Telefonica: O2 Telefónica Deutschland launches SA 5G service

O2 Telefonica Deutschland launched its standalone 5G service on October 10, 2023. This 5G Plus service now enables customers with compatible SIM cards and smartphones within O2’s coverage areas to make calls via the Voice-over-New-Radio technology and browse on the internet. It is also available without cost for twelve months via the ‘5G Plus Pack’ add-on option.

The standalone 5G network does not rely on older mobile generation and solely uses a 5G core network. This SA network is more efficient and has lower latency, improved spectrum utilization, better connectivity, and lower device battery consumption. 

“5G Plus on the O2 network marks the beginning of a new technology era. We can sustainably connect our customers at high data rates and enable new digital applications,” Mallik Rao, Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO) of Telefonica Deutschland, said. “Now O2’s new 5G Plus network is available to more than 90% of the population in Germany. By the end of 2025, we will provide the whole of Germany with 5G Plus, giving digitization a massive boost.”