Germany’s Deutsche Telekom (DT) has announced that the first 5G antennas in Europe to fully support the new communications standard are now operating, in real-world conditions, in downtown Berlin. The antennas, in three cells located in Leipziger Strasse and three in Winterfeldtstrasse, are based on 5G New Radio (5G NR) and are using frequencies in the 3.7GHz band under a testing licence. The implementation is using commercial 5G equipment from Huawei. An additional 70 cells are to be installed by the summer, across more than 20 sites.
‘We’re continuing on our strong preparation course for the rollout of 5G in 2020,’ noted Claudia Nemat, DT Board member for Technology and Innovation. ‘Today, right in the heart of Berlin, we’re taking the next decisive step – with the successful integration of commercial 5G technology into our network. We want to ensure that 5G is going to deliver on its promise of enhanced mobility, high speed and low latency.’