Vodafone is largely converting its 5G network to “5G Standalone” (5G SA). This means that data from 5G antennas also runs on an independent 5G core network and no longer on the LTE network. The company announced on Tuesday that about 10,000 more mobile phone stations have now been activated in the network. Accordingly, out of a total of approximately 26,0000 mobile phone stations on the Vodafone network, 16,000 are now equipped with 5G SA.
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fast, fast, standalone
For users with a suitable smartphone, 5G standalone promises higher data rates and shorter signal duration. “For cell phone users, this increases the quality of online games and virtual worlds,” says Marcel de Groot, Vodafone’s Germany boss, referring to potential applications.
To introduce 5G, many network operators relied on mixed operations with existing LTE networks. Cell phones log into the 5G network on the radio side, but connections still run on the old core network in the background. This mixed operation continues in parallel with the expansion of 5G SA.
Strictly speaking, “real” 5G can only be achieved with 5G standalone, as all communications run on 5G networks. Vodafone and others now prefer to talk about “5G+” to be able to reflect technological advances in marketing. Vodafone has already commissioned the first antennas with 5G SA in 2021.
With 16,000 out of a total of 26,000 mobile phone stations, Vodafone says it is now reaching 90 percent of people in Germany with 5G standalone. Mobile phone customers can activate “5G+” in the app for free. Most of the top models of the young generation smartphones can support 5G SA and can also transfer calls through 5G networks.
high bandwidth
Along with 5G standalone, higher bandwidth can be achieved by bundling frequency bands. Telefónica Deutschland recently achieved over 1.7 Gbit/s of bandwidth in a test by bundling spectrum at 700, 1800, 2100 MHz and 3600 MHz alongside a standard Samsung smartphone.
5G is already widely available on the O2 network as standalone “5G+”. Customers can book free option for this. Deutsche Telekom wants to follow this with a 5G standalone this year, it recently said “in the fall.” The newcomer among network operators 1&1 is building a pure 5G network and can also count on a roaming agreement with Vodafone.
(vbr)
