Polsat’s Plus first up with 5G in Poland

Plus, the mobile unit of Polsat Group, the Polish free and pay TV broadcaster, has launched the country’s first 5G mobile network.

Plus, operated by Polsat company Polkomtel, is operating 100 mobile transmitters across seven cities – Warsaw, Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin and Wrocław

The operator plans to extend its coverage to the whole of Wasaw and the surrounding area, with plans for over 500 additional 5G sites in this area.

Plus is currently commercialising some 5G smartphones and routers that support 5G using the 2.6GHz frequency range. The range of equipment will be expanded this month and in June, the operator said.

Polsat said that its 5G network would enable users to watch UHD movies, sports broadcasts, events and other programmes  as well as use cloud gaming services.

Polsat said the use of the 2.6GHz band would provide better network coverage than if only the 3.4-3.8GHz band was used as well as enabling aggregating different bands in the future.

The group said that its expansion of the network with the launch of 600 additional sites would provide coverage for over three million inhabitants across the seven cities concerned and the Warsaw agglomeration. It said the Warsaw and region network should be completed early next year.

Equipment for the rollout was provided by Ericsson.

Plus and Cyfrowy Polsat pay TV subscribers within range of transmitters are now able to use the network with compatible equipment.

The operator said it would launch a commercial offer soon, making the service available to plus and Cyfrowy Polsat internet subscribers as part of their existing packages.