Orange Polska wants to implement the 5G network in 2020-2021

WSE-listed telecom Orange Polska wants to conduct the first tests of its 5G network in 2019 and fully deploy it in 2020-21, the company said in a market filing. “Tests will initially cover isolated areas, and later, along with the progress of work, solutions covering all elements of the network, and are planned for 2019,” the company said. The company’s CEO, Jean-Fracois Falacher, added that the operator is currently expanding its fiber-optic network, and will use it as a backbone of the 5G network. According to him, the new standard will be implemented only if the company is able to obtain 3.6 and 3.8 GHz frequencies. The Ministry of Digitalization in its recently published strategy said that it wants the 5G network to be allocated a radio band at 700 MHz, a range of 3.4-3.8 GHz and a band with a frequency above 26 GHz. Distribution of the 700 MHz frequency would take place in 2020, while the distribution of ranges 3.4-3.8 GHz and above 26 GHz - in 2021. 5G, is the 5th generation mobile network with higher capacity than current 4G (LTE), allowing a higher density of mobile broadband users, and implementation of the internet of things.