Deutsche Telekom hit 99 per cent population coverage with its domestic 5G network ahead of schedule, advancing moves to offer an ultra-high-capacity network which will ultimately employ a mix of low- and mid-band frequencies.
Upgrades and fresh deployments conducted in August took Deutsche Telekom to the coverage target earlier than its original year-end deadline. It commissioned 132 new sites and upped the capacity at 533 others, with 5G activated for the first time at 128 of those.
Fresh site deployments covered key regions including North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg.
Deutsche Telekom’s upgrades also benefitted its 4G coverage, which it noted stood at close to 100 per cent by end-August.
The operator explained its work advance a goal to deliver an ultra-high-capacity network which offers download data rates of 1GB/s per cell across 90 per cent of locations. The low-band 700MHz, 800MHz and 900MHz frequencies being employed “offer long range and good network coverage, even in buildings”, it stated.
These will be paired with mid-band 1500MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz frequencies offering high transmission rates and swift response times, with a 3.6GHz option to be used at traffic hubs.
Deutsche Telekom intends to employ a fibre backbone, with 85 per cent of locations set for connectivity with data rates in excess of 10GB/s.
Source: https://www.mobileworldlive.com/deutsche-telekom/deutsche-telekom-nears-total-5g-coverage/
