Berlin is Europe’s 5G performance leader

A new report finds that Berlin has the best overall 5G mobile network performance across 10 European capitals. 

The comprehensive benchmark, conducted by network testing firm MedUX, analysed the quality and speed of 5G services in major cities across Europe.

For the report, researchers drove over 4,000 kilometres across 10 countries during 2023 to conduct network tests to grade "Quality of Experience" for average consumers.

Berlin edged out second-place...

14 February 2024 | 5G

Ericsson, Qualcomm and BT conduct 5G SA network slicing trial

BT, Ericsson, and Qualcomm have successfully conducted a trial showcasing the capabilities of 5G Standalone (SA) network slicing.

The trial – conducted at Adastral Park, BT Group’s hub for research and innovation – demonstrated the potential for differentiated connectivity for both consumers and enterprises using Ericsson’s 5G Core and Radio Access Network technology, powered by devices equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy Mobile Platform.

Greg...

8 February 2024 | 5G

5G Standalone deployments lag in H1 2023

Expectations were high for a surge in 5G Standalone (5G SA) deployments in 2023, yet the first half of the year saw only seven materialise.

30 deployments are listed by STL Partners as "in progress" on their tracker. In a report, the telecoms research firm examined the likelihood of these deployments occurring within 2023 and whether 5G SA remains a critical priority.

Previously, experts predicted a significant uptick in 5G SA core deployments in 2022, but the reality...

11 August 2023 | 5G

Qualcomm achieves record-breaking 5G downlink

Qualcomm has shattered previous downlink records with its Snapdragon X75 5G Modem-RF System.

Using sub-6 GHz spectrum, Qualcomm achieved an incredible 7.5 Gbps downlink speed. The triumph builds upon the unveiling of the world's first 5G Advanced-ready modem-RF system, the Snapdragon X75, which was initially introduced at MWC Barcelona in February. 

The record-breaking feat was accomplished through rigorous testing on a 5G Standalone (5G SA) network...

10 August 2023 | 5G

Vodafone launches UK’s first 5G SA network for consumers

Vodafone has made a groundbreaking move by becoming the first operator in the UK to offer customers a 5G SA (5G Standalone) network.

The advanced network, known as 5G Ultra, represents a significant upgrade from the existing 5G service.

While the previous 5G technology relied partly on 4G infrastructure (referred to as 5G Non-Standalone), Vodafone's 5G SA network has undergone a complete overhaul, making it fully upgraded and future-proofed.

Customers who...

23 June 2023 | 5G

5G has reached its ‘tipping point’

VIAVA Solutions has revealed that 5G networks are now available in 47 out of the world's 70 largest economies by GDP, according to its annual ‘The State of 5G’ report.

The report shows that there are currently 2,497 cities globally with commercial 5G networks, across 92 countries.

23 countries have pre-commercial 5G trials underway, while 32 countries have announced their 5G intentions. As for the remaining 48 countries, many are smaller island nations that have not...

18 April 2023 | 5G

Rogers launches Canada’s first commercial 5G SA network

Rogers Communications has partnered with Ericsson to launch the first commercially-available 5G standalone (SA) network in Canada.

The operator started to deploy its 5G standalone core network in December 2020. In October 2021, Rogers completed the rollout and received the country’s first device certification in October 2021 (for the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro).

“Achieving Canada’s first 5G standalone device certification and completing our national 5G...

29 March 2022 | 5G

NTT DOCOMO and NEC successfully test 5G SA using O-RAN equipment in multi-vendor configuration

NTT DOCOMO and NEC have successfully tested a 5G standalone (SA) network using a base station conforming to O-RAN specifications in a multi-vendor configuration.

A software upgrade to NEC’s 5G base station baseband unit operating on DOCOMO’s commercial network transitioned it from a non-standalone system into a standalone using the same hardware.

5G SA networks enable operators to provide services that take full advantage of the latest mobile...

2 December 2021 | 5G

Nokia uses 5G SA to accelerate the digital transformation of Finnish mining

Nokia is deploying a 5G SA (standalone) network in its homeland of Finland to accelerate the digital transformation of mining.

The vendor is working with mobile operator Telia and its partner Digita to deploy the network for Agnico Eagle Finland Oy.

Agnico Eagle operates the Kittilä mine in northern Finland which is the largest primary gold producer in Europe. The 5G SA network will support Industry 4.0 use cases at the mine.

Tommi Kankkunen, General Manager...

26 November 2021 | 5G

Nokia achieves the world’s first 5G SA carrier aggregation

Nokia can boast of another world-first as it successfully completes a carrier aggregation in a 5G standalone (SA) network environment.

The vendor partnered with Taiwan Mobile to combine spectrum in the 700MHz (n28) and 3500MHz (n78) bands in a New Radio Carrier Aggregation (NR CA) trial.

Tom Koh, SVP and CTO of the Technology Group at Taiwan Mobile, said:

“This trial is an important milestone as we execute our 5G strategy and deliver best-in-class 5G services...

3 August 2021 | 5G