Using Nokia equipment, MTS plans 5G trial in 2018
Nokia and Russian telecom operator MTS Group signed an agreement to collaborate on the development of “5G” technologies. Under terms of the agreement, the two companies will implement a 5G test network in a Russian football stadium during the 2018 Football World Cup.
The trial will work to develop test projects leveraging “4G” technologies such as LTE-Advanced Pro as well as 5G to enable faster speeds, lower latency and new spectrum efficiencies. Nokia said testing will focus on the implementation of LTE-Advanced Pro features such as enhanced carrier aggregation and LTE-Broadcast; coverage and capacity improvements using LTE-Unlicensed and licensed assisted access, and “Internet of Things” projects using narrowband IoT, LTE-Machine and extended coverage GSM technologies.
The two companies said the test will also include demonstrations of 5G and dual connectivity of LTE and 5G technologies in the centimeter-wave spectrum band.
“MTS is developing a roadmap for the evolution of its networks taking into account the complexity and scope of the challenges to be solved when implementing the 5G standards. The joint projects and trials we will undertake will enable us to meet future data demand in the most effective way and we look forward to showcasing this work in 2018,” said Andrey Ushatsky, VP and CTO at MTS.
MTS ends Q1 with more than 108 million subscribers
In related news, MTS posted a net income of 14.5 billion rubles ($218.3 million) in the first quarter of 2016, up 33.3% year-over-year. The operator’s overall revenues for the period amounted to 108.1 billion rubles, up 7.9% vs. the year-ago period. In Russia, revenues reached 96.3 billion rubles, up 6.5% year-on-year.
The company ended Q1 with 108.3 million subscribers, surging 3.8% year-over-year. MTS’s capital expenditures in the first quarter reached 18 billion rubles, down 28% compared to Q1 2015.
“We continue to see sustained demand for data throughout in our key telecom markets, which continues to drive growth in both Russia and Ukraine,” said MTS CEO Andrei Dubovskov.
MTS operates in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
