Expansive Reach of O2 Telefonica’s 5G Network
O2 Telefonica, a leading German telecom operator and subsidiary of Spanish telco giant Telefónica, has announced that its 5G network now extends to 90% of Germany’s population. This milestone highlights the company’s rapid progress in expanding its 5G reach.
Targeting Nationwide 5G Coverage by 2025
In its latest earnings statement, O2 Telefonica revealed its ambitious plan to achieve nationwide 5G coverage by the end of 2025. The company is on track to meet this target, further solidifying its position in the German telecom market.
CEO Remarks on Profitable Growth and Digitization
CEO Markus Haas commented on the company’s profitable growth despite economic slowdowns, emphasizing the crucial role of mobile data in Germany’s digitization. Haas highlighted the increasing demand for O2 Telefonica’s products and services from both individual and corporate customers.
Financial Performance and Customer Growth
O2 Telefonica reported a 4.4% year-on-year increase in quarterly sales, reaching 2.091 billion euros ($2.32 billion). Mobile service sales rose by 4.3% to 1.463 billion euros, with network sales also seeing a 2.1% increase. As of June, the operator had surpassed 42 million mobile connections, gaining 302,000 new contract customers in the second quarter alone.
Preparing for 5G Standalone Network
The company is ready to deploy a nationwide 5G Standalone (SA) network but plans to activate it fully only when it brings tangible benefits to customers and is widely supported by devices in the market. O2 Telefonica already offers 5G in the 700 MHz band at about 600 locations across Germany.
5G Densification and Urban-Rural Balance
O2 Telefonica is not just expanding its 5G network but also densifying it, focusing on both urban and rural areas. This approach ensures balanced coverage and service quality throughout Germany.
Collaboration with Ericsson on 5G Cloud RAN
In a joint effort with Ericsson, O2 Telefonica completed a proof of concept (PoC) for developing 5G cloud RAN technology in Europe. Conducted at O2 Telefonica’s Wayra innovation hub in Munich, this PoC showcased Ericsson’s first 5G cloud RAN installation in Europe, achieving speeds over 4 Gbps. This collaboration underscores the potential of cloud RAN in enterprise and industry-specific applications, as well as fixed wireless access (FWA) scenarios.
Benefits of Ericsson’s Cloud-Native Solution
Implementing Ericsson’s cloud-native software for 5G cloud RAN is expected to offer O2 Telefonica enhanced flexibility, improved service delivery, and more efficient network operations. This partnership represents a significant step in advancing 5G capabilities and applications in Europe.