This week, French mobile operator Free, owned by Iliad Group, announced the nationwide launch of 5G Standalone (SA) services. This makes Free the first to deploy 5G SA across France, activating it at 6,950 of its 20,000 sites. Experience higher speeds, reduced latency, and innovative applications, all at no extra cost.
Digital Nasional Berhad, Ericsson, and eMooVit Technology are pioneering Malaysia’s autonomous bus experience using 5G technology. The initiative, marked by a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2024, includes trials for 5G-enabled features like in-vehicle public Wi-Fi and real-time monitoring. These advancements aim to enhance passenger safety, operational efficiency, and smart city integration.
StarHub has launched its Low Latency Data Centre Connect service, offering ultra-low latency connectivity for enterprises. The service enhances cloud access, supports advanced network slicing, and provides quantum secure communications, with latency under 1ms to cable landing stations. Key partnerships with Ciena, Digital Realty, and Terrabit Networks ensure robust, secure, and scalable connectivity solutions.
Recent research by Vodafone reveals significant readiness among UK companies to invest in 5G Standalone (5G SA). 39% of businesses are prepared to invest in 5G SA now, with 14% planning to do so within a year. 93% of companies see reliable data connections as vital for success, reflecting the importance of 5G SA in business transformation.
Deutsche Telekom is enhancing its global IoT presence through a new agreement with the Bridge Alliance. As the first European telecom giant in this consortium, Deutsche Telekom aims to streamline IoT solutions for both Asian and European markets. Their combined expertise promises superior connectivity and simplified procurement processes.
Deutsche Telekom now operates 12,150 5G antennas across 920 German cities, leveraging the 3.6 GHz spectrum. This expansion enhances mobile services, adding 676 new locations. Around 97% of German households have access to Deutsche Telekom’s 5G network. The company also plans to introduce 5G Standalone in Germany this year.
Korean carrier SK Telecom and Singaporean firm Singtel signed an MoU to develop next-gen telecom networks, focusing on AI and network virtualization. The collaboration aims to create foundational technologies for 6G systems, improve edge-AI infrastructure, and enhance 5G capabilities.
BT Group, Nokia, and Qualcomm have successfully tested 5G Standalone (SA) 5CC carrier aggregation at Adastral Park, making BT the first European operator to achieve this milestone. Utilizing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF system and Nokia’s 5G AirScale portfolio, the tests achieved downlink speeds of 1.85 Gbps, highlighting the potential of 5G SA.
Rogers Communications has partnered with Ericsson to test groundbreaking 5G Cloud RAN technology, marking its first deployment at a live event during a Toronto Blue Jays game. This advancement builds upon Rogers’ national 5G SA core network, enhancing technological capabilities, network reliability, and energy efficiency.
Ericsson and Telefónica Germany have announced the extension of their core network partnership. This collaboration, involving Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core and cloud infrastructure solutions, currently supports mobile connectivity for 45 million O2 Telefónica subscribers. It spans multiple network generations including 5G Standalone (SA), 5G non-Standalone (NSA), 4G, and 2G.
