By Francois Giudice, Bureau Chief, France
Telefónica, Ericsson and Qualcomm launch the first commercial mobile 5G millimeter
(mmWave) network in Spain in Hall 3 at MWC 2023, Barcelona.
This technology milestone will allow compatible user devices partners to access the Ericsson-
powered Telefónica 5G mmWave network during the event.
At the event, Qualcomm Technologies will showcase the broad range of global 5G mmWave
devices powered by Snapdragon mobile platforms that drive industry advancement forward.
The use of 5G mmWave spectrum is the optimum way to achieve high speeds and high
capacity, and to deliver the best 5G experience in crowded areas. Especially interesting is the
role of 5G mmWave in the area of Fixed Wireless Access, digitalization, Industry 4.0, and
connected vehicles, providing extremely high-performance coverage and enabling a completely
new range of use cases to be explored.
Based on its high network capacity and extraordinary performance boost, this 5G mmWave
deployment will enable an extraordinary 5G user experience for MWC visitors to Hall 3 at La
Fira, allowing for ultra-fast mobile connectivity at lower latencies that will transform the way
they realize mobile connectivity.
Telefónica is the only service provider in Spain that has acquired a full 1GHz spectrum, which
will make Telefónica the first company able to offer in the future download speeds beyond
5Gbps, and upload speeds of 1Gbps. This massive spectrum will enable the use of bandwidth-
intensive applications like multi-view cameras and user-generated content in crowded sport
venues like football stadiums. It will enhance immersive experiences such as VR and AR and
provide industry and manufacturing companies with the critical communications they need to
go fully wireless and become more competitive, by adopting technologies such as artificial
intelligence and automation in a fully flexible environment.
The 5G mmWave deployment will cover Hall 3 of the MWC Barcelona event using ample
mmWave spectrum bandwidth secured by Telefónica from the recent Spanish spectrum
auction. Ericsson is providing its mmWave radio AIR 5322 and high-capacity RAN Processor
6651 to enable the 5G millimeter coverage. The radio access network equipment is powered by
Ericsson Silicon chipset, enabling industry-leading lightweight and energy efficiency advantages
as well as unique performance and innovative features.
Qualcomm Technologies’ 5G mmWave device bar on its booth (Hall 3, 3E10) will demonstrate
5G mmWave devices powered by Snapdragon including commercial premium smartphones,
PCs, CPEs, hotspots, and more.
Millimeter band connectivity will allow for multiple benefits, targeting areas with intensive
traffic needs like hot spots in indoor and outdoor environments, enhancing existing city macro
sites, densification of urban and suburban street sites or using of macro tower sites to extend
coverage of fiber-like Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service as a complement to fiber deployment
in difficult areas.
Director of Radio Access Telefónica Spain, Gerardo Rovira says: “This first commercial
deployment of 5G mmWave services we are launching together with Ericsson and Qualcomm,
along with the massive spectrum that Telefónica has obtained in the last auction, is the last
milestone in a series of 5G long term projects that Telefónica has been developing in
collaboration with enterprises and institutions in the last 3 years, and it goes a long way in
showing the commitment that Telefónica has in the development and leadership of a strong 5G
ecosystem that will be a key factor in bringing compelling services for both the public and
private sectors”
Head of Networks, Ericsson Iberia, Somaya El-Marrackchi says: “Our collaboration with
Telefónica and Qualcomm to achieve this 5G mmWave technological leap in Spain will
dramatically change the experience of mobile connectivity for consumers and enterprises,
making it faster, more accessible and more reliable. Millimeter band opens a new paradigm in
the deployment of 5G technology, that will provide operators a powerful tool to complement
existing network deployment strategy to increase performance and capacity with different
needs.”
VP Technology, Qualcomm Europe, Dino Flore says: “We are proud to continue working with
industry partners such as Telefonica and Ericsson to push boundaries of connectivity and enable
robust consumer experiences. Being able to show the first commercial deployment of
commercial 5G mmWave services at MWC 2023 Barcelona is an example of another significant
milestone for 5G mmWave in Europe.”
