Vodafone Germany introduces Ericsson’s 5G remote radio technology

Vodafone Germany is introducing Ericsson's 5G remote radio technology on its network to provide fast connectivity in rural areas and reduce power consumption.

To achieve this goal, the operator is using Ericsson's triple-band, tri-sector 5G mobile communications technology, which sustainably combines the 900, 800 and 700 MHz frequency bands as well as the components of several radio cells into one compact system. This integration results in 32 and 40 percent less energy consumption, with potential savings of more than 30 million kilowatt hours per year, according to trials on the Vodafone network.

Following successful trials in the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) region of Germany, Vodafone is now successively activating the technology in the live network together with Ericsson. The new technology will be installed and automatically activated in NRW, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Saarland and Baden-Württemberg during scheduled maintenance and modernization work on the mobile radio stations.

Vodafone Germany CEO Philippe Rogge, said, "For the first time, we are bundling the active antenna technology of different area frequencies in mobile communications. This is good for smartphone users in rural areas and good for our planet. Because with the new technology, we are bringing fast and reliable 5G networks even better to people in rural areas and deep into buildings. At the same time, we are reducing the energy requirements of our mobile phone antennas. We expect to be able to save more than 30 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year with large-scale activation in our network."

"We are all the more pleased that Vodafone is convinced of its performance and energy efficiency and is installing the technology in the area. Because only innovations that are scalable, economical and powerful at the same time deliver the full benefits for mobile customers and sustainability," Daniel Leimbach, Head of Western Europe at Ericsson, said in a statement.