O2 Expands 5G Integration into Streetlights Across Germany

In a significant move to enhance mobile connectivity, O2 Telefónica is set to transform ordinary streetlights into 5G mobile network stations in the 25 largest cities in Germany. This innovative approach aims to bolster network capacity for both individual smartphone users and businesses in bustling urban centers and tourist hotspots.

O2 Telefónica, in collaboration with infrastructure provider 5G Synergiewerk, is embarking on this ambitious project as part of a broader strategy to improve 5G network access nationwide. The initial phase of this rollout will focus on integrating upgraded 5G technology into existing streetlights, enhancing the overall network reliability and speed for users.

The initiative includes the installation of 'Smart Poles', which are specialized streetlights equipped with 5G technology. A pilot project has already been launched in cities such as Frankfurt, Cologne, and Würzburg, with plans to install 50 additional Smart Poles by the end of the year. Contracts for these installations are being negotiated with local city administrations to ensure smooth implementation.

In Frankfurt, several locations, including Kornmarkt, Nibelungenplatz, and Mainzer Landstraße, are set to receive these upgraded streetlights by May. Additional installations are planned in other major cities like Cologne (Heumarkt), Hannover (Maschsee), and Stuttgart (Bopser). O2's strategy also considers the needs of large events, with plans for enhanced coverage around venues like Theresienwiese in Munich and along the Rhine bridges in Düsseldorf during events like the Rheinkirmes. The integration of 5G streetlights in tourist-heavy areas along the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Lake Constance is also on the agenda.

For the installation of these 5G streetlights, O2's partner, 5G Synergiewerk, will replace existing lamps with Smart Poles that house both the lighting and the necessary network technology. These poles will connect to a fiber optic network, which may require additional installation efforts.

This concept is not entirely new; Vodafone is also testing similar 5G-enabled lamp posts in Cologne, collaborating with Smart Cells. Additionally, both Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom are exploring advertising columns as viable antenna locations, with Deutsche Telekom having already outfitted 200 such columns in Berlin by 2021.