FAQ on cellular frequencies (GSM 900, DCS 1800, UMTS 2100, CDMA 450, 3G, 4G/LTE)

3G frequency:

Cellular communications of the 3rd generation 3G/UMTS2100 in Russia operate at the frequencies Uplink 1920 - 1980 MHz and Downlink 2110 - 2170 MHz.

Instead of Skylink, these frequencies are currently used by TELE2. Since there are not enough frequencies due to the growth of subscribers, 3G began to be launched on the GSM900 and E-GSM frequencies, i.e. Uplink 880-915 MHz and DownLink 925-960 MHz.

Example 3G/UMTS900 for the Moscow region (frequencies are indicated by DownLink, everything is similar in UpLink):

Both GSM and 3G cannot be located in the same piece of frequencies at the same time, for example, like Megafon has a 2nd band in E-GSM frequencies. 3G has a frequency band of 5 MHz always and everywhere. In the Moscow region, Megafon has 3G/UMTS900 almost everywhere. MTS and Beeline are mainly used only in the South of the Moscow Region due to the military ban on operating on 2000 frequencies. (current as of January 2015).

Summary table of 2G/GSM bands in Russia

4G/LTE2600 frequency:

4G/LTE2500 - 4th generation communications, operating at frequencies of 2500-2700 MHz.

Information is current as of January 2013.

FDD (frequency division duplex) is like in GSM, incoming and outgoing channels are at different frequencies.

TDD (time division duplex) is outgoing and incoming channels on the same frequency!

Beeline received only 10 MHz.

TELE2 also received only 10 MHz. (look at frequencies Ros)

MTS - 35 MHz in the Moscow region and 10 MHz throughout the country.

And Megafon and Yota (this is the same holding) got as much as 65 MHz for two in the Moscow region and 40 MHz throughout Russia!

Through Yota in Moscow only Megafon works virtually in the 4G standard, in other regions - Megafon and MTS. Television (Cosmos-TV, etc.) will operate in the TDD range throughout Russia except Moscow.

Summary table of 3G/UMTS bands in Russia

Which Russian operators provide their subscribers with Internet using LTE technology?

Most major cellular operators have already partially implemented the LTE standard. Among them:

• Yota was the first in Russia to launch an LTE network of 63 base stations. The launch took place in Novosibirsk in 2011;
• Megafon launched LTE the following year, covering Novosibirsk and Moscow. Subsequently, the operator quickly extended the new communication standard to most major cities;
• MTS installed its LTE stations in 83 regions;
• Tele2;
• Beeline;
• Vainakh Telecom (Chechen Republic);
• Tattelecom (Tatarstan);
• "Motive" (KhMAO and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug);
• Win-mobile (Crimea);
• "Volna-mobile" (Crimea).

Table: frequency ranges of Russian telecom operators

What cellular frequencies will be used for 5G?

The use of frequency bands for cellular communications is strictly regulated and obtaining new licenses is often difficult due to the negative position of military departments, which use certain frequencies for their own needs.

At the moment, the government is proposing to use the frequency range 4.4–4.9 GHz for the deployment of 5G cellular networks. This proposal raises numerous objections from operators: in Europe and many other regions of the world, 3.4–3.8 GHz has already been adopted as the main 5G band. The use of a less popular standard can cause many problems, starting with the compatibility of subscriber equipment and ending with inter-roaming agreements.

At the same time, other frequencies will most likely be used for 5G in Russia. Over time, fifth-generation networks may appear in place of current 4G networks in the 2600 MHz range. The state is also considering the possibility of transferring to operators part of the frequencies occupied by terrestrial television (694–790 MHz). It is expected that the 700 MHz frequency range can be used for 5G carpet coverage.

Selecting equipment to enhance cellular communications

When choosing equipment to enhance cellular communications, first find out exactly what frequency ranges and communication standards the operator uses in your location. Selecting the right equipment is the key to high-quality amplification of cellular communications! If you are not sure which equipment to choose, consult our specialists by calling 8-800-3333-965 !

How EGSM technology came about

Historically, second generation GSM cellular technology developed in the 900 MHz band. We are talking about the bands 890-915 MHz and 935-960 MHz, which are used for Primary GSM (P-GSM) technology.

Then the second band, 1800 MHz, began to be used for GSM technology. Also, since the early 2000s, Extended GSM (E-GSM) technology began to be used. This is a type of GSM technology in the 900 MHz range, which uses other frequency bands - 880-890 MHz and 925-935 MHz.

Frequency distribution between Russian cellular operators in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands

Source: CNews Analytics

Initially, frequencies for cellular communications were allocated by SCRF as part of private solutions - separately for each operator. In 2012, the commission adopted a generalized decision for frequencies in the 1800 MHz range. In 2014, a generalized decision was also made for frequencies in the 900 MHz range. In 2021, both of these decisions were combined into one generalized SCRF decision.

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In 2009, SCRF allowed the use of the 900 MHz band for the construction of third generation cellular networks (3G) of the UMTS standard. In 2013, SCRF allowed the use of the 1800 MHz band for fourth-generation cellular networks (4G) of the LTE standard.

In 2014, SCRF allowed the construction of LTE networks in the 900 MHz range. The principle when frequencies issued for one technology can be used for another technology is called technological neutrality.

3G, 4G and 5G - what's the difference

The fundamental difference between the technologies affects several aspects:

• The reference bandwidth of a signal in the radio frequency spectrum. The higher the generation of technology, the more space it takes up, and the more subscribers one transmitter serves.
• Data transfer rate. With each generation, the speed increases tenfold.
• Encryption and compression algorithms are improving with each generation.

5G technology is being developed not only for the interaction of people and devices, but also for the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) - a concept in which technical means interact with each other and make decisions without human intervention.

Frequency ranges of Russian cellular operators.

Frequency ranges are divided into technical and subscriber ranges. For technical bands, frequencies of 5-80 GHz are allocated. Subscriber bands are in the frequencies 790-2700 MHz.

Basic standards for mobile data transmission:

• 2G - GSM-900/1800
• 3G - UMTS
• 4G - LTE
• 5G

Also, intermediate technologies are used at these frequencies:

• 2.5G - GPRS
• 2.75G - EDGE
• 3.5G – HDSPA

The same rules apply to all of the above frequencies:

1. The lower the frequency, the larger its propagation zone from the operator’s tower.
2. As frequency increases, penetration ability increases (passing through walls and avoiding obstacles).
3. As the frequency increases, the throughput (data transfer rate) increases.

RAN-Sharing - sharing of frequencies between operators

All the above information on frequency allocation is based on SCRF regulations and licenses issued by the state. At the same time, in Russia for several years the sharing of resources by several operators has been allowed - RAN-Sharing technology.

According to the RAN-Sharing principle, operators have the right to install common base stations and share frequency resources. Thus, the division of the frequency range by operator is gradually blurred. Telecommunications experts predict that this trend will only intensify over time, because the “smart” use of frequencies allows operators to significantly reduce the costs of building new networks and optimizing existing ones.

Further development of LTE

Despite the launch of testing of fifth generation networks in the world, some regions of the Russian Federation still do not even support 3G. In connection with this circumstance, it is worth predicting, first of all, the widespread development of LTE technology. Also, fourth-generation networks represent a non-alternative way of accessing the Global Wide Web in a number of Russian regions, which encourages domestic cellular operators to develop the 4G standard.

In some cases, a wired connection is simply impossible, which contributes to the spread of wireless technologies: the capabilities of cellular stations can be expanded thanks to special signal repeater antennas. The user can independently purchase such an antenna. It is important to consider that each repeater only works with certain frequencies and mode (FDD or TDD).

Summary table of 4G/LTE bands in Russia

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