Berlin Metro passengers can now experience uninterrupted high-speed 4G LTE connectivity while traveling on all underground routes, such as O2 Telefonica (Telefonica Germany) and Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), Berlin's public transport company, have completed the deployment of 4G LTE mobile network as project leaders. This means that customers of all major mobile operators, including Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefonica Germany, can now benefit from 4G connectivity in the Berlin metro.
Also read: Telefonica Germany expands 5G network along highways and railways
Seamless connectivity implementation
Telefónica led the project to improve mobile coverage by creating a completely new shared-use architecture, laying 1,000 km of fiber and installing more than 360 antennas, 350 repeaters and 30 base stations in the tunnels.
Previously, the network technology was spread across various underground business premises along the route network. From now on, four central above-ground data centers – the so-called 'BTS Hotels' – offer access to the base stations, allowing major mobile operators to deliver new hardware and software much faster. Telephonics said.
The modern network architecture is further optimized to improve quality in addition to basic expansion, laying the foundation for 5G. In the first step, mobile operators will build a 5G network on the 3.6 GHz frequency band, Telephonics added.
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Improved commuting experience
“We are proud that we have successfully completed Germany's largest indoor mobile project. Berliners as well as guests from home and abroad now also have the high network comfort that they are otherwise used to in the city in the subway. We are not only expanded the network, but also created a completely new mobile infrastructure that provides an optimal foundation for the network of the future. We will provide Berlin with fast 5G on a large scale and will drive the expansion both above and below ground,” says O2 Phone.
“This allows all Berliners and guests in our federal capital to surf and stream on one of the three German mobile networks when they are in the metro. This is the time to take the next step and also provide the routes with the latest 5G technology,” says Deutsche Telekom.
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Additionally, O2 Telefonica reported that its metro customers' daily usage has increased sevenfold since 2019 to approximately 35,000 GB.
