Russia's digital, defense ministries to work out terms for using "golden" frequency range for 5G by year's end

KAZAN. Sept 19 (Interfax) - Russia's Digital Development Ministry and Defense Ministry are forming a working group that will by the end of this year work out the technical possibility of using radio frequencies in the "golden range" (3.4-3.8 GHz) for building 5G mobile networks, as well as the amount of financing for the conversion of this frequency resource, Digital Minister Maksut Shadayev said.

"The Digital Development Ministry and Defense Ministry are creating a working group on 5G to study possibilities for using the "golden range," Shadayev told reporters at the Kazan Digital Week forum, adding that President Vladimir Putin issued an order to do this.

"By the end of the year we will work out the technical possibility [for using frequencies in the

'golden range' for 5G], and if there is a technical possibility, the necessary amount of financing for conversion [of the frequencies]," Shadayev said.

The "golden range" is the priority for building 5G networks, but it is occupied by other agencies, including defense and security agencies.

Shadayev said in April that the "discussion on the 'golden range' has been carefully resumed," and later did not rule out that these frequencies might be allocated for 5G networks through individual decisions in certain cities that are "not in the center" of the country.

An auction is supposed to be held before the end of the year to distribute frequencies for 5G in the 4800-4990 MHz range. Russia's largest mobile providers have said that the frequency range offered at the auction can be used only as a supplement to the "golden range."