Romania's RCS&RDS (Digi) launched its first 5G commercial service, 'Digi Mobil 5G Smart,' in the capital Bucharest. RCS&RDS is deploying Ericsson’s 3GPP standards-based 5G New Radio (NR) hardware and software built on top of the operator's 4G network.
This first phase of Digi’s 5G rollout is a non-standalone (NSA) deployment focused on using the combined power of 4G and 5G. In the coming weeks, RCS&RDS and Ericsson will activate more 5G radios and base stations in Bucharest and the city of Cluj-Napoca.
The operator will also launch 5G in another five locations in Romania in the following weeks, Constanta, the 'Mamaia' Black Sea resort, Oradea, Cluj-Napoca and Iasi.
The official launch takes place on 27 June in the context of a marketing event held in Bucharest’s Old City Center. The event is attended by members of the press and public authorities's representatives.
Following this service's launch, customers of RCS&RDS' unit Digi Mobil in Bucharest have access to 5G speeds and low latency services provided via RCS&RDS' first 5G base stations.
In September, the service will be further expanded to Sinaia, Busteni, Predeal, Brasov, Poiana Brasov, Timisoara, Craiova and Sibiu. The 5G network's development will be gradual and will be in line with the market interest shown in connection with this new technology, the company said.
The operator also started to take pre-orders for its 5G compatible smartphones, Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G (64GB or 128GB) and Huawei Mate 20X 5G, via digiromania.ro.
Rival Vodafone Romania recently launched its first 5G subscriptions.
Romania plans to start an auction for additional spectrum needed for 5G wireless networks in the fourth quarter of 2019.
RCS&RDS said it can start offering 5G services through its already available commercial spectrum in the 3.6-3.8 GHz band.
