5G: First Successful Connections in Luxembourg
5G: First Successful Connections in Luxembourg
Back in 2012, Tango was already the first operator to launch the 4G revolution in the Grand Duchy. Two years later, it once again positioned itself as a pioneer by deploying 4G+ across the country. Today, with the ambition of jointly offering increasingly innovative technologies to their customers, Tango and Proximus NXT are proud to announce that the first 5G connections have been successfully completed.
For this initial test, carried out under real-life conditions, technical teams deployed a 5G network in their Bertrange laboratory. They were able to establish a mobile data connection and record download speeds up to 10 times faster than the current average 4G speed.
The teams also thank the ILR (Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation) for approving their request to temporarily use the 3.6 GHz frequency, providing a real-world environment to test all possible use cases of the technology.
The device used, as well as the 5G network, fully complied with the latest “Non-Standalone 5G – 3GPP Release 15” standard, approved last December. Once “Commodo-Incommodo” authorization is granted, technical teams will be able to activate live sites in the field to conduct external performance tests. The equipment is already installed, and only this authorization is pending to begin activation.
These first connections are the result of a long process and significant investments initiated last year, including a complete overhaul of the core network. This infrastructure now enables faster integration of 5G into the existing 4G mobile network. In addition, the network already has sufficient capacity to support 5G speeds from the start of commercialization.
The first rollout phases will begin once frequency licenses are allocated, with the goal of launching 5G for Tango and Proximus NXT customers in the largest population areas within 12 months.
“This inaugural 5G test demonstrates our commitment to fostering innovation and enhancing the country’s competitiveness. Our network is now ready for the 5G deployment phase, which will enable us to offer new opportunities to both residential and business customers. We are starting this rollout with the ambition of delivering optimal performance and making 5G available to our customers within the next 12 months,” says Gérard Hoffmann.
About 5G
The 5G network can deliver download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and latency up to five times faster than 4G. Combined, these improvements enable significantly enhanced use of virtual and augmented reality.
New technologies will also emerge, such as autonomous vehicles, VR cinema, and more immersive gaming experiences than ever before. Downloading an HD movie will take significantly less time, and video streaming will be much smoother.
However, the biggest impact of 5G will be in the B2B sector. Its extremely low latency will enable much more precise and seamless remote control. For example, in Industry 4.0 environments, it will allow fully automated production lines to be coordinated in real time.
