Movistar has just announced that it has begun to roll out the 5G+ network, also known as “real 5G” because it represents greater browsing speed and efficiency, as well as allowing operators to create virtual networks for specific purposes. After just over four years with 5G in Spain, This 2023 is finally the landing of the 5G SA networks (Stand Alone) or 5G+as it finally looks like the operators are calling it.
As the operator explains, Movistar customers will be able to enjoy 5G+ automatically and at no additional cost. Beyond improvements in speed and latency, 5G+ will allow better coverage when there are many people in the same space, for example at sporting events or concerts.
Movistar’s 5G+ is here
For this deployment, Movistar has partnered with Ericsson and Nokia as providers and will be carried out in the 3,500 MHz band. As already confirmed some time ago, for this new 5G network Huawei has been left out.
Initially the 5G+ network is available in 11 Spanish cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Seville, Palma de Mallorca, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Ávila, Segovia, Castellón, El Ferrol and Vigo. The goal is that by the end of this year, the 5G SA network will be available in most cities with more than 250,000 inhabitants, as well as in some other smaller towns.
In addition to the arrival of the 5G+ network, Movistar explains that its coverage of the 700 MHz band already reaches more than 2,200 municipalities, close to its established objective. Total, Movistar offers 5G coverage to more than 85% of the population.
With this move, Movistar joins Orange in offering 5G SA networks in Spain, who already offered it in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville since last February. The deployment of Movistar has come a little later, but also directly to more cities.
Orange continues to lead 5G+ coverage as it already reaches more than twenty cities that cover 30% of the population. In the case of Vodafone, it is expected to be available before March 2024.
In Xataka Mobile | Movistar, Vodafone, Orange and MásMóvil are fooling around with real 5G: this is what 5G+ and 5G Advanced really provide
