One of the biggest challenges for network expansion in Germany is finding new locations to install additional 5G antennas due to the lack of space left on rooftops. Available rooftop locations often do not meet the static requirements of network planners, and current locations with LTE masts often lack the space to install additional 5G antennas.
To address this challenge, Vodafone now Ericsson Interleaved AIR 3218 antennas are now operational, improving 5G network performance, capacity and coverage on rooftops without increasing the antenna footprint. The first compact 5G antennas have been deployed in a multi-storey car park in Düsseldorf, with up to 500 antennas planned to be added across the network by the end of 2026. This will facilitate Vodafone’s network expansion and increase 5G coverage, especially on rooftops in Germany.
“Strong winds put pressure on roof-mounted antenna surfaces. The more mobile phone antennas there are on a roof, the higher the wind pressure. This also increases the demands on wind resistance and statics, which means that so far we have not been able to upgrade all existing rooftop locations with active 5G antennas,” said Tanya Richter, Vodafone’s head of technology.
In the new antenna generation developed by Ericsson, active antennas are placed behind passive ones. “This means that less space is needed on antenna towers to ramp up 5G in urban areas,” adds Tanja Richter. “Innovations like this will further accelerate the rollout of 5G in Germany and help keep up with data traffic that is growing by more than 30 percent per year.”
The compact antenna supports low- to mid-band frequencies, ensuring high coverage and capacity required in urban areas. Moreover, the antenna delivers data rates of over 1 gigabit per second in a relatively small area, enabling 5G coverage of up to a 1 kilometer radius.
Daniel Leimbach, Head of Customer Division West, Ericsson, says: “The use of compact active and passive antennas will enable improved mobile broadband experiences in cities in the future. Ericsson’s Interleaved AIR 3218 will significantly simplify site upgrades and accelerate 5G rollouts in areas previously limited by building regulations, urban planning laws or structural reasons.”
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