Magyar Telekom has launched its first standard 5G station at downtown Zalaegerszeg using the 3.7 GHz test spectrum.
The test gigabit network operating under real-life conditions runs on a standardized 5G system and uses 5G components ready for commercial launch. The purpose of the test operation is to enable Telekom to learn more about the compatibility challenges associated with running the new technology and the existing networks together, and to prepare for its future integration at the same time.
Magyar Telekom and its subsidiary, T-Systems Hungary concluded a cooperation agreement with the Government, the Zalaegerszeg Municipality and Automotive Test Track Zala at the beginning of June 2017. It is in that framework that Magyar Telekom started the rollout of a 5G mobile communications test network at the automotive test track. It is also in the context of the test track being built at Zalaegerszeg that T-Systems assumed an active role in establishing the Zala Autonomous Vehicle Cluster consisting of IT, electronics and automotive firms. The 5G test operation launched as the next step in the series of developments at downtown Zalaegerszeg is to help Telekom experience as soon as possible the compatibility challenges associated with running the new technology along with the existing network, thus supporting its future 5G network rollout, which will provide the customers gigabit speeds, very low latency (i.e. delays) and numerous new optional functions.
Telekom has completed several successful tests with 5G technology:
• In October 2017, it established the first 5G connection in Hungary, under laboratory circumstances, with Ericsson, which reached a download speed of 22 Gbps. The demo ran on the 15 GHz frequency band and used 800 MHz bandwidth.
• In July 2018, Telekom was the first in Hungary to demonstrate a 5G network running under real-life conditions in its former headquarters building at Krisztina körút. The test network ran on 5G equipment not yet standardized or launched commercially at the time, and used the 3.7 GHz frequency band.
Laszlo Palkovics, Innovation and Technology Minister
The experimental 5G network will soon be rolled out to cover the test track, too, which thus will be equipped, uniquely in Europe, to develop and test autonomous vehicles, along with traditional ones.
Tibor Rekasi, CEO, Magyar Telekom
Together with our partners, we continuously explore the different possible ways to apply the new, fifth-generation mobile technology. The first 5G station at Zalaegerszeg is another milestone on the way towards Telekom launching its 5G services as soon as possible.
