5G Mid-Band Spectrum Needs

And Opportunities for CIS

CIS webinar for regulatory
bodies and operators
March 16, 2021

5G network spectrum in the mid-band

1 – 6 GHz in the Russian Federation

Evgeny Devyatkin
Deputy Director EMC Analysis Center, PhD

THE M.I. KRIVOSHEEV RADIO RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE 2021

5G/IMT-2020 spectrum ensuring in the “Concept of 5G/IMT-2020 deployment in the
Russian Federation»

The concept of 5G/IMT-2020 deployment in the Russian Federation:

§ approved by the Order of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and

Mass Media of the Russian Federation № 923 dated Dec. 27.2019;
§ is the strategic document determining the 5G network deployment;
§ the final target – to release no less then 400 MHz of 5G spectrum in the frequency
range 1 - 6 GHz.

The Concept specifies the approaches to solve the problem of providing

spectrum for 5G networks

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 Spectrum re-farming via technological neutrality implementation

Technological neutrality (TN) is currently permitted in Russia by the State commission’s on radio frequencies decisions in the
following frequency bands:
• 900 MHz: GSM, WCDMA, LTE
• 1800 MHz: GSM, LTE
• 2100 MHz: WCDMA, LTE
- since 2020 NIIR is carrying out testing to determine the conditions of TN implementation in the frequency bands 900 –
2600 MHz allocated to GSM, WCDMA and LTE networks. This work is agreed by the State commission on radio
frequencies. Radio equipment from various vendors are used.
- based on the results of this work the proper State commission’s on radio frequencies decision is planned to be approved in
3rd quarter of 2021.
- TN implementation leads to effective deployment of 5G networks where they are expedient without large financial costs.
- 5G network deployment using TN provides the following advantages:
• acceleration of 5G network & services initial deployment and improvement of 5G coverage in the future by using existing
network infrastructure;
• more effective spectrum usage. 4G & 5G base stations work in the same frequency bands with dynamical spectrum
allocation according to users’ current demands;
• making 5G coverage better in the upper frequency bands via Dual Connectivity (9 dB) and Carrier Aggregation (7 dB);

Technological neutrality is an important step of 5G network spectrum ensuring

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 Spectrum allocation in 3,4 – 3,8 GHz band problematic issue

The possibility of 3,4 – 3,8 GHz band allocation to 5G network is determined by the following:
• According to the State commission’s on radio frequencies decision № 19-49-01 dated April 15, 2019: it is stated no
EMC is provided in the 3,4 – 3,8 GHz band between 5G radio electronic equipment and radio electronic equipment
used by other services.
• 3,4 -3,8 GHz band is not allocated to mobile service in the Russian Federation.
• Security services, State corporation Roscosmos, satellite communication operators gave negative opinion on the
possibility to release the frequencies in 3,4 – 3,8 GHz band for 5G network in the Russian Federation.
• According to the Russian Federation President’s Order № Пр-773 dated April 30, 2019 conversion of 3,4 – 3,8 GHz
band is currently not considered.
• It requires about 10 years and more than 300 bln. rubs to move radio electronic equipment used by other services
in this frequency band to other bands to release it for 5G network.

3,4 – 3,8 GHz band usage for 5G network is very unlikely in the coming future

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 4,8 – 4,99 GHz band allocation for 5G spectrum

The possibility of 4,8 – 4,99 GHz band allocation to 5G is defined by the following:
• 4,8 - 4,99 GHz band is allocated to mobile service on primary basis in the Russian Federation,
• the comparatively little amount of radio electronic equipment used by military and government services in this
band in 18 cities with more than of 1 million of population.
• releasing this band from civil radio electronic equipment requires 1 – 2 years and 200 mln rubs,
- mobile operators performed 8 successful 5G pilots in this frequency band, they are:
- МТS: Moscow - VDNKh, Kronshtadt, Skolkovo. Additionally, 5G pilot network was deployed on 14 places in
Moscow in the beginning of March 2021.
- Vimpelcom: Moscow – Luzhniki, Skolkovo, Khakassia,
- Ekaterinburg-2000: regions of Ekaterinburg city.

Currently 4,8 – 4,99 GHz band is the priority for the start of 5G network commercial
operation in the Russian Federation

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 Possible usage of 6425 - 7125 MHz frequency band

WRC-19 initiated the investigation of the possibility to allocate the 6425 - 7125 MHz frequency band to 5G networks.

1. The Russian Federation supports the initiative of many countries worldwide to study the possibility to allocate
6425-7125 MHz band to 5G (WRC-23 AI 1.2).

2. It will be expedient to study the possibility and perspective of this band usage for 5G deployment in Russia in case of its
identification for 5G at WRC-23.

3. The most effective use cases suitable for 5G networks in 6 GHz are as following:
- 5G technological networks for localized enterprises,
- providing various services and applications based on URLLC;
- providing indoor 5G coverage in hot spots.

4. Possibility of approving the State commission’s on radio frequencies decision to limit new frequency assignments to civil
radio equipment is under consideration.

5. According to the State commission’s on radio frequencies working plan the 5G in 6 GHz field testing carried out by NIIR
and Huawei is planned for 2021.

6425 – 7125 MHz can be the new frequency band for 5G in the coming future

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5G Mid-Band Spectrum Needs
And Opportunities for CIS
CIS webinar for regulatory bodies
and operators
March 16, 2021

Thank you
for your attention