MTS Russia has signed an MOU with Ericsson to cooperate on 5G research and deployment in Russia, covering spectrum studies of the next generation network and the building of a test system. The companies will focus initially on development of requirements and use cases, as well as performance evaluation and applicability of potential 5G key technology components.
The partnership will lead to implementation of 5G-related technologies in MTS' network, such as Ericsson Lean Carrier and the use of unlicensed spectrum. Both companies will conduct joint dialog with regulators about the use of the frequency spectrum for 5G. In 2017, the deployment of 5G pilot solutions using high-speed data transmission in the 15 GHz band are being planned, including construction of the test area for the demonstration of 5G technology solutions during the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia.
The partnership will also see both companies implementing a pilot project next year in LTE-U (LTE-Unlicensed) / LAA (Licensed-Assisted Access) that involves the use of the LTE radio interface in the unlicensed 5GHz band together with Wi-Fi access points.
Andrey Ushatskiy, Vice President, Technology and IT, Chief Technology and Information Officer, MTS
Next year, we will start to test our key vendor's developments through a series of pilot projects on the MTS network, in order for both of us to have a complete understanding of the performance of the solutions in our 5G networks.
Jeff Travers, Head of Customer Unit MTS, Ericsson Northern Europe and Central Asia
By 2018, we plan to not only conduct research, but also to test and implement key technologies that will improve MTS network performance and application coverage. 5G will revolutionize user experiences in mobile technology during the FIFA World Cup in 2018.
