News
1&1 completes roll-out of 5G technology at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK
By implementing 5G based on Open RAN technology, a high data transmission rate is achieved that ensures a stable connection before, during and after the game. 1&1 relies on MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) antennas in the stadium, which achieve the simultaneous transmission of multiple data streams via the same radio channel. These antennas guarantee high data capacities, especially at times of high utilisation, when thousands of fans are using their mobile devices at the same time.
Following successful testing at the home matches at the beginning of May, the technology is now fully functional so that visitors can experience it during the EURO tournament in June and July. "With the commissioning of the world's first Open RAN stadium, 1&1 is once again putting an exclamation mark on innovative mobile communications solutions," explains Ralph Dommermuth, CEO of 1&1 AG.
Thanks to the Open RAN technology, 1&1's network also impresses with its sustainability and low power and space consumption - an important factor in the limited space of a stadium. For the network planning, the stadium was divided into a total of 24 outdoor sectors, four indoor sectors and two sectors to cover the north entrance and the car park. Outdoors, the network offers 48 active radio units, which are connected to 128 antennas. In addition, 87 active radio units for 5G and 4G and 21 passive antennas for the first two floors are installed indoors. Hundreds of cables between 15 and 200 metres long are used for networking, which are distributed via four small technical rooms on each floor. In total, over 10 kilometres of fibre optic lines and 30 kilometres of cable were laid in the stadium.