“The next phase of 5G arrives today”
KPN launched its KPN 5G service back in summer 2020. Today, it’s available throughout the Netherlands and KPN is recognized globally for both its network quality and coverage. But even excellent mobile networks can be improved because, as of today, the coveted 3.5 GHz frequency band for 5G has become available too. This marks the start of the next phase of 5G, with even more capacity, faster download speeds and also innovative applications for consumers and business customers. We asked Erik Brands, director Mobile Networks at KPN, five questions about the evolution of 5G.
The 3.5-GHz band has already been installed in the busiest places and we’re activating it today
5G has been around for a few years. What will change now?
“We have provided 5G coverage throughout the Netherlands via the 700 MHz band in recent years. So, the 5G service is actually already very good for the various users. The only other thing the Netherlands needed was the 3.5-GHz band for increased capacity and speed. Well, we’re activating it today. The next phase of 5G will start with the new 3.5-GHz spectrum that KPN acquired in the spectrum auction. It is enabling us to increase network capacity even more and offer our customers the benefit of faster download speeds. On the one hand, this means that we can continue to offer high-quality mobile services in a world in which data traffic is continuing to grow rapidly. On the other hand, our access to the very latest 5G technology has put us in a position to develop innovative new 5G services for our customers too.”
Which differences will users notice?
“We have the world’s best mobile networks here in the Netherlands. There’s good coverage almost everywhere and people can do everything on their smartphones: calling, surfing the web, streaming videos and gaming. We have completely updated the network and prepared it for the future in recent years. In the years ahead, we will continue to expand it to ensure it continues to meet our customers’ needs and requirements. The demand for data is growing every year too, so our network capacity needs to grow as well. Fortunately, the new frequencies give us access to far more network capacity. As of today, the huge increase in capacity available to us means that customers will notice that the network is even better and faster than it was before. This will translate into a noticeably better mobile experience and an even more stable connection, particularly in the busier parts of our network - like city centers, big train stations and football stadiums.”
Customers will notice the difference in places like city centers, big train stations and football stadiums
Does that mean we can expect fiber speeds on our mobile phones at long last?
“That’s definitely a possibility. In some places, mobile users will now start to experience very high speeds. Although the difference in other places will be less obvious, KPN’s 5G service will offer a very stable and fast connection there too. Naturally, customers’ ability to get the most out of the network will also depend on other factors like the type of device, subscription and user numbers close by.”
Will the 3.5 GHz band be available everywhere in the Netherlands?
“We have already installed the 3.5 GHz band in the busiest places and are activating it today. The next step will be to gradually roll it out in other parts of the Netherlands. We will do this on the basis of a demand-driven approach. The areas that stand to benefit most from the new frequency band will be at the front of the queue. This will make our 5G network even better and we expect the average download speed to increase significantly.”
5G via 3.5 GHz will be a catalyst for the continuing digitalization of industry, logistics and healthcare
Will the launch of the 3.5 GHz band benefit business customers too?
“Definitely. 5G will have added value for many business applications in particular and the technology can be a catalyst for the far-reaching digitalization of various sectors and companies. Companies are increasingly using mobile networks for their business operations and business critical processes. This requires networks that are stable and fast but also autonomy, reliability and guarantees. 5G has many opportunities to offer here and our new KPN Campus services will create a whole range of interesting new possibilities for our business customers in industry, logistics and healthcare, etc. Besides that, many applications also rely on a high level of security, high-quality coverage, availability guarantees and fast response times.”