Mobile operator O2 (VMO2) has confirmed to ISPreview.co.uk that they’ve started to deploy the newly released 700MHz spectrum band for use on their latest ultrafast 5G mobile (mobile broadband) network, albeit initially limited to areas where they perceive there to be a case of “customer need” for it.
Just to recap. O2 are already busy deploying 5G using kit from Nokia and Ericsson, although until recently they only had access to a limited 40MHz slice of the 3.4GHz band for dedicated 5G services (excluding dynamic spectrum sharing with existing 4G bands).
However, a few months ago the operator paid Ofcom £448m to obtain a 40MHz slice of the 3.6GHz band and 20MHz of the 700MHz FDD spectrum band (here). Both promise to help boost their mobile broadband speeds, although the lower frequency of the 700MHz band is particularly handy – especially when combined with 800MHz and 900MHz (carrier aggregation) – for improving network coverage.
The first deployment of the 700MHz band via O2, which occurred on the recently installed Ericsson flagship unilateral monopoles in Cardiff (Wales), was noted yesterday by mobile expert Peter Clarke (via computer scientist Jake M). In response, we hailed O2 to find out more about their rollout plan for the spectrum.
A Spokesperson for O2 told ISPreview.co.uk:
“We are already leveraging our leading position in low-band spectrum to strengthen the experience of our 5G network, and have started deploying this spectrum based on customer need.”