Telekom, one of the largest telecommunications operators in Romania, has many clients with very high expectations regarding the launch of the 5G network in Romania during 2019. Although Telekom would like to launch a 5G network in Romania, for now the group from which is part of the Romanian company has started testing networks of this kind only in a few countries in Europe, having no less than 150 active antennas through which it offers this technology.
Telekom, is owned by the German group Deutsche Telekom, and it has installed 150 5G antennas in various cities in Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland and the Netherlands, where the first tests were carried out before the launch. In the first quarter of 2019, the 5G tests carried out in these countries will help the group to launch 5G networks in other areas of the world very soon, Romania being unfortunately excluded from this project, probably because Telekom is not exactly on good terms with the government our.
Telekom is not testing 5G networks in Romania for now
Telekom, was at the center of a serious controversy the other day, after its CEO stated that it is possible that in 2019 the company he leads will not participate in the 5G auction due to GEO 114/2018. Just a few days after this announcement, the Minister of Communications asked the CEO of Telekom to withdraw his statement, reminding him that the Romanian Government owns 46% of Telekom Romania's shares, although this does not give them the right to decide anything.
German carrier Deutsche Telekom has 150 5G antennas already operational across the telco's footprint in Europe, Claudia Nemat, board member for technology and innovation at Deutsche Telekom, told reporters during a presentation at Mobile World Congress 2019. Nemat said that these 5G antennas are located in Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland and the Netherlands — the countries where the telco is currently carrying out its 5G trials.
Telekom, by not testing the 5G technology in Romania at the group level, gives a very clear signal that it is quite possible that the warning made by the CEO will become reality very soon. Unfortunately for us, Telekom's non-participation in the 5G auction will leave a much greater burden on the rest of the operators, and it is unlikely that they will cover the amount of 1 billion euros requested by the Government for the 5G frequencies in Romania.
Telekom, is the third largest telecommunications operator in Romania, depending on the revenues recorded during 2018.
