Ericsson, Vodafone, OPPO and Qualcomm Align to Deploy 5G SA Network in Europe

Ericsson, Vodafone, OPPO and Qualcomm are partnering to unlock the full potential of 5G by deploying a 5G Standalone (SA) network, beginning in major German cities including Frankfurt.

In addition to the benefits to industries, governments and enterprises pursuing Industry 4.0 opportunities, mobile subscriber consumers will enjoy new mobile experiences from the low-latency, high-speed and data capacity of 5G SA.

Operating independently of 4G (LTE), 5G Standalone enables lower latency than current 5G non-standalone networks and allows more people and connected objects to use mobile data simultaneously.

Vodafone’s network will also support network slicing, which enables flexibility as different parts of the network can be allocated for different specific use cases. In addition to innovation opportunities, the energy consumption of mobile phone users with 5G Standalone is reduced by almost 20 percent. This is because the device no longer has to engage with the 5G and the LTE network at the same time.

Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO, Vodafone Germany, says: “We are clearing the way for real-time connectivity. 5G is standing on its own two feet in Germany for the first time. We are the first network operator to put aside the LTE support wheels for 5G - not for internal tests, but for our customers, who can experience real-time connections.“

At the April 12 launch, technicians switched all mobile radio stations in the 3.5GHz range to 5G, connecting them to an independent 5G Core network. Ericsson has provided products and solutions from the Ericsson Radio System portfolio, as well Ericsson Cloud Core for the cloud-native microservices-based 5G Core, to help Vodafone build the new 5G standalone network in Germany.

With Ericson’s support, Vodafone is the first network operator in Europe to activate 5G Standalone on this scale.

Arun Bansal, President, Ericsson Europe and Latin America, says: “5G Standalone brings huge advantages to industry and consumers alike. With faster network response times, users can now harness the power of real-time mobile communication.“

He adds: “After launching 5G together in Germany, this is the natural next step in our journey with Vodafone. Combining our technology leadership and drive for innovation, we are delivering real 5G, ready for customers to feel the benefits.”

Ericsson and Vodafone have also converted a data center to 5G in Frankfurt, enabling cloud data processing that’s flexible to the growing needs in the area.

Henry Duan, Vice President, OPPO, says: “OPPO is proud to be the only mobile device provider to participate in the commercialization of Europe’s first 5G SA network, fulfilling our commitment as a company to bring cutting-edge technology to our customers. As a pioneer in 5G, OPPO will continue to work with industry leaders to increase access to 5G services and create more unique experiences for our users worldwide.”