VODAFONE BECOMES FIRST IN IRELAND TO TRIAL ERICSSON DYNAMIC SPECTRUM SHARING TECHNOLOGY TO ACCELERATE 5G COVERAGE

Vodafone has become the first mobile operator in Ireland to trial an innovative Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) technology to speed up rollout of 5G coverage, providing greater access to customers across the country to next generation connectivity.

The technology will enable Vodafone to deliver both 4G and 5G on the same spectrum band using existing antenna infrastructure, allowing for a smooth transition between the two technologies and a quicker, cost-effective rollout providing greater access to 5G services.

Vodafone is using Ericsson’s advanced variant known as Spectrum Sharing which includes a pioneering scheduling solution that offers instant coordination between 4G and 5G – enabling the spectrum to be shared between both services down to the millisecond level, providing a better customer experience.

By the end of July, DSS will be deployed to 57 sites across 11 counties – Cork, Cavan, Galway, Dublin, Roscommon, Kerry, Limerick, Meath, Mayo, Offaly and Wicklow with further plans to expand Vodafone’s 5G coverage footprint in the years ahead. Vodafone’s expansion plans will see its 5G service coverage footprint expand to over 30% population coverage by the end of March 2021. In addition, the technology will provide further spectrum for 4G customers, bringing an improved data experience; while 5G customers will benefit from greater coverage and a better quality of service.

Vodafone’s high bandwidth 5G services are being deployed in dense urban city areas using 3.6GHz spectrum. DSS technology will offer customers speeds of up to 400Mbps, a much wider 5G coverage footprint and deeper in-building 5G service coverage.

This new 5G DSS service will be available on Samsung’s S20 range of 5G handsets when the service is live at the end of July. Other DSS compatible devices will be added to our device portfolio in the coming months.

A recent report from Ericsson predicts that there will be over 190 million 5G subscriptions globally by the end of 2020 and 2.8 billion by the end of 2025. Ireland’s anticipated increased adoption of 5G technologies will lead to a projected €42 billion economic boost to Ireland’s GDP by 2030, aiding all sectors in our national recovery from the impact of COVID-19.

Vodafone Ireland Technology Director, Didier Clavero said: “We are delighted to be the first to bring this transformative technology solution to customers in Ireland, demonstrating our commitment to increasing the availability of 5G connectivity nationwide. The last few months have highlighted the important role mobile technology plays in our society and DSS will help us to bring 5G to more people in a faster and more efficient manner. This innovative technology will enhance the customer experience while also providing a platform for businesses to continue innovating and develop the 5G use cases for the future.”

Camilla Vautier, Vice President and Head of Global Customer Unit Vodafone at Ericsson, said: “We’re very proud to be delivering the next generation of 5G connectivity alongside Vodafone Ireland. Ericsson Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) technology offers fast rollout of 5G on existing spectrum bands, bringing greater connectivity and coverage across the country. This is an important milestone for 5G in Ireland and comes at the right time as we embrace the critical role that connectivity and innovation can play in building our future.”