O2 Slovakia selects Ericsson as sole commercial 5G partner

By Rachael Sharpe
published

The contract follows a multi-vendor trial, which took place across O2 Slovakia’s 5G pilot networks in Bratislava during 2020.

Ericsson
Ericsson 5G Radio System (Image credit: Ericsson)

Following a multi-vendor trial, which took place across O2 Slovakia’s pilot 5G networks in Bratislava in late 2020, Ericsson has been selected as the networks sole 5G radio access network (RAN) technology solutions vendor. As part of the contract, Ericsson will also modernise the communications service provider’s 2G, 3G and 4G RAN infrastructures with products and solutions from the Ericsson Radio System portfolio.

“We are very pleased to have been selected as O2 Slovakia’s technology partner for its commercial 5G rollout. 5G is a transformative platform that will have a major impact on Slovakia’s post-COVID economic revival. In addition to delivering on this promise, our Ericsson Radio System will also help O2 Slovakia meet its sustainability targets to reduce power consumption and contribute to continued decarbonisation within the ICT industry and across other sectors. To do that by 2022, we are committed to make our 5G product portfolio 10x more energy efficient than 4G per transferred data, helping break the energy curve in mobile networks,” said Jenny Lindqvist, Head of Northern and Central Europe, Ericsson.

Transformative 5G technology

Under the new deal, O2 Slovakia customers will benefit from improved mobile broadband and enhanced mobile broadband customer experiences, as well as support new, high-capacity Fixed Wireless Access business cases such as consumer TV services. The transformative 5G technology will empower new services and use cases for industries and society. Ericsson will make this possible with its 5G RAN technologies, from the Ericsson Radio System portfolio.

Ericsson’s energy-efficient portfolio will also enable O2 Slovakia to decrease power consumption across its networks, while delivering the forecasted four-fold rise in smartphone data traffic by 2026 – as estimated in the Ericsson Mobility Report.

“We will drive next-generation mobile experiences for our customers.”

Igor Tóth, O2 Slovakia.

“Through this contract, we will drive next-generation mobile experiences for our customers meeting the growing demands of data traffic and enabling new services, such as superior connectivity for households with Fixed Wireless Access. In addition to rolling out 5G, modernisation of the 2G, 3G, 4G network with Ericsson’s leading products and solutions, will deliver major benefits in energy efficiency enabling us to build a more sustainable digital future for Slovakia,” said Igor Tóth, CEO, O2 Slovakia.

Key 5G spectrum

A recent Analysys Mason report, predicts 5G use cases will generate EUR 771million in net benefits for the Slovakian GDP across smart rural, smart production, smart urban, and smart public service sectors.

Together with the new O2 Slovakia deal, Ericsson has 137 commercial 5G agreements and contracts with unique operators, of which 78 are publicly announced 5G deals, including 85 live 5G networks on five continents. O2 Slovakia is presently the third-biggest and fastest-growing mobile operator in the Slovak telecoms market. The network successfully acquired spectrum in key 5G 700MHz, 900MHz and 1800MHz frequency ranges in last year’s auction.

Rachael Sharpe
Rachael Sharpe

Rachael is a British journalist with 17 years experience in the publishing industry. Since launching www.digitalcameraworld.com, she’s been freelancing, and working for some of the world’s best-loved websites and magazines including T3.com and TechRadar.com and has also had a book, iPad for Photographers, published. A regular contributor at 5Gradar, Rachael is following the 5G market closely. Find out more at www.rachaelsharpe.com