Rostelecom has signed an agreement to set up a 5G “pilot zone” in Moscow aimed at exploring the variety of use cases offered by next generation technology.
The Russia-based operator is working with Nokia and technology non-profit the Skolkovo Foundation, which will host the zone in its innovation centre near Moscow, on the project.
Among the immediate use cases that will be explored by the companies is self-driving vehicles, how connectivity can improve electricity and heating networks, as well as construction.
Mikhail Oseevsky, President of Rostelecom, said: “Rostelecom has sufficient network infrastructure and frequency resources to build a 5G pilot zone at Skolkovo.
The agreement is a logical follow-up of Rostelecom’s efforts aimed at building and testing 5G networks. In May 2017 the company signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Government of Tatarstan to build and run a 5G network in the Republic.
“In the framework of the 5G project in Skolkovo, Rostelecom will evaluate the usage of various segments of its frequency resource for advanced technologies, including IMT, with the use of LTE/LTE-Advanced systems.”
According to Demetrio Russo, Head of Nokia in East Europe, collaborations such as this were “critical for the successful introduction of a next generation wireless network, and in driving a 5G ecosystem in Russia”.
Despite the latest move from a European operator, CCS Insight predicted yesterday that the continent will trail in the wake of Asia and the United States in implementing 5G.
Read more: Deutsche Telekom CTO looking to force 5G issue with new testbed