Spanish telecommunications giant, Telefonica, has announced a significant milestone, revealing that its 5G network now covers more than 90% of Spain’s population. Since the launch of its 5G services in September 2020, Telefonica has steadily widened its reach. The expansion ensures reliable connectivity in both urban and rural regions across Spain.
The company’s 3.5 GHz coverage now reaches 1,500 municipalities, a jump from the 1,000 reported just last June, cementing Telefonica’s leading position in high-performance spectrum. This 50% increase in coverage facilitates extensive access to fast, low-latency mobile broadband, significantly enhancing user experience. It also allows industries to utilize advanced solutions like network slicing.
Not stopping at 3.5 GHz, Telefonica is also deploying 5G in the lower-frequency 700 MHz band, covering 3,585 localities. The lower frequency band extends mobile coverage and improves indoor performance, complementing the 3.5 GHz band’s capabilities.
In a further boost to its network, Movistar, part of Telefonica, launched 5G Standalone (SA) coverage in Spain in mid-2023. Initial deployment covered major cities like Madrid and Barcelona, with expectations to extend to cities with over 250,000 inhabitants by late 2023. This 5G SA network, powered by industry giants Ericsson and Nokia, operates on the 3.5 GHz band, offering browsing speeds up to 1,600 Mbps.
The expansion of Telefonica’s 5G network brings transformative changes. Enhanced connectivity boosts both consumer experience and industrial processes, laying down a robust foundation for digital innovation. However, the challenge remains to ensure consistent quality of service as demand and data usage continue to soar.
