Telefonica Deutschland and 5G Synergiewerk began the nationwide expansion of a project to use street lighting poles to bolster mobile coverage across urban areas and tourist hotspots in Germany.
The “5G streetlight” kit is already used in parts of Frankfurt, Cologne and Wurzburg from pilot projects. Following successes in these locations, the partners plan to install the infrastructure across the country’s 25 largest cities.
Infrastructure specialist 5G Synergiewerk is in the process of negotiating contracts with authorities in target locations. Telefonica noted preparations were underway in several places including Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart and Dusseldorf.
The operator indicated the infrastructure would expand existing coverage and up capacity in busy areas with the “mini masts” barely noticeable on the street furniture.
It added the deployments were especially useful “wherever rooftops are scarce and customer data requirements are high”.
Alongside boosting coverage for constantly busy areas the project is set to target locations where tourists gravitate for specific occasions, including for Oktoberfest in Munich and Rheinkirmes fair in Dusseldorf.
5G Synergiewerk MD Ralf Gerbershagen said: “by replacing conventional streetlights with modern 5G streetlights, cities have multifunctional tools that not only provide their citizens with nighttime lighting, but also a better mobile network”.