2024-07-17 14:30:54
By the end of 2025
5G network soon for everyone? Network operators plan full coverage
17.07.2024 – 10:30 a.m.Reading time: 3 min.
A new mobile communications standard comes to Germany about every ten years. Now we are at half-time for 5G, so to speak – all households should be covered by the end of 2025.
- By 2025, almost every household in Germany will be using 5G.
- Telekom leads with the largest area coverage, O2 relies fully on 5G technology.
- 5G enables users to enjoy faster data transfer and a more stable network at major events.
Five years after the launch of the first German 5G mobile network, mobile phone companies are aiming for almost complete household coverage. “The entire population should be reached with 5G by the end of 2025,” said O2 Telefónica’s Chief Technology Officer, Mallik Rao, in München.
However, it is likely that coverage will remain almost complete for the time being. O2, like other network operators, is having difficulty placing its antennas on suitable land. Telekom is aiming for a figure of 99 percent by the end of 2025, while Vodafone wants to be at 95 percent by March 2025.
5G is the fifth generation of mobile communications technology, which enables a significantly faster mobile network. This new technology supports a growing number of connected devices in everyday life, from smartphones to household appliances and transport systems.
Vodafone opened up its then small 5G network to end customers on July 17, 2019. Deutsche Telekom and O2 Telefónica followed later by opening up the network to consumers.
After its early 5G launch, Vodafone fell behind and its competitors overtook it: Deutsche Telekom says its antennas reach more than 96 percent of German households, O2 says 96 percent. Vodafone has reached more than 92 percent. At the end of 2023, 1&1 will follow as the fourth 5G mobile operator, and its own, still relatively small, network will be gradually expanded.
The percentages refer to houses; this specification comes from a catalogue of requirements from the Federal Network Agency. For consumers, however, the area is more meaningful; after all, they don’t just want to get a network where there are houses, but everywhere they go.
The Federal Network Agency has published information from network operators on this subject, as of April 2024. It shows that Deutsche Telekom is clearly ahead: The Bonn-based company has an area coverage of 81.1 percent for 5G, Vodafone 69 percent and O2 Telefónica 66.5 percent.
O2 is the only one of the three operators that has already completely converted its network to “5G Standalone” and whose 5G network completely dispenses with the technology of the previous standard 4G. From a technical point of view, this is an advantage, but the vast majority of smartphone users are unlikely to notice this additional benefit in their everyday applications.
5G offers faster data transfer. Vodafone states its maximum download speed for private customers with the predecessor technology 4G (also called LTE) is 300 megabits per second and with 5G it is 1,000 megabits.
What benefits does 5G have for consumers? The 5G network is superior to its predecessors due to its faster data transmission without simultaneous delays. For example, the network remains stable during major events. With 4G, however, the bandwidth drops significantly. In addition, content loads much faster and smart home technologies can be controlled remotely.
A new wireless standard comes onto the market approximately every ten years, with 6G expected in 2029 or 2030. The transmission and latency (response time) will probably be even better. 5G will then exist simultaneously for a very long time, says Vodafone manager de Groot.
From today’s perspective, it seems difficult to imagine any everyday benefits for consumers. However, given the increasing data requirements of virtual reality applications and other Internet services, 6G could also benefit them. Ultimately, however, this is still a long way off. 6G is seen as having great potential in medicine, for example in operations that are controlled remotely.