficult in the absence of equipment. But it is clear that the authorities want to resolve the issue, and as quickly as possible. Therefore, we need a player who has been tested in another difficult territory,” explains Kommersant’s interlocutor.

A Kommersant source in the telecommunications equipment market confirms the problems with base stations in the annexed territories: “There are not enough of them there. Whether it is Sevtelecom, K-Telecom, Miranda – it doesn’t matter. It’s not clear where they will get the equipment from.” Kommersant’s interlocutor from among the operators, however, believes that Miranda will be able to solve the problem with equipment with the support of Rostelecom – “they will remove it somewhere, install it there, buy Chinese.”

President of Zelax (produces telecommunications equipment) Sergei Sukhman notes that “in these territories it is necessary to establish peaceful life, including communications, but the state will not risk leaving this to business.”

Taking into account the shortage of equipment, the frequency range was chosen well, notes one of Kommersant’s sources, it provides large coverage with a small number of base stations, the radio wave penetrates well through obstacles, such as buildings. At the same time, he clarifies, “the number of users on this frequency is limited.” According to an interlocutor close to the Ministry of Digital Development, the ministry tested the range in the Russian Federation several years ago: the coverage of one base station was up to 19-20 km, but at low speed – up to 2 Mbit/s. The allocation of 450 MHz for the operator in the annexed territories, he believes, will allow covering a large and sparsely populated area in a short time with a small amount of equipment.

A source close to one of the operators adds that the solution can be used as a temporary solution, and then can be reformatted for special communications or the Internet of things.

Alexey Zhabin, Yulia Tishina