Madrid has successfully tested a public 5G Standalone (5G SA) network designed to prioritize emergency services, marking a first-of-its-kind, large-scale urban trial. The initiative, led by the Madrid City Council in partnership with Orange Spain, shows that critical communications can remain fast and reliable even when the city’s network is heavily used.
The trial used Ericsson’s Ultra Compact Core alongside radios capable of connecting either to Orange’s public 5G SA network or to Madrid’s dedicated emergency spectrum in Band 68, depending on operational needs. Results were striking:
Prioritized devices communicated up to seven times faster than ordinary devices.
Latency remained low and stable, enabling smoother calls, coordination, and data transfer.
Performance stayed reliable in areas of weak coverage where congestion normally disrupts service.
The technology intends to be used at large public events and during natural disasters, forest fires, or situations where infrastructure is damaged, ensuring emergency teams maintain a secure and uninterrupted communication channel.
Funded through NextGenerationEU and managed by Spain’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Administration, the project positions Madrid as a pioneer in modernizing public safety communications. Officials hope it will provide a replicable model for other cities and rural areas across Spain and beyond.
Joaquín Colino, General Director of B2B at MasOrange Group, said:
This project marks a milestone in the modernization of emergency services in Spain, as it guarantees secure and uninterrupted communications in the most demanding scenarios and places Madrid at the forefront of European innovation in the service of public safety. We are committed to offering robust, scalable solutions that are ready to save lives, thereby reinforcing our role as a strategic ally of public administrations.
