Vodafone UK tests new 3.4GHz spectrum for 5G
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Vodafone UK tests new 3.4GHz spectrum for 5G

Vodafone UK says it has completed the first test of new 5G spectrum across an existing live network.

The company, which won the spectrum in the UK’s latest auction, said it was the first time that the 3.4GHz band has been used in the UK.

Nick Jeffery, CEO of Vodafone UK, said: “Today’s test is just the beginning. We are now preparing our network for 5G while continuing to increase the capacity and extend the reach of our existing 4G network.”

To carry out the 5G spectrum test, Vodafone used a site at its Manchester contact centre, which houses around 1,000 customer service employees, and its offices in Newbury. The test relied on a technology known as Active Antennae or Massive MIMO, combined with 3.4 GHz spectrum running over the core 4G network.

A key building block for 5G, the system has multiple antennae to send and receive data more efficiently, boosting capacity where lots of people are connecting to the network at the same time.

Jeffery said: “5G will improve the quality of our lives and transform how we work. This next generation technology will enable medical services that could save lives, from remote surgery to remote care for the elderly. It will enhance industrial applications, from automated systems to robotics, helping manufacturers across the UK boost their productivity.”



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