Belarus may choose to develop 5G according to competitive model – Telecom Ministry

<p> MINSK, May 6 - PrimePress. An interdepartmental working group set up by the government has proposed a competitive model as an option for the construction of a fifth generation communication network (5G) in Belarus, chief of Belarus’ Communications and Informatization Ministry Konstantin Shulgan told a press conference on 6 May. </p> <p>   </p> <p> He said that the interdepartmental working group had analyzed different options for 5G network development in Belarus and had prepared a corresponding report to the head of state. A decision based on the findings of the report is due in early summer at a meeting chaired by the president. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “The interagency working group work has prepared a version of the competitive model. It provides for the allocation of frequency packages to the operators with the requirements, which the state imposes on them for the development of this technology. These requirements, both in the report and in our approach, were analyzed taking into account the economic specifics and efficiency of each method. At the moment, both the ministry and the working group have determined the competitive model (as an option) - frequency packages will be allocated for operators, existing or new, with certain conditions to meet,” said Shulgan. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Aleksei Ivashkin, head of the republican unitary enterprise for telecommunications supervision "BelGIE", points out that Belarus is highly dependent on the bordering countries and has to take into account the processes taking place there to ensure interference-free operation in the domestic new generation communication networks. </p> <p>   </p> <p> “The situation with the European countries is quite clear: we know the specific radio frequency bands and the timeframe for the introduction of the fifth generation technology. But with Russia and Ukraine there is quite a lot of work to be done to coordinate the use of spectrum near the border,” Ivashkin said. </p> <p>   </p> <p> He noted that previously the frequency spectrum for the second-fourth generations of communication was allocated with serious restrictions on location and use of base stations. For the first time the Ministry of Communications has solved the problem of forming the spectrum as ready as possible for use with minimum restrictions. </p> <p>   </p> <p> In his words, all this makes it possible to expect the emergence of a full-fledged fifth-generation network throughout the country in five years from the date of spectrum allocation. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As previously reported, the choice of the model was discussed by the regulator together with mobile operators, and three options are being considered at the moment. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The first is an infrastructure model, involving the construction of 5G network infrastructure by a single infrastructure operator. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The second is a competitive model, involving the construction of 5G network infrastructure (passive and active) by each of the operators. In order to optimise costs, the cooperation of operators in the construction of transport infrastructure (fibre-optic communication lines, FOCL) is assumed. </p> <p>   </p> <p> The third model is the model of joint use of passive infrastructure, involving the construction of active 5G network infrastructure by each operator within the radio frequency spectrum allocated to the operator, and the construction of passive infrastructure (transport network, antenna-mast structures, FOCL) by a single infrastructure operator. End </p>

2021-05-07

Primepress