Slovak Telekom has announced that it will be initiating the first large-scale deployment of its mobile 5G network.
In the first phase, areas within Bratislava will be covered, namely Petržalka, Ružinov, Nové Mesto, Trnávka, Vajnory, Vrakuňa, Podunajské Biskupice, and Devínska Nová Ves (including the Volkswagen complex). The operator plans to expand the network to other locations in the future.
Telekom's 5G network will operate in the NSA (non-standalone) mode on the frequency 2100 MHz with a bandwidth of 15 MHz, in combination with available LTE bands in Bratislava. This combination offers a maximum theoretical capacity of 1,150 Mbps for download and 131 Mbps for upload. The operator has claimed that, realistically, users can expect speeds of approximately 300-600 Mbps for download and 60-80 Mbps for upload.
The 5G network works in parallel with the existing 4G network and users can decide which network to connect to. The advantage of the new 5G network will be the larger capacity available to customers. They will be able to take advantage of higher speeds as well as better network stability, with 5G allowing for more devices to be served simultaneously.
Another key feature of the new 5G network is its low latency, which is especially important for technologies of the future in various sectors, such as transport, healthcare or industrial parks.
The 5G network will gradually open up new possibilities and functions, whether in the world of IoT (internet of things), in autonomous cars, in the deployment of smart cities or the digitization of production - positioning it as the 'gateway' to Industry 4.0.
Branimir Marič, Director, Technology and IT, Slovak Telekom said,"We are launching the first 5G network, which is fully available to customers in many parts of Bratislava. We believe that 5G is the gateway to Industry 4.0, and in its deployment we will move further branches of Slovak business."