Under the deal, COSMOTE will utilise 5G RAN products and solutions from the Ericsson Radio System and, under a common approach to energy optimisation, Ericsson said its Radio System radios and basebands will “improve the carbon footprint of COSMOTE’S current network, contributing to significant energy savings”.
Michael Tsamaz, OTE group chairman and CEO, said: “5G is the future of telecommunications and a necessary precondition for the Gigabit Society. It is the underlying technology which will be used by all the innovative applications that will change our lives in the near future.
“OTE Group creates the state-of-the-art infrastructure that our country and society need in the new digital era. We invest heavily to enable our customers to enjoy the innovative services and products brought by 5G. With technology and innovation, we create a better world for all," he added.
As Greece’s largest mobile communications service provider COSMOTE is the mobile arm of OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organization), which is part of the Deutsche Telekom Group.
Greece’s commercial 5G launch is scheduled for next year, with spectrum auctions due to begin in the last quarter of this year, according to current time lines from Greece’s National Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT).
Arun Bansal, president of Europe and Latin America at Ericsson, added: “5G is a platform that will change lives, business and society in Greece for the better. It will create opportunities for COSMOTE in industry and digital partnerships that will allow Greece to compete in technology innovation. We’re leading the way in 5G in Europe and the world and we will work closely with COSMOTE to ensure that they, and their customers, benefit from this network modernisation.”
According to Ericsson, the company currently has 86 commercial 5G agreements and contracts with unique operators, of which 39 are publicly announced 5G deals, including 27 live 5G networks across four continents.
Most recently Ericsson confirmed it is working with Telenor and Sinch. Further, mergers and acquisitions have been identified by president and CEO Börje Ekholm as an “important part” of the company’s 5G strategy.
