TPG Telecom has recently tripled its average site coverage footprint, an effect brought about by activating its 5G standalone core. Currently, the telco can already reach 85% of the population across ten major cities and regions. TPG also added that capability upgrades for major 5G devices could be expected in the coming weeks.

According to TPG Telecom CEO Inaki Berroeta, “This is truly a pivotal moment for TPG Telecom and sets us up to deliver 5G’s full potential. The upgraded core network has amplified our 700MHz spectrum, tripling our 5G coverage and giving us greater reach across suburbs and in densely populated areas.”

“This will give us a competitive boost going forward, with our 5G coverage on par or ahead of other mobile networks in many areas,” he added. “It not only means more coverage in more places for mobile customers, but it also significantly increases our 5G fixed wireless footprint.”

Additionally, TPG Telecom started a partnership with Ericsson and Nokia to build its 5G standalone core. This core is set to connect devices directly to 5G without needing a 4G connection. In this case, Ericsson will provide the Evolved Packet Core solution while Nokia will provide the subscriber data management solutions.

“The merger has enabled us to build a better and smarter 5G network faster than we otherwise would have, delivering one of the biggest and most tangible benefits for customers,” he said. “Using innovative approaches such as our 5G factory-assembly, we have also significantly increased our speed of site delivery, switching on more than100 5G sites per month.”

“We will deliver around 160 5G sites in November,” he added. “No other carrier has achieved that with a full upgrade like ours and we are now delivering more sites a month than the others combined.”

Barry Kezik, EGM mobile and fixed networks, said that the telco has 15MHz of contiguous 700MHz spectrum. This is the lowest 5G frequency band deployed in the country with the most extensive range. 

“700MHz in combination with the standalone core gives us the ability to provide wide outdoor 5G services, as well as deep indoor 5G coverage in urban and suburban areas,” he said. “As the ecosystem evolves and we move more customers and terminals to 5G. One of the good pieces that we have with the modern network has been knocking this down and rebuilding it. Everything is actually natively ready for us to evolve to 5G standalone...we’ve been actively working with all the flagship device manufacturers with the first device ready within weeks.”