Telefónica is starting to merge several frequency blocks (carrier aggregation) at Munich's Helene-Mayer-Ring 10, not far from the O2 Tower, in order to achieve higher speeds in the 5G network. Telefónica still only uses a frequency block of 70 MHz at 3,600 MHz for 5G.
Telefónica Deutschland's 5G network may still be comparatively small, but at least it only exists from spectrum at 3.6 GHz, where 70 MHz is available for fast data transfers. As of the end of March this year, Telefónica is currently offering the new standard with O2 in 30 cities with around 1,000 5G antennas.
6,000 more “real” 5G antennas are planned
A little more than a month ago, Telefónica announced that it wanted to install 6,000 more 5G antennas for the frequency range at 3.6 GHz and to offer 5G at 700 MHz and 1,800 MHz. At 1,800 MHz, i.e. band 3, Telefónica wants to use DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) and thus deliver LTE and 5G via the same antennas, depending on the end device. Band 28 at 700 MHz is intended exclusively for 5G and is intended to bring the new standard into the area.
Telefónica bundles 3.6 GHz and 1,800 MHz
One of these alternative frequencies, more precisely 1,800 MHz, is now being bundled live for the first time at a location in Munich in order to achieve higher speeds. This was tested with a Xiaomi Mi 11 suitable for 5G CA according to Telefónica (test). The network operator speaks of up to “almost double the 5G speed” and thus refers to proportionally the same spectrum from the two frequency ranges. The implementation of 5G CA at 3.6 GHz and 1,800 MHz also means that DSS can remain active with 5G CA, as a spokesman for the editorial team confirmed. LTE and 5G at 1,800 MHz are thus offered via the antenna, whereby the corresponding standard is used depending on the end device, and a 5G-CA-capable smartphone can bundle spectrum from 3.6 GHz.
The 2CA, which has now started in Munich, is to be followed by other locations throughout Germany. In the future, 3CA will also be possible with three blocks at 700, 1,800 and 3,600 MHz.
5G SA should start this summer
Telefónica sees the bundling of frequencies as one of many building blocks on the way to 5G standalone operation, in which the 5G network manages without a 4G infrastructure as a basis. While 5G is currently still based on LTE and its core network in non-standalone operation (5G NSA), 5G standalone (5G SA) is also to renew the core. Telefónica relies on the network supplier Ericsson for this and wants to launch 5G SA this summer. At Vodafone, 5G SA started around four weeks ago. Deutsche Telekom is also testing 5G SA, but has not yet announced a date for it.