Mobile access to the Web is an area that is characterized by the highest dynamics of the introduction of new technological solutions and standards. For example, quite recently 3G Internet was considered one of the most advanced channels. Today, experts say that 4G technology will be the flagship of the mobile industry.
There are many concrete implementations of it. But one of the most popular in the world has become the LTE technology, which is also being actively implemented by Russian operators. What are its features?
What is LTE
The LTE standard, also called 4G, is one of the most modern and promising technologies that can provide fast access to the Internet and other services provided by cellular operators. LTE-infrastructure - in any case, market experts expect this - is designed to replace communication networks operating within the framework of 3G standards. The main advantages of the new technology are the incomparably higher speed and stability of the connection.
Subscribers of mobile operators can, thanks to the advantages of this standard, expand theiropportunities in terms of Internet sharing. The fact is that, for example, when distributing access to the network, carried out on the basis of 3G technology via Wi-Fi, everyone who wanted to connect simply did not have enough channel speed. With LTE, the WiFi infrastructure should be more efficient. For comparison: in most 3G networks, the access speed does not exceed 7-8 Mbps. In turn, the declared rate of some Russian mobile operators when using LTE is 100 Mbps.
LTE distribution in Russia
Since the communication standard under consideration is quite new, Russian operators have not yet managed to introduce it in all regions of the country. However, communication networks that use LTE technology are being built very actively by mobile service providers. Now, not only subscribers of the capital and largest cities, but also residents of regions of Russia quite remote from megacities can take advantage of this communication standard.
LTE reviews
Actually, what do the subscribers themselves say about the experience of using the new technology? First of all, the majority of owners of mobile devices that support the LTE standard are impressed by the fact that you do not need to overpay for the possibility of using the Internet within the framework of the standard in question. Unless, perhaps, you will have to purchase a device capable of operating in LTE mode. In general, according to many subscribers, the new technology meets expectations. Internet access speed is really higher than when working with 3G-and 4G standards.
The stability of the connection also in most cases does not cause complaints from users. While using traditional channels of mobile access to the network, communication loss occurs quite regularly (especially if not computers are used, but smartphones, tablets - that is, purely wireless devices)
At the same time, there are some comments regarding the not too wide coverage area where the LTE standard operates. But this is obviously temporary. Once upon a time, the 3G standard was available only to residents of certain areas. Experts believe that the pace of LTE infrastructure deployment will be sustainable in the near future.
LTE operators
The new technology is already supported by the largest Russian mobile operators - Megafon, Beeline, MTS, Tele2, Yota (which is considered an independent market player). Also, LTE is actively developing Rostelecom. Representatives of the Russian market call the main advantage of the communication standard under consideration high compatibility with the existing infrastructure within which 3G networks operate. That is, it is possible to introduce a new technology without resorting to forced disconnections of subscribers from certain services. In addition, Russian LTE frequencies are such that devices that support only the 3G standard can work in them. There is, therefore, backward compatibility of the new technology with the previous ones.
Actually, about frequencies. Which one is most oftenare involved by Russian and global providers of mobile services? Why might this be interesting? The fact is that the prospects for mastering the latest communication technology, as well as the speed of its implementation, according to analysts, depend on the resource determined by the frequency spectrum available to the operator. The specifics of Russian mobile networks is such that the shortage of the necessary frequencies can be felt quite acutely by mobile service providers. But that's not all. The situation is somewhat complicated by the fact that the lower frequency spectrum is very actively used by law enforcement agencies, as well as navigation systems.
Now a significant part of Russian operators operate within a single range. However, market requirements are such that mobile providers will need at least one more band to establish channels. LTE networks require more capacity. In addition, as subscribers connect to operators, using the capabilities of a new communication technology in different modes - in an apartment, in a car, outside the city, in a park - the supplier needs to have a resource for quick redistribution of traffic, optimizing it in terms of subscriber activity. If the provider has only one frequency band at its disposal, this is problematic, and as a result, the quality of the corresponding services may decrease.
LTE frequency spectrum
Now in the world there are more than 200 networks based on the considered communication technology. What frequencies does LTE operate on most often? Experts believe that this is the 1800 MHz band - it is the most frequently used in the world. They are estimatedsome analysts are used by more than 40% of today's commercial operators. However, there are other popular channels. So, in particular, the LTE frequency band corresponding to 2.6 GHz is widespread. No less popular is the one that is characterized by a figure of 800 MHz. True, in the Russian Federation its use is among the promising ones. Later we will find out why.
What are the most frequently used LTE frequencies in Russia now? Actually, the most popular is the already named range of 2.6 GHz. In particular, the Moscow MTS operates in it. LTE frequencies in some regions are used in the 2.3 GHz band, there are prospects for the development of channels in 450 and 900 MHz - we will talk about them separately. According to experts, the use of low-frequency resources is especially promising in regions with low population density. The reason is that in this case it is possible to build a network infrastructure of small capacity.
Why does frequency matter?
We noted above that there are cases in which it is sometimes more expedient to use the lower LTE frequencies in Russia than the upper ones - this applies to regions in which subscribers are settled over a large territory. What other patterns that reflect the specifics of the use of certain ranges can be identified?
Let's note, for example, the fact that the frequency of 1800 MHz, according to experts, is much more economically beneficial for the operator. Approximately 60%. If the operator has the opportunity to work at this frequency, then the speed of building the necessary infrastructure can significantlyincrease. In addition, in some cases, building networks in the 800-900 MHz range can be even cheaper.
Another advantage of low frequencies is that the radio signal generated through the appropriate channels tends to penetrate buildings more easily. This allows the operator to provide a larger area of coverage. True, there is a nuance here - most likely, it will not be possible to place a large number of base stations in the corresponding territory.
More frequencies - better service
The ideal option is if LTE frequencies in Russia are available to operators at all levels. The work of the communication provider in this case will be, according to experts, the most effective. On the one hand, it will be possible to serve a large area, on the other hand, to provide the required signal density by placing the required number of base stations or auxiliary infrastructure elements, such as, for example, femtocells, in the region. Actually, we have already noted above that the resource in the form of several frequencies directly determines the quality of the provision of the corresponding services by the operator.
Department approved
Do Russian telecom operators have the resource in question? Analysts say yes. In the summer of 2014, the State Commission on Radio Frequencies approved the use of very promising frequencies by mobile service providers - 450, 890-915 MHz, and 935-960 MHz. Russian operators can use this resource throughout the country. Thus, inat the disposal of providers - in addition to those high frequencies that we indicated above - lower ranges. This will help accelerate the deployment of advanced communications infrastructure in Russia, as well as improve the quality of related services for subscribers.
Among other noteworthy initiatives of the department is the possible permission to conduct a specialized auction between mobile providers for the possibility of using additional frequencies - in the range of 2570-2620 MHz. True, as some experts note, the State Commission will probably prefer to study trends in the international 4G technology market before this.
Before the corresponding initiative of the department, one of the allowed frequency bands - 900 MHz - could be used by operators to provide services using GSM technology, that is, within the second generation standard, 2G. Now, the largest Russian communication providers - MTS, Beeline, Megafon - can, from a technological point of view, use LTE frequencies in this range.
We also note that before the permission was received to use the new 900 MHz frequency standard, operators had the opportunity to work with another band (in 2G mode) - 1800 MHz. However, most experts consider him to be high. That is, as noted above, it is not very advisable to use it in regions where the population density is low. In order for the infrastructure within the framework of the new communication standard to be actively developed not only in large cities,operators needed low ranges. The high frequencies of LTE in Moscow, which we outlined at the beginning of the article, no longer allowed mobile operators to count on active expansion to neighboring regions.
LTE frequencies: theory and practice
Let's consider what are the real resources of using the mentioned technology by the largest Russian operators today. We will study what LTE frequencies are available to MTS, Beeline, Megafon and compare them with those possessed by their strong competitors. We can consider the reserves of service providers in relation to the ranges in which they are en titled to provide services, provided, of course, that they have a license. In practice, thanks to the decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies, the majority of licensed frequencies can be used by operators.
Frequencies predetermine competition
Let's start with one of the newest Russian operators - Yota. It is considered an independent market player, despite the fact that 100% of the brand's shares belong to MegaFon. Regarding the availability of frequencies, Yota can operate in the 2.6 GHz band. At the same time, as experts note, in fact, this operator provides services as a virtual supplier. The real owners of the infrastructure channels used are Megafon, and also, as some analysts believe, MTS.
In turn, Megafon itself can technologically launch LTE networks in 3 bands - 700, 800, and 2600 MHz. True, use somethis operator is capable of high-frequency channels only in Moscow and the region. But most likely, MegaFon will not have problems with resources for the further development of infrastructure, experts say. This mobile operator is one of the first in the Russian Federation to put LTE networks into commercial operation.
What LTE frequencies does MTS use in Russia? In principle, this operator has no less range of available ranges, when compared with those that Megafon has. MTS can operate at frequencies of 700, 800, 1800 and 2600 MHz. At the same time, as in the case of MegaFon, some channels on high-frequency bands can be used by the operator only in the capital and the Moscow region.
What frequencies does Beeline use for LTE? Their spectrum is also quite wide. At the disposal of the operator - ranges of 700, 800, and 2600 MHz. Almost the same opportunities are available to Rostelecom, which is no less actively involved in the development of a new market. There is another promising LTE operator in Russia - Osnova Telecom. It can operate at 2.3GHz.
The history of the development of the promising LTE market by Tele2 is interesting. For a long time, this brand was not present in the segment under consideration. However, in December 2014, the company nevertheless launched an LTE infrastructure. And she did it in Tula. Experts call Tele2's experience somewhat unique. The fact is that this cellular operator uses the 1800 MHz band, which is quite rarely used by other Russian providers. ExitTele2 to the LTE arena, experts believe, will significantly intensify competition in this segment of mobile services.
Besides the 1800 MHz range, the company also has the technical ability to use the 450 MHz frequency, which, as we noted above, is now allowed in Russia for LTE networks. By the way, the very procedure for the appearance of a low range at the disposal of Tele2 is also quite interesting. Initially, another brand, Sky Link, had access to this frequency. However, due to the merger of the assets of Tele2 and Rostelecom, it became controlled by T2 RTK Holding. Which, in turn, owns the Tele2 brand.
LTE frequencies in Russia are now allowed in a fairly wide range, and this, according to experts, will play a positive role in the development of the mobile industry. Also, this circumstance will affect the Internet market as a whole. Wireless networks are increasingly competing with broadband access. Russian users, of course, do not lose connections with providers of the traditional type. However, the percentage of mobile traffic, according to experts and analysts, has already come close to the indicators typical for wired Internet access channels.
