Magyar Telekom, Hungary’s biggest telecommunications company, and Ericsson have launched commercial 5G in Hungary.
Initial services will be live in parts of Budapest and Magyar Telekom’s headquarters in Könyves Kálmán körút. Groupama Arena in Budapest, Puskás Ferenc stadium in Budapest and ZalaZone vehicle test track in Zalaegerszeg are among the sites to benefit.
The live 5G network launch comes just two weeks after Magyar Telekom, a unit of Deutsche Telekom AG with interests in wireline services, mobile communications and business services, secured the related 3.5GHz spectrum in Hungary’s spectrum auction on March 26. The network will be accessible to subscribers via 5G-ready devices.
The 5G auction was a major success for the Hungarian regulator – the National Media and Infocommunications Authority – which reportedly raised close to $400 million from the sale of 5G mobile spectrum, according to media reports. This was almost double the sum it had targeted.
As well as Magyar Telekom, Vodafone Group PLC and Telenor ASA’s respective Hungarian units were awarded 5G frequencies in the tender.
The acquired frequency licenses will expire in 2035. Operators will have an option to extend the licences for five years thereafter.
This Ericsson/Magyar Telecom 5G launch continues a long partnership between Magyar Telekom and Ericsson that also takes in 2G, 3G and 4G.