Telecommunications company O2 Telefónica and infrastructure provider 5G Synergiewerk are breaking new ground in network expansion by launching a nationwide rollout of 5G streetlights. This will improve the mobile network for smartphone users and businesses in busy city centers and tourist regions. The 5G streetlights will expand existing 5G network coverage provided by mobile phone masts and provide additional capacity. In the first phase of expansion in 2025, O2 Telefónica and 5G Synergiewerk will focus on the 25 largest cities. The long-term plans go far beyond this.
Ordinary streetlights, which have provided nighttime illumination for decades, will be replaced by a modern combination of light and mobile phone masts. These mini masts are hardly distinguishable from existing streetlights. They offer added value wherever rooftops are scarce and customer data requirements are high.
This year, O2 Telefónica will commission further 5G lights in Frankfurt am Main. They are scheduled to go live in May at Kornmarkt, Nibelungenplatz, and Mainzer Landstraße. Due to the tall buildings, they are particularly well suited to deliver better network reception on streets and sidewalks. Additional lights are planned for Cologne (including Heumarkt), Hanover (e.g. Maschsee), and Stuttgart (Bopser).
To install a 5G streetlight, 5G Synergiewerk is replacing the existing lamppost with a so-called “smart pole”. This offers installation options for existing lighting or new, energy-saving LED lighting technology, as well as sufficient space for O2 Telefónica's network technology. Small mobile phone antennas are built into the light pole, which transmit the 5G signal to the surrounding area.
Matthias Sauder, Director Networks, O2 Telefónica
We want to promote sustainable digital connectivity for consumers and businesses in cities. To do this, we are transforming urban light sources into digital hubs that make life smarter and more efficient. As a telecommunications provider, these innovative street-level cell sites help us to optimally manage the ever-growing data traffic in large cities. Whether streaming, video telephony, or the networking of intelligent sensors, we are bringing even faster networks to citizens' doorsteps and into business locations.
Ralf Gerbershagen, Managing Director, 5G Synergiewerk
We support cities in implementing new smart city solutions and a future-proof infrastructure. The municipalities we work with have recognized the advantages. By replacing conventional streetlights with modern 5G streetlights, cities have multifunctional tools that not only provide their citizens with nighttime lighting, but also a better mobile network.
