Cellular frequencies in Russia.  Cellular communication standards: GSM

Beginners do not understand the games undertaken by the standards developers. It would seem that it uses GSM frequencies 850, 1900, 900, 1800 MHz, what more? Quick answer - read the following section of the Phone Instructions. The inappropriateness of the generally accepted interpretation will be shown. The problem is described by the following provisions:

1. The second generation of cellular communications 2G gave rise to a lot of standards. The world knows three epicenters that set the rhythm: Europe, North America, Japan. Russia adopted the standards of the first two, changing them.
2. The family tree of standards is constantly expanding.
3. International versions of standards are intended to unify the disparate rules of individual countries. Often direct implementation is not possible. Governments are changing legislation to fix frequency plans.

The above explains the origins of beginners’ misunderstanding of the problem. Returning clarity to the issue, let’s build a simplified hierarchy of standards, indicating the frequencies used along the way.

Genealogy of standards

The following information is intended to explain to the average person the structure of existing, extinct standards. Below, in the following sections, the technologies used in Russia will be described. The corresponding representatives of the tree that decorated the Russian forest are marked in bold.

1G

1. AMPS family: AMPS, NAMPS, TACS, ETACS.
2. Others: NMT, C-450, DataTAC, Hicap, Mobitex.

2G: 1992

1. GSM/3GPP family: GSM, HSCSD, CSD.
2. 3GPP2 family: cdmaOne.
3. AMPS family: D-AMPS.
4. Other: iDEN, PHS, PDC, CDPD.

2G+

1. 3GPP/GSM family: GPRS, EDGE.
2. 3GPP2 family: CDMA2000 1x, including Advanced.
3. Others: WiDEN, DECT.

3G: 2003

1. 3GPP family: UMTS.
2. 3GPP2 family: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO R.0

3G+

1. 3GPP family: LTE, HSPA, HSPA+.
2. 3GPP2 family: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO R. A, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO R. B, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO R. C
3. IEEE Family: Mobile WiMAX, Flash OFDM.

4G: 2013

1. 3GPP family: LTE-A, LTE-S Pro.
2. IEEE family: WiMAX.

5G: 2020

1. 5G-NR.

Brief description

Genealogy allows you to trace extinct species. For example, modern authors often use the abbreviation GSM, misleading the reader. The technology is entirely limited to the second generation of cellular communications, an extinct species. The previous frequencies with additions continue to be used by descendants. On December 1, 2016, Australia's Telstra stopped using GSM, becoming the first operator in the world to completely upgrade its equipment. Technology continues to be used by 80% of the world's population (according to the GSM Association). The American AT&T followed the example of its Australian colleagues on January 1, 2017. The service was stopped by the Optus operator; on April 2017, Singapore recognized the inadequacy of 2G to the growing needs of the population.

So, the term GSM is used in relation to outdated equipment that has overwhelmed the Russian Federation. The descendant protocols can be called successors of GSM. The frequencies are preserved by subsequent generations. Punctures and methods of transmitting information are changing. The frequency allocation aspects that accompany equipment upgrades are discussed below. Information is required to establish the GSM relationship.

Phone instructions

The phone manual will provide useful information regarding the issue. The corresponding section lists the supported frequencies. Some devices will allow you to customize the reception area. You should choose a phone model that receives generally accepted Russian channels:

1. 900 MHz – E-GSM. The ascending branch is 880..915 MHz, the descending branch is 925..960 MHz.
2. 1800 MHz – DCS. The ascending branch is 1710..1785 MHz, the descending branch is 1805..1880 MHz.

LTE technology adds a 2600 MHz region, an 800 MHz channel has been introduced.

History of the emergence of RF communications: frequencies

In 1983, the development of a European digital communications standard began. We remind you that the first generation of 1G used analog transmission. Thus, engineers developed the standard in advance, anticipating the history of technology development. Digital communications were born out of World War II, or more precisely, the Green Hornet encrypted transmission system. The military understood perfectly well: the era of digital technology was coming. Civil industry caught the movement of the wind.

900 MHz

The European organization CEPT has created the GSM (Groupe Special Mobile) committee. The European Commission has proposed using the 900 MHz spectrum. The developers settled in Paris. Five years later (1987), 13 EU countries submitted a memorandum to Copenhagen on the need to create a unified cellular network. The community decided to request GSM's help. The first technical specification was released in February. Politicians from four countries (May 1987) supported the project with the Bonn Declaration. The next short period (38 weeks) is filled with general bustle, controlled by four appointed persons:

1. Armin Silberhorn (Germany).
2. Philippe Dupoulis (France).
3. Renzo Failli (Italy).
4. Stephen Temple (Great Britain).

In 1989, the GSM Commission leaves the trusteeship of CEPT, becoming part of ETSI. On July 1, 1991, the former Prime Minister of Finland, Garry Holkeri, made the first call to a subscriber (Kaarina Suonio) using the services of the Radioline provider.

1800 MHz

In parallel with the introduction of 2G, work was underway to utilize the 1800 MHz region. The first network covered the UK (1993). At the same time, the Australian operator Telecom moved in.

1900 MHz

The frequency of 1900 MHz was introduced by the USA (1995). The GSM Association was created, the world number of subscribers reached 10 million people. A year later, the figure had increased tenfold. The use of 1900 MHz prevented the introduction of the European version of UMTS.

800 MHz

The 800 MHz band appeared in 2002, parallel to the introduction of multimedia messaging service.

Attention, question!

What frequencies have become the Russian standard? Adding to the confusion is the ignorance of RuNet authors about the standards adopted by official developers. The direct answer is discussed above (see section Phone instructions), we describe the work of the mentioned organizations (section UMTS).

Why are there so many frequencies?

Examining the results of 2010, the GSM Association stated: 80% of the planet's subscribers are covered by the standard. This means that four-fifths of networks cannot choose a single frequency. In addition, there are 20% foreign communication standards. Where does the root of evil come from? The countries of the second half of the twentieth century developed separately. The frequencies of 900 MHz of the USSR were occupied by military and civil air navigation.

GSM: 900 MHz

In parallel with Europe’s development of the first versions of GSM, NPO Astra, Radio Research Institute, and Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense began research that ended in full-scale tests. The verdict:

• Navigation and second generation cellular communications can function together.

1. NMT-450.

Please note: again 2 standards. Each uses its own frequency grid. The announced competition for the distribution of GSM-900 was won by NPO Astra, OJSC MGTS (now MTS), Russian companies, and the Canadian BCETI.

NMT-450MHz - first generation

So, Moscow used, starting in 1992, the 900 MHz band (see above), because other GSM frequencies had not yet been born. In addition, NMT (Nordic Mobile Phones)… Initially, the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula developed two options:

1. NMT-450.
2. NMT-900 (1986).

The reason for the Russian government choosing the first answer? They probably decided to try two ranges. Please note that these standards describe analog communications (1G). Developing countries began closing up shop in December 2000. Iceland (Siminn) was the last to surrender (September 1, 2010). Experts note an important advantage of the 450 MHz range: range. A significant plus, appreciated by remote Iceland. The Russian government wanted to cover the country's area using a minimum of towers.

NMT is loved by fishermen. The freed network was occupied by digital CDMA 450. In 2015, Scandinavian technologies mastered 4G. The Russian Uralwestcom vacated the closet on September 1, 2006, Sibirtelecom - on January 10, 2008. The subsidiary (Tele 2) Skylink fills the Perm and Arkhangelsk regions with its range. The license expires in 2021.

D-AMPS: UHF (400..890 MHz) - second generation

American 1G networks that used the AMPS specification refused to accept GSM. Instead, two alternatives have been developed to organize second generation mobile networks:

1. IS-54 (March 1990, 824-849; 869-894 MHz).
2. IS-136. Features a large number of channels.

The standard is now dead, replaced everywhere by the descendants of GSM/GPRS, CDMA2000.

Why does a Russian need D-AMPS?

The Russian average person often uses used equipment. D-AMPS equipment has reached the warehouses of Tele 2 and Beeline. On November 17, 2007, the latter closed up shop for the Central Region. The license of the Novosibirsk region expired on December 31, 2009. The last swallow flew away on October 1, 2012 (Kaliningrad region). Kyrgyzstan used the range until March 31, 2015.

CDMA2000 - 2G+

Some protocol variants use:

1. Uzbekistan – 450 MHz.
2. Ukraine – 450; 800 MHz.

In the period December 2002 - October 2016 specifications 1xRTT, EV-DO Rev. A (450 MHz) Skylink was used. Now the infrastructure has been modernized, LTE has been introduced. On September 13, 2016, the news spread across world portals: Tele 2 is stopping the use of CDMA. The American MTS began the process of introducing LTE a year earlier.

GPRS – second or third generation

The development of the CELLPAC protocol (1991-1993) was a turning point in the development of cellular communications. 22 US patents received. The descendants of the technology are considered LTE, UMTS. Packet data transfer is designed to speed up the process of information exchange. The project is designed to improve GSM networks (frequencies listed above). The service user is obliged to receive technologies:

1. Internet access.
2. Legacy "tap to talk"
3. Messenger.

The overlay of two technologies (SMS, GPRS) speeds up the process many times over. The specification supports IP, PPP, X.25 protocols. Packets continue to arrive even during a conversation.

EDGE

The next stage in the evolution of GSM is conceived by AT&T (USA). Compact-EDGE has filled the niche of D-AMPS. Frequencies are listed above.

UMTS – full 3G

The first generation that required updating base station equipment. The frequency grid has changed. The maximum transmission speed for a line that takes advantage of HSPA+ is 42 Mbps. Actually achievable speeds significantly exceed 9.6 kbit/s GSM. Since 2006, countries have started renewal. Using orthogonal frequency multiplexing, the 3GPP committee intended to achieve 4G. Early Birds released in 2002. Initially, the developer laid down the following frequencies:

1. .2025 MHz. Ascending communication branch.
2. .2200 MHz. Descending connected branch.

Since the USA was already using 1900 MHz, it chose segments 1710..1755; 2110..2155 MHz. Many countries followed America's example. The 2100 MHz frequency is too often busy. Hence the numbers given at the beginning:

• 850/1900 MHz. Moreover, 2 channels are selected using one range. Either 850 or 1900.

Agree, it is incorrect to drag in GSM, following a bad common example. The second generation used a single half-duplex channel, UMTS used two at once (5 MHz wide).

UMTS frequency grid of Russia

The first attempt to distribute the spectra took place on February 3-March 3, 1992. The solution was adapted by the Geneva conference (1997). It was the S5.388 specification that fixed the ranges:

• 1885-2025 MHz.
• 2110-2200 MHz.

The decision required further clarification. The commission identified 32 ultra-channels, 11 of which constituted an unused reserve. Most of the others received clarifying names, since the individual frequencies coincided. Russia rejected the European practice, despising the USA, by adopting 2 channels (band) UMTS-FDD:

1. No. 8. 900 MHz – E-GSM. The ascending branch is 880..915 MHz, the descending branch is 925..960 MHz.
2. No. 3. 1800 MHz – DCS. The ascending branch is 1710..1785 MHz, the descending branch is 1805..1880 MHz.

The characteristics of the cell phone should be selected according to the information provided. The Wikipedia table revealing the frequency plan of planet Earth is completely useless. They forgot to take into account Russian specifics. Europe operates nearby IMT Channel No. 1. In addition, there is a UMTS-TDD mesh. The equipment of the two overhead network options is incompatible.

LTE – 3G+

Evolutionary continuation of the GSM-GPRS-UMTS connection. Can serve as an add-on for CDMA2000 networks. Only a multi-frequency phone can provide LTE technology. Experts directly indicate a place below the fourth generation. Contrary to the claims of marketers. Initially, the ITU-R organization recognized the technology as appropriate, but later the position was revised.

LTE is a registered trademark of ETSI. The key idea was the use of signal processors and the introduction of innovative methods of carrier modulation. IP addressing of subscribers was considered appropriate. The interface has lost backward compatibility, the frequency spectrum has changed again. The first network (2004) was launched by the Japanese company NTT DoCoMo. The exhibition version of the technology reached Moscow in the hot May of 2010.

Repeating the experience of UMTS, the developers introduced two options for the air protocol:

1. LTE-TDD. Time division of channels. The technology is widely supported by China, South Korea, Finland, and Switzerland. Availability of a single frequency channel (1850..3800 MHz). Partially overlaps WiMAX, upgrade is possible.
2. LTE-FDD. Frequency division of channels (separate downstream and upstream).

The frequency plans of the 2 technologies are different, 90% of the core design is the same. Samsung and Qualcomm produce phones that can support both protocols. Occupied ranges:

1. North America. 700, 750, 800, 850, 1900, 1700/2100, 2300, 2500, 2600 MHz.
2. South America. 2500 MHz.
3. Europe. 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2600 MHz.
4. Asia. 800, 1800, 2600 MHz.
5. Australia, New Zealand. 1800, 2300 MHz.

Russia

Russian operators have chosen LTE-FDD technology and use the following frequencies:

1. 800 MHz.
2. 1800 MHz.
3. 2600 MHz.

LTE-A – 4G

The frequencies remain the same (see LTE). Launch chronology:

1. On October 9, 2012, Yota acquired 11 base stations.
2. Megafon covered the Garden Ring of the capital on February 25, 2014.
3. Beeline has been operating at LTE frequencies 800, 2600 MHz since August 5, 2014.

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Brief description of the GSM-900/1800 (DCS) standard

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is also known as DCS (Digital Cellular System) and PCN (Personal Communications Network) - second generation public cellular mobile radio communication systems. One of the most popular cellular communication standards in Europe and Russia, it was put into operation in 1992. The standard was developed as a replacement for older analog standards, mainly for large cities with high population densities. There are several modifications of this standard: GSM-900, GSM-1800 and GSM-1900 (American version).

The GSM standard is digital and ensures high quality and confidentiality of communications and provides subscribers with a wide range of services: automatic roaming, data reception/transmission, SMS service, voice and fax mail. The main disadvantages of the standard: voice distortion during digital processing and transmission over the radio channel, small range of the base station, a GSM phone cannot operate at a distance of 35 km from the base station.

Frequency range in which GSM-900 operates: 890-915 MHz - for communication from the phone to the base station, 935-960 MHz - for communication from the base station to the phone. For the GSM-1800 standard: 1710-1785 MHz and 1805-1880 MHz, respectively. The channel grid step is 200 KHz, the maximum capacity of one base station is 992 subscribers. The transmitter power of GSM-900 subscriber devices is about 2 W, GSM-1800 - 1 W.

The GSM-900 standard is now the most common in Russia, however, its effect extends mainly only to urban areas. 1800 is still less common. Roaming in both Russia and Europe is well developed.

Phases of the GSM standard and the evolution of the SIM card

Necessary introduction
Development of the GSM standard, the first digital cellular communication standard, began in 1985. The deployment of GSM networks, which began only in 1991, included several stages (phases) of development. In total, today there are 3 technological phases (and there will be no more), each of which is characterized by a certain set of telephone and additional services, by which they are, in fact, distinguished. Naturally, the development of GSM cellular networks required the improvement of SIM cards - each subsequent phase is characterized by a greater information capacity of the SIM card compared to the previous one and a greater number of functions.

Thus, instead of writing two articles - “Phases of the GSM standard” and “Evolution of the SIM card” - we will combine all the material into one and will not divide the indivisible.

GSM networks: Phase 1
Implementation of the Phase 1 specification began in 1991 and was fully completed in 1993. The information capacity of the SIM card is 8 KB.

Main functions:
Incoming and outgoing calls.
Call forwarding. The ability to transfer incoming calls to another phone number in cases where the number is busy or the subscriber does not answer; when the phone is turned off or is out of network coverage, etc. In addition, fax and computer data forwarding is possible.
Call barring. Ban on all incoming/outgoing calls; ban on outgoing international calls; ban on incoming calls, with the exception of intranet calls.
Call waiting. This service allows you to receive an incoming call while you are talking to someone. In this case, the first subscriber will either continue to be in touch, or the conversation with him can be completed. Call Holding. This service allows you to call (or answer an incoming call) to another subscriber without breaking the connection with one subscriber.
Blocking the card. The subscriber can “close” the card with a PIN code (4-8 characters) and thus limit access to the network using his SIM card. After entering three incorrect PIN codes, the card is blocked. The subscriber can unblock it independently by entering the PUK code (PIN Unblocking Key), which is 8 characters long. After ten incorrectly entered PUK codes, the card is permanently blocked and can no longer be used.
Selection of PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) network - roaming function. The SIM card can select for communication the network available in a given location from the list of preferred networks with which the operator - the owner of the network card has concluded roaming agreements.
Short Message Service - SMS (Short Message Service). Allows the subscriber to receive text messages no longer than 160 characters. A short message is recorded in the SIM card memory under a specific number, from where it can be retrieved at a time convenient for the subscriber. Messages are broadcast through the operator-supported short message service center - SMSC (Short Message Service Center).
Accelerated dialing numbers - ADNs (Abbreviated Dialing Numbers). The SIM card is capable of storing several telephone numbers in memory, which can be dialed by pressing any one key on the device.
Sending and receiving fax messages.
Prohibition of working in networks with which a roaming agreement has not been signed - FPLMN (Forbidden Public Land Mobile Networks).

GSM networks: Phase 2
Implementation of the Phase 2 specification began in 1994 and was fully completed in 1997. The information capacity of the SIM card is 8 KB.

Phase 2 supports all the features of Phase 1 and several additional features:
PIN2 code, which is a means of protecting data fields to which user access is prohibited.
"Advice on Charge" - AoC (Advice of Charge). This function allows the subscriber to track the cost of the call and informs about the amount of money spent. The information is displayed on the phone screen. The subscriber can not only find out the cost of the last calls that were made, but also transfer this amount from one currency to another, and also program the card to limit the total amount of money spent. The function is usually activated by the operator in prepaid service plans.
Fixed dialing numbers - FDNs (Fixed Dialing Numbers) - allows the subscriber to enter a list of “allowed” numbers into the phone’s memory and then transfer the device to another person. The user who received the phone will be able to call only those numbers that are included in this list.
Sending short messages (in Phase 1, only receiving them is provided).
Display the status of short messages.
Function of automatic dialing of the last number (redial function).
Menu language selection function.
A message personalization feature that allows the operator to send text messages (for example, about weather, sports, traffic jams, etc.) only to those subscribers who are in a certain area of ​​the cellular network.
Supports multiple phone numbers (voice, digital, fax).
Redial the last number dialed.
Entering numbers consisting of more than 20 digits (this function is important, for example, when providing subscribers with additional services, such as telephone banking).
Displays the name of the service provider on the phone display.
Calling Line Identification Presentation. When there is an incoming call, the caller's number is displayed on the screen.
Calling Line Identification Restriction. Using this service, you can prevent the identification of your own number when connecting with another subscriber.
Group call (Multi party). The teleconference or conference call mode allows you to combine up to five subscribers into a group and conduct negotiations between all group members simultaneously.
Creating a closed group of up to ten subscribers (Closed User Group). Allows you to create a group of users whose members can only communicate with each other. Most often, this service is used by companies that provide terminals to their employees for work.
Voice mail system. The service allows you to automatically transfer incoming calls to a personal answering machine (voice mail). This can only be used if the subscriber has activated the “call forwarding” service.

GSM networks: Phase 2+
It is difficult to say when the implementation of Phase 2+ began, since there is still no specification - new services and functions are standardized and implemented immediately after the preparation and approval of their technical descriptions by the European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI). For those who care about the date, let’s say that the first descriptions of Phase 2+ services appeared in 1997, and their implementation by operators began in 1998.

To date, the number of new services has exceeded fifty. There is no point in considering them in detail; let us note a few of the most interesting and promising ones. First of all, this is, of course, the SIM Application Toolkit, which allows you to remotely update the contents of the SIM card to change or add to the set of services. In addition: improved full-rate speech coding EFR (Enhanced Full Rate) and the ability to interoperate between GSM and DECT systems.

The SIM card itself has undergone major changes - firstly, in Phase 2+ support for cards with a lower supply voltage (not 5 V, but 3 V) appeared, which is quite good, since it allows you to extend the operating time of your phone’s batteries; secondly, the information capacity of the card has increased to 16-32 KB.

TELE2.GSM - "anomaly"

The station is most likely located on the street. Borovaya, house 61, has 3 sectors (in any case, it was only possible to determine visually), the signal level at the station itself is ch 526 -36..-40 dBm, ch 566 -50..-55 dBm, channel 528 failed " identify” in which direction it “shines” -80 dBm.

The test used two telephones: Nokia 6210, Nokia 8210, without an external antenna with standard NetMonitor turned on. At all control points (signal level -100..-105 dBm) it was possible to call and send a message.

6210 was initially “hooked” to this BS in the area of ​​Leninsky Prospekt when moving to the center along Moskovsky, 8210 was periodically switched off in order to “get hooked” to other stations... As soon as the signal from these stations “faded”, the phone jumped to Borovaya :-) 6210, meanwhile, didn’t even “pay” attention to neighboring stations;-)

Channel 526 hits the entire Obvodny Canal to the west, Stepan Razin has a signal level of -90dBm, you can call and talk without problems! Again, he confidently holds the entire Moskovsky Ave. Kuznetsovskaya all the way, Varshavskaya - there is a signal. Leninsky pr x Kubinskaya - there is a signal, -102 dBm, messages and calls are coming through. Near the Leninsky Prospekt metro station the network disappeared, at Zina Portnova’s it was again hooked on the same BS. I got to the Veteranov metro station, the signal disappeared almost beyond the metro... I could make calls at the metro, excellent sound quality :-)

This morning my path lay from Leninsky Prospect to Petrogradskaya. The phone again got hooked on channel 526 in the Elektrosila area (LAC 500, CID 533), and so “held out” right up to the Trinity Bridge! Next, the phone switched to channel 566, ignoring more powerful neighboring stations (by the way, which were not on the neighboring NetMonitor screens), at a level of -111 dBm near the Petrogradskaya metro station, the phone lost the network for a second, then switched to another BS.

Distances: -109 dBm behind the Veteranov metro station and -108 dBm at the Trinity Bridge, channel 526 - 11.5 km!!!

from Veteranov metro station to Borovaya - 7.4 km (in a straight line on the city map)

Channel 566 is a little more modest;-)

Question: HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE for 1800 MHz within the city? And not only the distance, but also the range of one cell! By the way, on Borovaya 61, on the roof of the building, an awesome “shield screen” was spotted, this is not special. What kind of design? I often notice such things at stations of cellular operators in the region, it looks like a “visor” over the antennas.

Those. in the Tele2 area can it compete with the 900 MHz band? ;-)

shUra" s

Tele2 received GSM-900 in Udmurtia

Tele2 received a license for GSM-900 in Udmurtia in addition to the already existing license for GSM-1800. This is the first time that an AMPS operator with a license for GSM-1800 was able to “get hold of” frequencies in the 900 MHz range, which will allow it to significantly reduce the cost of network deployment.

Tele2 is not going to stop there. As Yuri Dombrovsky, acting president of the Tele2 representative office in Russia, said in a conversation with a ComNews.ru reporter, the company is currently actively working on frequency conversion in the 900 MHz range, but it is too early to make any forecasts. There is every reason to believe that this process will be effective. Director of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Main Radio Frequency Center" (GRFC) Andrei Beskorovainy told the ComNews.ru reporter that the GRFC is considering applications for frequencies in the 900 MHz range from many GSM-1800 licensees. “Not all regions have the opportunity to find free frequencies in this range,” says Andrey Beskorovainy. “But where frequencies are available, we will issue them to GSM-1800 operators.” The potential opportunities of GSM-1800 license holders are even greater: according to GRChTs information, they can also apply for frequencies in the E-GSM range, which are “above” and “below” the traditional GSM-900. In this case, everything will depend on the experiments carried out by radio frequency authorities on the ground.

As Yuri Dombrovsky told the ComNews.ru reporter, the GSM network in Udmurtia is planned to be launched in the third quarter of 2003. According to estimates by the analytical company ACM-Consulting, Tele2 currently has 21 thousand AMPS subscribers in the region. At the same time, MTS serves 72 thousand users, and Udmurt Cellular Networks (NMT-450) - 14.6 thousand. According to ACM-Consulting, cellular penetration in the region will ultimately amount to just over 20%. By the end of 2003, 11% of the population will use the services of one or another cellular operator in Udmurtia.

^ Dossier ComNews.ru

Tele2 owns shares in 11 Russian AMPS operators. In addition, the company launched four networks in Russia in the GSM-1800 standard: in Irkutsk, Rostov, St. Petersburg and Kemerovo

About the company

In the beginning there was the word. Not Tele2, but Fora. More precisely, OJSC St. Petersburg Telecom, an operator operating in the N-AMPS standard and operating under the FORA Communications brand. A little history.

OJSC St. Petersburg Telecom was founded in 1992. Operation of the network began in July 1994. Since March 1996, the company has operated under the FORA Communications brand. In 1998, the company entered Len. region.

According to a memorandum signed in the spring of 2001 by the Ministry of Communications and Association 800, all Russian AMPS operators received GSM 1800 licenses. Fore's license was issued on April 17, 2002. According to ComNews, Fora received a frequency band of 13.4 MHz and numbers in DEF code 902. In February 2003, Fora became a member of the International GSM Network Association.

The private holding Tele2 AB (until February 16, 2001 - NetCom AB) was founded in 1981 in Sweden. It is currently a major European operator providing landline and mobile telephony, data and Internet services in 22 countries. The group operates under the trademarks Tele2, Tango, Comviq. Tele2's subscriber base is about 18 million people (both mobile and landline subscribers are taken into account). Tele2 owns 60.6% of the shares of OJSC St. Petersburg Telecom and the same share of the authorized capital of OJSC Oblcom, operating under the FORA brand in the Leningrad region. These assets were acquired in November 2001 from the Luxembourg group Millicom International Cellular (in total, 12 subsidiaries of cellular companies in Russia were acquired from MIC for an amount exceeding 80 MUSD). Fora's shareholders also include the administration of St. Petersburg represented by KUGI (14% of shares).

“Tele2 is always cheaper” - this is the motto the company is entering the St. Petersburg market under. Everyone who received the corresponding certificates in two Tele2 offices in the first half of June was promised two weeks of free calls, inexpensive mobile communications, and simple and understandable tariffs. Initially, the network will cover St. Petersburg, then the coverage area will expand. In the autumn appeal, management also promised benefits to current subscribers of the analogue network.

In December 2002, Tele2 received its millionth code 904 3.

This is a brief historical background. Now I will allow myself some personal (Andrew SWH) comments, please do not consider them as some kind of analytics - this is just the view of an “advanced” mobile subscriber. This is not the first time that Fora has tried to switch to a digital standard. A few years ago, one could see posters with a giraffe depicted on them: “Digital Handicap is a cut above.” Then the company wanted to build a network of the IS-95 standard (cdmaOne 800 MHz). A section with questions and answers on CDMA-800 was posted on the Fora website, several base stations were installed... But things didn’t go further than that. What was the reason - lack of funding, problems with frequencies, futility of the standard in Russia (the confrontation between CDMA-800 operators and the Ministry of Communications is a completely different, rather sad story) - unfortunately, I do not know. In an interview with Kommersant in the spring of 2002, Fora's management confirmed that there were no plans for further development of the CDMA network. When acquiring SPb Telecom, Tele2 was most likely not interested in the company itself, which had not distinguished itself with particular successes in the St. Petersburg market, but in the GSM-1800 license it was entitled to as a member of Association-800. However, even after the appearance of such a reputable foreign investor, things did not go quickly for Fora. The launch date for the network has been repeatedly postponed. “The shareholders set the task of starting work before the end of 2002,” said the management of the Russian representative office of Tele2. However, this task was not completed either by the New Year or even by the 300th anniversary of the city. The network was launched only on June 30.

It is difficult to say what Tele2 can offer to the rather saturated St. Petersburg market. Both numerous business clients and the general population are “involved” with market leaders - Megafon and MTS, which offer a fairly large selection of quite affordable tariff plans and a wide geography of intranet roaming. Those who talk a lot, but at the same time want to spend their money wisely, choose the SkyLink network (cdma2000 450 MHz), which provides not only inexpensive unlimited tariff plans, but also high-speed Internet access. A slightly different niche is occupied by the previous brainchild of Delta Telecom, a network of the NMT-450 standard: a regional tariff without a subscription fee, an on-network unlimited traffic service for $5, a line of Optimal tariffs allow the operator to maintain its subscriber base. Not so long ago BeeLine entered the market. Per-second charging for city calls, which became a classic after the arrival of MTS - 1 cent per on-network minute, cheap - $7 for unlimited - and quite “fast” GPRS also found its fans. And Fora’s old N-AMPS network is not empty yet. In addition to such an impressive list of competitors, do not forget that St. Petersburg Telecom has frequencies only in the 1800 MHz range (its competitors have 900/1800 licenses), which will make it very difficult for it to cover the area, and not everything can go smoothly in the city.

Despite this, Tele2 representatives demonstrate optimism: they promise “social” tariffs, inexpensive roaming in their European networks, solving coverage problems using the latest antenna designs...

So, on June 30, the network launched. Connecting to the network costs 500 rubles, while for an additional 2,000 rubles the subscriber receives a Siemens A50 phone. Until July 27 inclusive, all calls are free, but limited to 3 minutes (the promotion was originally planned until the 14th, but was extended). All subscribers who connected before July 31 will receive 2,000 rubles into their account after the commercial launch of the network. True, not immediately, but in equal shares of 111 rubles over 18 months. Further tariffs are quite good: 5 rubles per “city” minute with per-second billing from the first second and 4 rubles from the 61st. An intranet call will cost 3 rubles, SMS 2 rubles. Everything is inclusive of VAT. Incoming calls from all GSM operators are free. Account replenishment will be made using prepaid cards; the cheapest card with a nominal value of 100 rubles will be valid for 30 days. As part of a promotion in the Telecom Point network, connection costs 250 rubles (all other things being equal).

The tariffs are really very “social”. Only the new operator still has problems with coverage. Steady reception was observed at Tekhnolozhka and near Gorkovskaya. In addition, the BS is located somewhere near the office on Myakovsky Street, but the quality of communication there is not great. In other areas of the city, including the main highways - Moskovsky Ave., Slavy Ave., Nevsky Prospekt - the network is quite difficult to find. However, queues have already been noticed in front of the Tele2 office...

A little about the network: GSM 1800, code 250-20 (RUS-20), codec used - EFR. Identification of numbers: with Megafon - in both directions, with Delta the number goes only from Delta to Tele2, with MTS the situation is the opposite (federal numbers were used for testing). When registering for the first time on the network, the switch binds to the IMEI of the mobile phone, as a result of which SIM cards from other operators can be used in the phone, but a Tele2 SIM card cannot be used with other phones. Alas, I was unable to understand the meaning of such a strange lock. The Tele2 SIM card does not allow you to disable the PIN code and, according to preliminary data, cannot be cloned, which makes it impossible to write it to a Multi-SIM.

At one time, when Telecom-21 (MTS) offered subscribers one-cent calls, they joked in mobile communication forums that the next operator wanting to conquer the St. Petersburg market would have to pay subscribers extra for calls. There was a fair amount of truth in this joke: according to the Tele2 service center, subscribers can use the “gifted” 111 rubles monthly without any additional costs (which somewhat surprised me; I expected that the “gift” would only be valid if the Tele2 payment card was activated).

A call on the Tele2 network during free trial operation is limited to 3 minutes (in the middle of the second minute the subscriber receives a warning that the call time will soon end). It’s funny that a call to the Service Center using a “short” number from a mobile phone is limited to the same three minutes. Often all three minutes are spent waiting for the operator to respond. “Hello, Tele two...” - oops, time is up.

Operators of the Service Center report that soon after the start of commercial operation of the network, a gate will be launched that will allow you to call federal numbers in the absence of access to G8 (all competitors have a similar service, and Delta Telecom was the first to provide it, and Fora itself has a similar principle dialing to “virtual” numbers). There are no plans for a roaming service for card subscribers, but contract tariff plans with roaming capabilities are expected in the future. The quite popular GPRS packet data service, which requires expensive equipment, is also not planned. Regarding the availability of services such as call waiting, conference calls, call forwarding, the Service Center found it difficult to answer.

Well, Tele2 manages to live up to its slogan - “always cheaper”. But whether the new operator, following this principle, will be able to provide sufficient quality of services, primarily coverage, time will tell. It is still too early to judge this. Article address.

The use in Western European countries of a number of analogue cellular communication standards, which are incompatible with each other and have significant disadvantages in comparison with digital standards, has led to the need to develop a single pan-European digital cellular standard GSM-900. It ensures high quality and confidentiality of communications, and allows you to provide subscribers with a wide range of services. The standard allows for the possibility of organizing automatic roaming. As of July 1999, the share of GSM-900 subscribers was approximately 43% in the world, and more than 85% in Western Europe.

The GSM standard is also known as DCS (Digital Cellular System) or PCN (Personal Communications Network), as well as a modification of the GSM-900 standard for the 1800 MHz range: the GSM-1800 standard. The GSM standard includes the most complete set of services compared to others.

Cellular networks of the GSM standard are initially designed as high-capacity networks designed for the mass consumer and designed to provide a wide range of services to subscribers when using communications both inside buildings and on the street, including when traveling by car.

The GSM standard uses TDMA, which allows 8 voice channels to be placed simultaneously on one carrier frequency. The RPE-LTP speech codec with regular pulse excitation and a speech conversion rate of 13 kbit/s is used as a speech converting device.

To protect against errors occurring in radio channels, block and convolutional coding with interleaving is used. Increased coding and interleaving efficiency at low MS speeds is achieved by slowly switching operating frequencies during a communication session at a rate of 217 hops per second.

To combat interference fading of received signals caused by multipath propagation of radio waves in urban conditions, communication equipment uses equalizers that ensure equalization of pulse signals with a standard deviation of the delay time of up to 16 μs. The equipment synchronization system is designed to compensate for the absolute signal delay time of up to 233 μs. This corresponds to a maximum communication range of 35 km (maximum cell radius).

Spectral-efficient Hussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) is used to modulate the radio signal. Speech processing in this standard is carried out within the framework of the DTX (Discontinuous Transmission) system.

The GSM standard achieves a high degree of security for message transmission; Messages are encrypted using the public key encryption algorithm (RSA).

In general, the communication system operating in the GSM standard is designed for use in various fields. It provides users with a wide range of services and the ability to use a variety of equipment for the transmission of voice and data messages, calling and emergency signals; connect to public switched telephone networks (PSTN), data networks (PDN), and integrated services digital networks (ISDN).

Below are the main characteristics of the GSM standard:

MS transmission and BTS reception frequency, MHz 890–915;

MS reception frequency and BTS transmission frequency, MHz 935–960;

Duplex spacing of reception and transmission frequencies, MHz 45;

Message transmission speed in the radio channel, kbit/s 270.833;

Speech codec conversion rate, kbit/s 13;

Communication channel bandwidth, kHz 200;

The maximum number of communication channels is 124;

Modulation type GMSK;

Modulation index BT=0.3;

Pre-modulation bandwidth

Gaussian filter, kHz 81.2;

The number of frequency jumps per second is 217;

Maximum cell radius, km up to 35;

Combined TDMA/FDMA channel organization scheme;

The required carrier/interference ratio is 9 dB.

Equipment of GSM networks includes mobile (radio telephones) and base stations, digital switches, control and maintenance center, various additional systems and devices. Functional interconnection of system elements is carried out using a number of interfaces. The block diagram (Figure 1.1) shows the functional structure and interfaces adopted in the GSM standard.

Figure 1.1 – Block diagram of a GSM network

MS consist of equipment that is designed to organize access for GSM subscribers to existing communication networks. Within the GSM standard, five classes of MS are adopted: from the 1st class model with an output power of up to 20 W, installed on vehicles, to the 5th class model with a maximum output power of up to 0.8 W (Table 1.1). When transmitting messages, adaptive adjustment of the transmitter power is provided, ensuring the required quality of communication. MS and BTS are independent of each other.

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