Huawei and MegaFon to create and quickly roll out 5G next generation communications standard networks in Russia

Next network will be tested in the run up to the FIFA 2018 World Cup Russia.

Shanghai, China, 19-11-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — Huawei, a global ICT solutions provider, and Open Joint Stock Company MegaFon (“MegaFon” or “operator”), a leading mobile operator in Russia, have signed a relevant memorandum of understanding. The partners agreed to cooperate closely to create and accelerated roll out 5G next generation communications standard networks in Russia.

The main challenges for 5G networks will be the number of specified frequency bands and network capacity. The new technology is expected to increase the efficiency of network infrastructure, a common aim for all operators around the world. With the emergence of super-fast mobile Internet and boom in the popularity of affordable devices subscribers have significantly increased data traffic volumes. Subscribers can experience 5G mobile Internet speed while using heavy-data files, for example, videos start playing immediately, without having to wait for the file to load.

Thanks to this agreement, specialists from a Russian mobile operator, namely MegaFon, can for the first time ever be involved in developing a communications standard and influence its technical characteristics in terms of realities of the Russian telecommunications market, its frequency range and terrain. Huawei will test pilot equipment for the new standard on the operator’s network based on the MegaFon’s recommendations.

Mikhail Dubin, Executive Director of Consumer Business, MegaFon, said: “MegaFon is mobile data leader in Russia. Fast Internet speed and high quality services are our key advantages and we are maintaining this valuable quality for our clients. MegaFon was the first mobile operator in the world to offer high-speed Internet access (4G) to guests and participants of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. MegaFon’s strategic priority is technological leadership, so we will continue develop and roll out new technologies to provide the best quality for our customers. Thanks to our agreements, Russia will be some of the first countries to enjoy next generation mobile telecommunications. It is particularly important that this happens on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2018”.

Ryan Ding, President of Huawei Products and Solutions, said: “The communication boundaries between humans and machines shall be broken by 5G. Huawei has made great progress in the development of 5G. The 2018 FIFA World Cup provides a unique platform in wireless history to demonstrate Huawei’s leadership in 5G development. As always, I am delighted we once again join hands with MegaFon, the most promising and innovative carrier in Russia. With support of MegaFon, we are confident of turning a science-fiction-like service into 5G reality for citizens in Russia and soccer fans around the world, two years ahead of the industry’s estimated 5G introduction date of 2020!”

MegaFon and Huawei have a successful track record of cooperating to develop next generation networks in Russia. MegaFon used Huawei network infrastructure and subscriber equipment when it launched the world’s first commercial LTE Advanced network with mobile data speeds of up to 300MB/s at the beginning of this year.

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Huawei and MegaFon to create and quickly roll out 5G next generation communications standard networks in Russia