Telefónica has launched its summer plan with new roll-outs in 34 tourist towns along the Spanish coast; enhanced coverage for large-scale events with 109 mobile units; and a special operation in the geographical areas where the solar eclipse on 12 August will be visible.
Sergio Sánchez, Director of Operations, Network and IT at Telefónica España, emphasises: “Telefónica is taking on the undeniable challenge of becoming the best gateway for citizens to access digital technologies. We have the best network to offer more and better services where our customers need them most, especially at times of peak tourist numbers such as this summer period.”
Expansion and optimisation of coastal towns
This year’s summer roll-out has involved more than 500 optimisation projects on existing infrastructure, as well as new installations in 34 key towns along the Spanish coast: A Coruña, Almuñécar, Arteixo, Barbate, Benalmádena, Benicasim, Benidorm, Calvià, Cambrils, Castro-Urdiales, Chiclana de la Frontera, Ciudadela de Menorca, Conil de la Frontera, Dénia, Ibiza, Estepona, Ferrol, Fuengirola, Lepe, Llanes, Mahón, Marbella, Mijas, Palafrugell, Pontevedra, Rota, Salou, San Javier, Sant Josep de sa Talaia, Sanxenxo, Tarifa, Torremolinos, Torrevieja and El Vendrell.
Telefónica is thus continuing to consolidate its leadership in 5G, which now reaches over 95 per cent of Spain’s population and more than 6,200 municipalities, whether on the 3,500 MHz band (high performance), the 700 MHz band, or both. This combination of mobile technologies enables the provision of ultra-broadband mobile coverage across virtually the entire country, in both rural and urban areas throughout Spain.
Telefónica’s push for high-performance 5G enables users to multiply their browsing speed and reduce latency to a minimum, resulting in an optimal mobile experience, with almost instantaneous downloads, uninterrupted cloud gaming and high-definition streaming, whilst maintaining the highest network quality even in the busiest areas.
Furthermore, the 3,500 MHz band provides Telefónica’s network with massive and robust capacity, making it strategic for both residential and business customers by enabling advanced features such as network slicing for the development of services tailored to customers’ specific needs.
This band is complemented by the 700 MHz band, which guarantees extensive coverage whilst improving connectivity inside buildings thanks to its high penetration capacity and low latency.
Record-breaking deployment for sporting events and competitions
Until 15 September, Telefónica will monitor and optimise its network at 440 events across the country, using advanced configuration techniques and installing a total of 109 mobile units equipped with high-performance 5G to ensure the best user experience at the busiest events.
Particularly noteworthy within this technical deployment for events are the seven units allocated to the Madrid Formula 1 Grand Prix and the four units that will accompany the route of the Vuelta a España cycling race.
The mobile units ensure connectivity during particularly crowded summer events such as festivals, concerts and major cultural gatherings. This portable equipment acts as a strategic reinforcement of the network, temporarily increasing data transmission capacity and speed in areas with high demand for data services at specific times of the year.
Network measures for the solar eclipse
Beyond its strictly summer-focused plans, Telefónica is also working this year to boost coverage in the geographical areas where the solar eclipse on 12 August will be most clearly visible – another of this summer’s connectivity challenges.
To this end, the operator is carrying out network work, such as configuration adjustments to optimise the mobile signal at more than 200 locations spread across the thousands of kilometres covered by the upcoming solar eclipse in Spain. The eclipse will be particularly visible in Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Castile -La Mancha, Castile and León, Catalonia, the Community of Madrid, the Valencian Community, Galicia, La Rioja, Navarre and the Basque Country, with the aim of ensuring the network can cope with the massive influx of national and international observers.
