In a significant milestone for Spanish telecommunications, Telefonica has successfully expanded its 5G network to cover more than 90% of Spain’s population, signaling a major leap in connectivity. Since the launch of its 5G service in September 2020, the company has continually prioritized enhancing both urban and rural connectivity to offer faster and more reliable mobile internet. Telefonica’s 3.5 GHz network now reaches 1,500 municipalities, a notable increase from the 1,000 localities it covered in June. This 50% increase in coverage not only provides quicker speeds but also low-latency mobile broadband, which is crucial for improving the user experience and allowing industries to adopt advanced solutions like network slicing.
Telefonica is not stopping at just the 3.5 GHz band; the company is also rolling out 5G on the 700 MHz band, extending coverage to 3,585 localities. This lower frequency band significantly boosts mobile coverage and enhances indoor performance, providing a robust complement to the existing 3.5 GHz network. As part of this major expansion, Movistar, Telefonica’s arm, launched 5G Standalone (SA) coverage in mid-2023 in key cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. There are plans to extend this SA network to cities with populations exceeding 250,000 by the end of 2023. Backed by technology giants Ericsson and Nokia, the 5G SA network promises browsing speeds of up to 1,600 Mbps.
The expansion of Telefonica’s 5G network is expected to accelerate digital innovation across Spain by offering improved connectivity for both consumers and various industries. The enhanced network capabilities will support a range of advanced applications, from smart city initiatives to more efficient industrial processes. Despite this rapid progress, challenges remain, particularly in maintaining consistent quality of service amid increasing demand and data usage. With this significant step, Telefonica continues to pave the way for the future of telecommunications in Spain, contributing to a more connected and technologically advanced society. As the rollout progresses, attention will be essential to ensure the network can handle the growing needs of its users.