10.10.2024
Five facts on the 5G anniversary of O2 Telefónica:“The 5G decade is picking up speed”
5G Standalone processes all data in the state-of-the-art 5G core network
For a year now, O2 Telefónica has been offering the real 5G, also known as 5G-Standalone (5G SA) or “5G Plus”, across its entire 5G network. The rollout of the 5G network began in October 2020. Just three years later, the telecommunications provider opened access to 5G Standalone for its customers. Today, O2 Telefónica already provides 96 percent of the population with 5G Standalone. Unlike conventional 5G (non-standalone), where data passes through the 4G core network, 5G standalone processes all data in the state-of-the-art 5G core network.
Mallik Rao
“With the launch of the 5G network and its rapid expansion, O2 Telefónica has started a new era in mobile communications. In just four years, we have provided the country with modern 5G. The necessary infrastructure is in place. Many customers are already benefiting from the technology – but this is just the beginning,” says Mallik Rao, Chief Technology & Information Officer at O2 Telefónica. “The 5G decade is now picking up speed. We are continuously developing the network. We are harnessing the power of 5G, artificial intelligence and the cloud to offer our customers new applications, higher speeds and shorter response times, taking digitalization in the country to a new level.”
Anniversary gift - 5G Plus Pack remains free
To mark the anniversary, O2 Telefónica is extending the use of the 5G Plus Pack: Until 5 March 2025, O2 postpaid customers with a 5G plan can add the additional package for free. This gives them access to “5G Plus” and thus to the 5G standalone network for twelve months. Customers who are already using a 5G Plus Pack can re-book it when it expires. The pack will automatically expire after twelve months.
Vision for the future and new 5G innovations
O2 Telefónica already provides 96 percent of the population with 5G Standalone
O2 Telefónica will continue to expand its 5G network and develop 5G technology over the coming years so that customers can benefit from ever-improving digital connectivity and new applications. Just this year, O2 Telefónica became the first provider to integrate a purely cloud-based 5G core network from AWS and Nokia into its existing infrastructure. In tests in Potsdam, O2 Telefónica bundled four frequency bands in a 5G standalone for the first time, achieving new peak speeds of more than 1.7 gigabits per second.
A new mobile communications standard, 6G, is expected to be in the starting blocks from 2029. In the five years leading up to that, 5G will continue to develop comprehensively and help drive digitalization forward with new innovations.
Five facts to mark the 5G anniversary:
Just recently, O2 Telefónica's 5G Plus network achieved new peak speeds of 1.7 Gbit/s
1. 5G expansion – faster than ever
Germany must be among the leaders when it comes to digitalization. To this end, O2 Telefónica is accelerating the rollout of the 5G standard. 5G network coverage is now 96 percent – just four years after the network launch in October 2020. No other mobile technology has been rolled out as quickly as this. The goal is to provide 5G coverage throughout Germany.
2. 5G as a driving force for commercial data usage
A 5G mast can provide fast internet for up to a million devices in a square kilometer. This makes 5G a central factor in handling the masses of mobile data, which continue to grow exponentially. 5G plays a particularly important role in city centers or at major events such as the Oktoberfest. Applications such as smart factories, Industry 4.0, telemedicine, autonomous driving and augmented reality also benefit enormously from 5G.
3. 5G creates new tech ecosystems
Network equipment providers, cloud providers and technology companies are working closely together on 5G. New ecosystems are emerging that view digital connectivity between customers, networks and applications more strongly as a single unit. This new way of thinking enables groundbreaking developments and applications for industry and private customers.
4. 5G is maturing for the future
With the 5G expansion, O2 Telefónica has created the basis for the networking of the future. An important pillar is the cloud transformation, which affects the entire network from the core to the antenna. In addition to the first cloud-based 5G core network (“5G Cloud Core”), O2 Telefónica is also testing cloud-based antenna technology, known as Cloud RAN.
5. 5G – the best is yet to come
Network slicing and standardized interfaces provide a boost to the development of the 5G network. With Open Gateway and open APIs, the network is becoming a programmable supercomputer for the first time, making it easier to develop applications. This increases convenience and security for private customers and enables new applications such as the reliable control of drones for the delivery of parcels or medicines in smart cities.
