Telecoms Provide 5G to More than 80% of Population; Plan to Expand Coverage in 2022 (Spain)

By B.N. Frank

Opposition to 5G has been ongoing worldwide for years due to a variety of significant risks associated with the controversial technology. Since 2017 doctors and scientists have been asking for moratoriums on Earth and in space (see 1, 2) and the majority of scientists oppose deployment. Since 2018 there have been reports of people and animals experiencing symptoms and illnesses after 5G was installed (see 1, 2, 3, 4). Some blame the COVID Crisis on 5G deployment while others do not. Regardless, there are health risks associated with exposure to 5G as well as exposure to 4G and other sources of wireless Wi-Fi radiation (see 1, 2) and Electromagnetic Fields (aka “Electrosmog”).

Opposition and warnings have slowed and/or stopped 5G deployment in some places but not others.

From RCR Wireless:

Masmovil’s 5G network reaches 686 towns and cities across Spain

Juan Pedro Tomás – December 27, 2021

Masomovil is using 80 megahertz in the 3.5 GHz band

Spanish telecom operator Masmovil is currently offering 5G service in 686 towns and cities in 40 provinces across Spain for the customers of its Yoigo brand, the company said in a release.

According to the telco, 54% of the country’s population is already covered with its 5G network infrastructure.

The carrier’s 5G service is being offered via a combination of its own infrastructure and an agreement with rival operator Orange. Masmovil currently has 80 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band for the provision of 5G.

Some of the provinces in which the carrier provides 5G include Alicante, Almería, Asturias, Ávila, Barcelona, Cádiz, Cantabria, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Huesca, León, Lugo, Madrid, Málaga, Melilla, Murcia, Navarra, Ourense, Las Palmas, Pontevedra, La Rioja, Salamanca, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Sevilla, Valencia, Valladolid, Zamora and Zaragoza. Since September, the telco expanded its 5G infrastructure in 133 cities across Spain.

The operator also said it aims to continue deploying 5G infrastructure in the coming months to expand its current coverage. The telco also noted that its 5G portfolio already includes over 30 devices.

In October 2019, Masmovil signed an agreement with Orange Spain covering mobile, fiber and broadband technologies. The deal gives Masmovil access to Orange Spain’s entire 5G network thanks to a “virtual active sharing mode” agreement, enabling it to deploy 5G in 4,500 locations that cover 35% of the Spanish population in 40 main cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Malaga and Bilbao. Orange will deploy a total of 1,500 new sites through the end of 2021 in Spain.

The 5G deal between Masmovil and Orange will be valid until 2028 and is extendable for 5 additional years.

Rival Orange is already offering 5G services in 787 towns and cities in 38 provinces across the country. According to the European operator, its 5G network infrastructure already reaches 52% of the Spanish population.

Orange had said it expects its 5G network to reach 90% of the Spanish population by the end of 2022.

Orange is currently offering 5G in the country through a combination of non-standalone (NSA) 5G and Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) technologies. The operator launched commercial 5G services in Spain in September of 2020, using equipment provided by Swedish vendor Ericsson.

Meanwhile, Telefónica previously said it has extended the coverage of its 5G network to over 80% of the country’s population as of the end of the first quarter of 2021, having installed more than 4,300 nodes that offer coverage to more than 37 million inhabitants.

The telco said that its 5G network reached 1,253 towns and cities across Spain. The company launched its 5G service in September 2020.

Vodafone had launched Spain’s first commercial 5G network in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Malaga, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Vitoria, San Sebastian, La Coruna, Vigo, Gijon, Pamplona, Logrono and Santander in June 2019. It has also carried out more than 130 use cases over the 5G network in fields such as smart cities, agriculture, health and tourism with the collaboration some 30 partners.