Russia’s State Commission for Radio Frequencies (SCRF) has made a draft proposal to issue Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) with 5G test frequencies in the key 3.4GHz-3.8GHz spectrum range in Moscow, and is expected to finalise the decision at its next meeting on 10 March, reports RBC. The 3.4GHz-3.8GHz test frequencies, alongside 37GHz-40GHz spectrum, will be allocated only for three specific locations in the capital (in the vicinity of the Radio Research Institute and two scientific/medical institutions) for assessment of the impact of 5G on the environment, according to a document obtained by RBC. The planned tests come under the ongoing agreement between MTS and Moscow’s Department of IT.
Note that to date, proposals to free up the 3.4GHz-3.8GHz band for 5G have been blocked because of security/military usage of the range. In 2018 – when Russia hosted the FIFA men’s World Cup – MegaFon and Rostelecom were permitted to carry out 3.4GHz-3.8GHz 5G tests at pilot zones in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan until the end of that year, but all subsequent applications for new test permits have been refused by the authorities.