Telefónica Deutschland (O2 Germany) has announced the upcoming launch of its 5G Standalone (5G SA) services, becoming the second German mobile network operator (MNO) to launch a service that relies solely on its 5G core network.
The company announced that it will sell its 5G SA services under the 5G Plus brand from October 10. According to Chief Technology and Information Officer Malik Rao, the 5G SA network is currently available to more than 90% of the German population. “By the end of 2025, we will provide 5G Plus to the whole of Germany, significantly accelerating digitalization,” he declared.
O2 Germany also claimed that the implementation of Voice over New Radio (VoNR) technology will enable its customers to make mobile calls over its entire 5G network for the first time in Germany. The MNO further stated that it has been using 5G SA technology in its 5G Campus (or Private Mobile) network for its enterprise customers since 2020.
5G Plus will use frequencies designated for 5G in the 700MHz, 3.6GHz, and 1800MHz bands through Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS). Smartphones that currently support the technology include the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S23 series, and the Xiaomi 12 and 13 series. At least initially, 5G SA service will be free.
2 out of 3
O2 Germany is following in the footsteps of domestic rival Vodafone Germany, which launched its 5G SA service for the wider market under the name 5G+ in March 2022. The company had already introduced the technology in April 2021.
Vodafone announced in August 2023 that 5G+ will be available to 37 million people in Germany, or 45% of the population. A total of 13,000 antennas in 4,300 locations have been activated with 5G SA technology so far. Vodafone has also switched on VoNR functionality in parts of Frankfurt, Leipzig and Düsseldorf.
Meanwhile, Telekom Deutschland has yet to officially announce 5G SA services, despite previously hinting that they would launch in 2022. The company continues to make progress on its 5G SA network, announcing in August that it has around 9,700 antennas transmitting at 3.6 GHz in over 750 locations.
Admittedly, 5G SA adoption is still relatively low globally, and the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) provides regular updates on the 5G SA rollout.
In a July 2023 update, the company said that at least 36 operators are now believed to have launched or deployed public 5G SA networks across 25 countries and regions, with two of those having just soft-launched their 5G SA networks. A further 19 are believed to have deployed or trialed the technology, and 29 are in the testing or pilot phase.
Overall, GSA said it has identified 115 operators in 52 countries and territories around the world that are investing in public 5G SA networks in the form of trials, planning or actual deployments.
