Ericsson, the operator’s long-term strategic partner for 5G and LTE, went live with the network in the first minute of April 17 after Swisscom’s secured a commercial licence.
Swisscom announced the imminent launch of the network along with its main smartphone and mobile router ecosystem partners on 10 April at a ceremony in Zurich.
The commercial 5G network, and related 5G services, are now available in 54 cities and communities in Switzerland, including the major centres of population in Zürich, Bern, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne and Lucerne.
Swisscom has previously said it aimed to have its 5G network operational all over Switzerland by the end of 2019, providing coverage to almost 90% of the population.
It will deploy Ericsson’s spectrum sharing software that dynamically allocates spectrum between 4G and 5G carrier signals, based on demand.
Ericsson says its solution will enable fast nationwide 5G coverage with 5G-ready 4G radios.
Urs Schaeppi, CEO, Swisscom said, “With the launch of the first commercial 5G network in Switzerland, we are laying the foundation for diverse, new applications and business models.
"This will not only be great for Switzerland but also inspiring for the people who will now be part of the digital world whether they are living in the city, countryside, or in the mountains.”