The two companies have signed a MoU for the joint development and introduction of IoT and 5G technologies and use cases.
The agreement includes spectrum studies of the next-generation network and the building of a test system. The project is also said to support a dialog with government regulators concerning the bands being targeted for 5G and requirements for next-generation systems.
The first test system will be deployed in 2016, and will include the implementation of a pilot project in LTE-U (LTE-Unlicensed) / LAA (Licensed-Assisted Access) that involves the use of the LTE radio interface in the unlicensed 5GHz band together with Wi-Fi access points.
“Next year, we will start to test our key vendor's developments through a series of pilot projects on the MTS network, in order for both of us to have a complete understanding of the performance of the solutions in our 5G networks,” said Andrey Ushatskiy, VP of technology and IT as well as chief technology and information officer, MTS.
“By working proactively throughout the process of 5G standardisation, we will be ready to build first stages of the principally new network that will dramatically change our lives and the role of things around us, and will empower people and horizons of knowledge in all fields -- homes, schools, medicine, science, transport, entertainment and many other areas."
