Network 2021

Telefónica Deutschland / O₂ was the first network operator in Germany to bundle several mobile frequencies in its 5G network at the innovation site in Munich back in April. This accelerates 5G for O₂ customers and ensures a stable high data throughput. With the combination of two frequency bands, the 5G data highway between the customer and the mobile communications system thus gets about twice as many lanes as before.

Telefónica Deutschland / O₂ is continuing its own network expansion offensive in 2021 - with a much stronger focus on 5G and the technological transformation of the network. Following the largest 4G network expansion program in the company's history with over 11,000 new 4G transmitters in the previous year, O₂ is now igniting the 5G expansion turbo. In addition, as a pioneer, O₂ is focusing on technological innovations such as 5G carrier aggregation, 5G standalone, Open RAN and exciting 5G industry solutions via the cloud this year.

Wayra Germany, the Innovation Hub of Telefónica / O₂, opens up access to state-of-the-art technology for startups to develop new 5G-based applications with its unique 5G Tech Lab | Telefónica / O₂ has built the first 5G standalone network in Munich for this purpose | 5G network uses 3.7 GHz frequencies with 100 MHz bandwidth, which Telefónica / O₂ acquired from the Federal Network Agency for the operation of a local campus network | Kick-off for startups: Unmanned Life, Eyecandylab, Haltian and YBVR present 5G applications such as mobile gaming, augmented reality and autonomous drones

Today, 1&1 Drillisch has bindingly accepted Telefónica Deutschland's National Roaming offer dated 5 February 2021. The companies are extending their long-term partnership by converting the current MBA MVNO contract into a National Roaming Agreement (NRA) under the remedy framework from the Telefónica Deutschland and E-Plus merger in 2014. Now, the parties are aiming to finalise the contractual details of the NRA by mid-May 2021.

In the competition for the best technologies and products, the following applies: The provider with the highest quality and the fastest product launch times (time-to-market) has a clear advantage. Telefónica Deutschland / O₂ wants to significantly accelerate this process in the future and more than halve the time needed to launch new applications and products. To achieve this, the company is focusing on a fundamental transformation of its IT landscape by 2023. A leaner IT architecture with more efficient processes based on state-of-the-art technologies such as cloud solutions will enable the provider to drive innovation even faster in the future and reduce operating costs.

Telefónica Deutschland / O₂ implemented the fastest and also most extensive network expansion in its corporate history last year. With more than 11,000 new 4G elements, O₂ significantly expanded its 4G network and met the nationwide requirement of the Federal Network Agency to cover 98 percent of all households. Despite the restrictions imposed by the Corona pandemic, the coverage target of at least 97 percent of all households in each of the 16 German states was also met, as was the requirement for transport routes as far as actually and legally possible. In parallel, the company launched 5G and set the course for the digital future with innovations such as the first OpenRAN stations on the network.