IT House April 5 news, according to Computer Base reported that under the 5G + brand, Vodafone has begun to promote 5G independent deployment (SA) in Germany on a large scale. To scale up, the network operator also relies on so-called Small Cells, such as the small base stations hidden in street lamps, which are now used for the first time in Cologne. By 2025, 5G standalone deployment and fiber will be available throughout Cologne.
As the name suggests, Small Cells are small mobile radio sites that are often hidden within and around existing infrastructure to avoid damaging the urban landscape with countless antennas. The concept is by no means new, and Vodafone is not the first supplier in Germany to offer such a solution.
The network operator claims to offer the first standalone 5G Small Cells in Germany. In Cologne's Heumarkt and Domplatte, there are two street lights with compact 5G antennas about six meters high that transmit signals in the n78 band at 3.5GHz, covering up to 400 meters. Vodafone mentioned that Small Cells has a speed of up to 1 Gbit/s. This means that small cells will be no less than large cells, at least in terms of peak speed.
Vodafone does not claim that Small Cells can replace large sites on rooftops or masts, but rather complements existing wireless cells to create additional capacity or increase range. Small Cells are mainly used in places where there are particularly large numbers of people in tight spaces. In the future, networked mobile services, mobile augmented reality applications, or the social networks of the future will all benefit.
Fiber optic lines will connect street lights and fixed networks, while Rheinland Energy will provide power support. The project is part of the "Cologne Gigabit Master Plan 2025", which plans to build a district-wide gigabit network by 2025, with fiber optics on the ground and 5G in the air (stand-alone deployment). The city of Cologne wants to promote network expansion in the metropolitan area by leasing antenna sites and fiber and power bundles to network operators or their respective radio tower companies.
According to its own statistics, Vodafone currently has 374 mobile network sites in Cologne, 45 of which are equipped with 5G technology. Of these, 10 are already deployed standalone for 5G. Vodafone plans to expand its 75 5G networks in Cologne by 2023. In addition, 62 LTE scaling measures are planned.