Page 72 - SAMENA Trends - April 2020

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TECHNOLOGY NEWS

VodafoneZiggo Activates 5G on Existing Spectrum

Dutch operator VodafoneZiggo has March 2020 VodafoneZiggo pre-emptively download speeds that 5G can offer using
announced that it is activating its 5G mobile added 5G access to a range of its mobile its existing spectrum reach a maximum
network using existing frequencies today tariffs, with all ‘Red’ (consumer) and ‘Red of 1Gbps, compared to the peak 350Mbps
across ‘more than half of the Netherlands’, Pro’ (business) subscribers receiving 5G performance of its current commercial
under a plan to reach ‘national’ 5G at no extra costs – with service activation 4G offerings, although it adds that ‘in
coverage by the end of July 2020. New and expected for all these users ‘in the coming practice’ the 5G data rates experienced
existing mobile customers with a 5G-ready days’ so that ‘5G will be fully active within by initial service users ‘will be on average
subscription and a suitable device can use a week’ according to the company’s press 10% higher’ than the 4G speeds they
the new non-standalone 5G services within release. ‘Start’ tariff customers can also were previously getting. Network latency
initial coverage areas, with automatic use 5G but only with an additional EUR2 (response time) will improve by about 30%:
fallback to 4G LTE when outside these (USD2.17) monthly fee. VodafoneZiggo from an average of around 30 milliseconds
zones. VodafoneZiggo disclosed that it has currently offers four devices activated on 4G to below 20 milliseconds on 5G.
implemented 5G services via its existing for 5G use on its network: Samsung Like its Dutch rivals, VodafoneZiggo is
antennas and Dynamic Spectrum Sharing Galaxy S20 5G, S20+, S20 Ultra and Oppo anticipating a multi-band auction for new
technology utilizing existing LTE spectrum Find X2 Pro, with more devices to follow. 5G spectrum later this year.
bands, in partnership with Ericsson. In early VodafoneZiggo notes that the mobile data

DT Aims for 50% 5G Coverage in Germany by the End of the Year

Germany’s biggest telecoms network better for our customers. Preparations company has also committed to provide
provider, Deutsche Telekom, has said that in the network are in full swing to ensure 90 per cent geographical coverage by that
it will aim to provide 5G coverage to 50 that as many people as possible get the date. "With the current expansion offensive,
per cent of the German population, by the new technology quickly. In the city and we are taking a big step in this direction,"
end of 2020. The announcement is being in the countryside." Deutsche Telekom says Walter Goldenits. "LTE and 5G - both
touted as one of Europe’s most ambitious is set to use Dynamic Spectrum Sharing technologies are gaining ground. While the
5G aspiration targets. "We have big plans technology to simultaneously deploy LTE 5G network continues to grow, LTE is also
for 5G and will bring the latest mobile and 5G services in some of the country’s becoming even stronger. Already today,
communications standard to large parts of more hard to reach rural locations, as well 98.1 percent of the population surfs with
Germany before the end of the year," said as in towns and cities. Deutsche Telekom LTE and speeds of up to 300 Mbps,” added
Telekom Deutschland CEO, Dirk Wössner. "I has committed to provide 5G coverage to Wössner.
am delighted that the network will be even 99 per cent of the population by 2025. The

72 APRIL 2020