Crnogorski Telekom tests 5G+ in cooperation with Ericsson Nikola Tesla

Crnogorski Telekom consistently realizes its vision of technological leadership, leading and directing the development of innovations in telecommunications in Montenegro. The telecom announced that testing of advanced 5G+ technology is in full swing. It is operating in the 26 GHz band known as mmWave and enables speeds of up to 4 Gbps on Crnogorski Telekom’s mobile network.

The background of this process is that the telecom invests significant financial and professional resources, enabling the testing of the currently most advanced 5G technology, which will bring multiple advantages of new generations of mobile networks in the future. The company points out that the first 5G+ technology tests have already been achieved at a frequency of 26 GHz, approaching 4 Gb/s.

Telecom’s improvements and investments worth millions in 5G network performance directly contribute to economic growth, the creation of a thriving economic environment and the strengthening of the infrastructure base for increased productivity and innovation.

5G+ in the 26 GHz band (mmWave) in full implementation will enable extremely high data transfer speeds, low latency and mass connectivity. This technology can significantly boost the digitalization of industry, enabling advanced solutions in sectors such as industrial automation, smart agriculture and telemedicine, reducing operating costs and improving efficiency, including the development of AR/VR applications, with numerous additional benefits. It also encourages innovation in the startup ecosystem and attracts investment in the technology sector. In countries like Montenegro, 5G can reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areas, enable a more even development and open the door to the global market through digital services and remote work.

With Crnogorski Telekom, a path towards a modern network that can be compared to the most advanced European countries is built. Accelerated modernization, which began in February 2022 when this telecom was the first to introduce 5G technology in Montenegro, continued with speeds above 1 Gb/s. Today, according to official measurements, Crnogorski Telekom has the highest 5G signal coverage in the country. At the beginning of 2024, the company further strengthened its leading position as the first and only operator in Montenegro to turn off the 3G network, clearly showing the vision of the future and following the standards of the most advanced telecommunications companies on a global level.

The Chief Executive Officer of Crnogorski Telekom, Stjepan Udovičić, pointed out that the company is leading the digital transformation, and the testing of mmWave technology is a significant step towards the future of ultra-fast Internet and next-generation 5G networks.

“This technology enables gigabit speeds, minimal latency and more stable connectivity, especially in densely populated urban areas and business zones. Its application opens the door to advanced solutions such as smart cities, industrial automation and telemedicine, which will significantly contribute to the digitalization and economic competitiveness of Montenegro. Crnogorski Telekom remains dedicated to providing the best user experience and building an infrastructure that will enable faster development of the entire society by using innovation,” said Udovičić.

He also expressed his gratitude to Telekom’s partner, Ericsson Nikola Tesla d.d., for their help and support in the implementation of this important project.

“I am very pleased that we are continuing our fruitful and long-term partnership with Crnogorski Telekom,” said Gordana Kovačević, President of Ericsson Nikola Tesla, and added:

“This cooperation is based on a shared vision of innovation and providing superior customer service. The implementation of 5G+ technology will bring numerous advantages for the users of Crnogorski Telekom and a significant improvement of user experience, and at the same time it is the basis for a number of new opportunities brought by digital transformation.

Our experts, with many years of experience in the implementation of advanced telecommunications solutions, together with Ericsson technology, enable us to provide state-of-the-art and reliable services to our customers. The continuation of our successful cooperation with Crnogorski Telekom brings technological innovations that will improve the way its users communicate and do business. We are actively working to create a better digital future for our customers and society as a whole,” Kovačević concluded.

Bojan Domazetović, Team Leader of RAN development department at Crnogorski Telekom, emphasized the importance of the results achieved in testing 5G+ technology: “It is precisely these results and achievements that make our development work extremely interesting and significant.” Telekom continuously ensures the conditions for the improvement of existing and the development of new, advanced technologies with its ambitious strategy. By using 800 MHz bandwidth at a frequency of 26 GHz, we achieved speeds that represent a big step forward in the first tests compared to the previous performance of the mobile network. At the same time, it is just the beginning of what we are planning – further development, optimization and aggregation of all 5G capacities.”

Ivan Barać, Director of Sales and Marketing for Hrvatski Telekom and Crnogorski Telekom, emphasized the importance of testing mmWave technology within the 5G network, highlighting the potential for further development:

“This successful demonstration of the use of an additional 800 MHz bandwidth at a frequency of 26 GHz in a non-standalone (NSA) 5G network shows the key role of mmWave technology in the further development of 5G,” said Barać.

He added that such technological capabilities ensure high capacity and low latency, which is a basic prerequisite for providing high-bandwidth services in localized areas and enables higher user density.

“Using these frequencies unlocks the full 5G experience in applications, responds to the increasing demand of a growing number of internet-connected devices, and fuels the expansion of smart cities and a fully connected society,” Barać emphasized.

He concluded that the future evolution towards a standalone (SA) 5G network, on which they are already working together, brings even higher speeds than those demonstrated today, as well as new opportunities for economic growth outside of traditional business models.

Telekom recalled that it had made record investments in the previous year, investing 20 million euros in improving the network, technological platforms and user experience, thereby further strengthening its leading position in 5G and 4G signal coverage in Montenegro (Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services of Montenegro – EKIP, October). Today, Crnogorski Telekom’s 5G network covers more than 90 % of the population, while the availability of 4G signals is at a high level of 98 %.

Also, TRI*M measurements show that Telekom has had the most satisfied mobile internet users on the Montenegrin market for three years in a row. In addition, the telecom’s internal measurements show that over 80 % of surveyed users would give the stability and coverage of the mobile network the highest ratings, while the same percentage recommends it to their loved ones.