The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) won the competition and was named the Leading Research Center (LRC) entitled to a public support grant for the “Development of a single digital platform solution enabling effective design and deployment of radio access networks using a globally compatible next generation open communication standard (5G).”
Skoltech’s partners for this project include Eltex, Russia’s leading telecom equipment vendor, Radio Gigabit, one of the largest exporters of domestic wireless solutions, and Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radio Electronics (TUSUR).
The project delivery expected from the LRC is a platform solution enabling the development and deployment of a line of OpenRAN 5G networks, with Eltex acting as the project hardware manufacturing lead.
The project customer is the Ministry of Digital Development, Telecommunications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation (Mincomsvyaz). The Russian Venture Company will act as the LRC selection operator for the “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation” national program. The grant awarded to the LRC amounts to 300 million rubles.
All the hardware to be created within the project will support the international OpenRAN protocols. The LRC will adapt OpenRAN for Russia and promote it as the industry standard, making it available to all domestic telecom equipment vendors and allowing Russian solutions to enter the global market and compete with international vendors’ products. Russia will eventually create a high-bit-rate wireless network hardware market immune to external sanctions and other risks, offering competitive and fully compatible functional elements of the multi-vendor telecom equipment package. This is a game-changing approach that appears to replace the currently widespread single-vendor telecom solutions.
The LRC is led by Vitaly Shub, a PhD in Physics and Mathematics and a recognized top manager and expert with over 25 years’ expertise in the telecom industry.
Vitaly Shub
In 1981, Vitaly graduated from the Department of Semiconductor Materials and Devices of the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISiS) majoring in semiconductors and dielectrics.
1976–1988: research scientist at GIREDMET MTsM where he pursued and defended his PhD degree in Physics and Mathematics (1984–1987).
1988–1996: senior research scientist at the General Physics Institute of RAS (IOFAN).
1994–1997: director for strategic projects at AT&T NSI/Lucent Technologies.
1997–1998: director for national projects at Motorola ECD ICIG GmbH.
1999: CEO of Dell Systems Ltd.
1999–2003: director for strategic projects at L.M. Ericsson AB.
2003–2004: executive director at the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS).
2004–2009: Sistema Mass Media (SMM) at AFK Sistema: executive director at SMM, deputy general director for technology, innovation and infrastructure development at SMM, deputy general director for technology at Digital TV and Radio Broadcasting, SMM.
2010–2016: Advisor to the President of TransTeleCom.
2016–2018: Deputy General Director forTelecommunications at IPG Photonics Russia (NTO IRE-Polyus).
2019 to date: Skoltech.
The LRC program duration is three years from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2022. It is expected to raise at least 150 million rubles in co-financing in addition to the 300 million project grant.
Vitaly Shub, LRC Director:
“Wireless communications play a key role in the development of our country, as attested by the national program, “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation.” For Skoltech, telecommunications have always been among the strategic targets. We have gained vast expertise and deep knowledge of the industry and put together what I believe is the strongest team of telecom experts in Russia. We work closely with operators and industrial companies operating locally and internationally. We attach particular importance to our productive relationships with Rostec and Rostelecom, indisputable leaders of their respective industries. Collaborations with Russia’s leading manufacturers and operators are the key to success for our LRC project.
Collaborative links help better understand the industry’s specific needs and challenges as regards the supply of telecom equipment and introduction of new mobile standards. Also, it helps deal with the challenges facing the Russian telecom industry and other priority sectors. OpenRAN allows for the creation world-class local solutions and for their delivery to the global market and, ultimately, enables our operators to integrate top-notch Russian equipment in their networks to speed up 5G penetration in Russia and bolster the digitalization of various economy sectors ranging from agriculture and transport to housing and public utilities and social services.”
The LRC competition was initiated by Mincomsvyaz in the context of the “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation” program. Any Russian research entity with experience in international R&D collaboration in the field of end-to-end technologies is eligible to apply for the LRC program support. The LRC program deliveries will be turned over to industrial companies which will ensure their further implementation.
Contact information:
Skoltech Communications
+7 (495) 280 14 81