Page 88 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Deutsche Telekom to Launch 5G in 14 New German Cities This Year

German operator Deutsche Telekom 2019. Currently, Telekom’s 5G network infrastructure, with 800 base stations in
expects to deploy 5G technology in 14 is available in Berlin, Bonn, Darmstadt, Warsaw ready. The 5G network is set to
additional cities this year to reach its Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt include 1,600 base stations in five Polish
goal of rolling out this technology in at and Leipzig. Deutsche Telekom expected cities by the end of the first half of 2020.
least 20 of the largest German cities by to end 2019 with a total of 450 5G base Deutsche Telekom also said that at the
the end of 2020. In a conference call with stations across the country, according to 5G auction in Hungary, Magyar Telekom
investors, the carrier’s CEO Timotheus previous press reports. By the end of 2020, was able to secure the usage rights for its
Höttges said Deutsche Telekom aims to the number of 5G sites is expected to preferred frequency blocks in the 700, 2,100,
cover half of the country with 5G during climb to nearly 1,500. The German carrier and 3,400 to 3,800 MHz bands, establishing
this year. “We will switch on 5G in 2.1GHz also said that Greek operator Cosmote the basis for offering commercial 5G
in at least half of Germany already this is working to progressively upgrade its services from the beginning of April
year. 2.1 GHz is excellent for 5G because mobile network for the future launch of 2020. Meanwhile, Magenta Telekom, also
this spectrum range combines speed with 5G. Cosmote, the mobile arm of Hellenic owned by Deutsche Telekom, is making 5G
good propagation,” the executive said. Telecommunications Organization (OTE), infrastructure available in Vienna for the
“We will have the top 20 cities covered which is part of the Deutsche Telekom first 5G applications. Magenta Telekom
with 3.6 GHz. Going forward, we will Group, is targeting 2021 for the commercial has upgraded 11 base stations in the
leverage other spectrum ranges, such as launch of 5G services. That will follow Austrian capital and delivers 5G to parts
700 MHz frequencies. So we have a mix the expected auction of 5G spectrum by of seven of the city’s districts. To date, the
of low band, mid band [and]high band, Greece’s National Telecommunications 5G network across Austria is comprised of
which is, compared to my competition, and Post Commission (EETT) in the 58 antennas in 31 municipalities with new
significantly better, and we will roll out fourth quarter of 2020. T Mobile Polska base stations.
faster than anybody else. So comparing is also focusing on the deployment of 5G
the commitments of Vodafone with ours,
we will have four times more coverage
already by the end of the year with regard
to 5G,” Höttges added. In April, the operator
said it was working to expand 5G coverage
across the country, highlighting that the
rapid deployment is made possible by a
technical upgrade for existing antennas in
the carrier’s network. The telco said that it is
currently carrying out field trials of dynamic
spectrum sharing (DSS) technology.
Deutsche Telekom kicked off the rollout of
its 5G network in a limited number of cities
across Germany at the beginning of July

VHA and Nokia Conducting Field Test of 700MHz-Based 5G

Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) and noted that the solution which has been chief executive Inaki Berroeta said: ‘We are
Finnish vendor Nokia have announced deployed utilizes Nokia’s AirScale product proud to be showcasing this innovative use
that they are complementing the former’s range and is being tested on some of of the lowest band spectrum available in
3.5GHz 5G rollout with what they claim VHA’s 5G sites in and around Parramatta Australia with the first live test deployment
is ‘the first deployment of low-band in Western Sydney. It was also confirmed of 5G on low-band 700MHz spectrum in
NR700MHz spectrum in a field test that 700MHz spectrum for 5G connectivity our region. Our partnership with Nokia has
environment in a 5G network in Australia will initially be rolled out to ‘selected areas’ enabled us to deliver an innovative solution
and the Asia-Pacific region’. In a press as part of VHA’s 5G rollout. Nokia Global with our customers’ experience front of
release, Nokia claimed that, once live, the Services will reportedly play a ‘crucial’ role mind. Incorporating 700MHz spectrum will
use of 700MHz spectrum will enhance in the network development, providing complement our existing 5G network plans
VHA’s 5G network coverage and improve project planning, installation, and network and help deliver the benefits of 5G’s speed,
the indoor coverage experience. It was optimization services. Commenting, VHA’s capacity and coverage.’

88 MAY 2020