German football club FC Bayern München has partnered with Deutsche Telekom to offer 5G connectivity at its Allianz Arena stadium.
In a statement, FC Bayern München said that 5G mobile connection is now available and complements the previous LTE network. It added that fans will start experiencing the new technology once the COVID-19 pandemic is over and people can attend matches.
“With 5G technology, we have the opportunity to make visiting the stadium even more attractive for our fans than before. The Allianz Arena is known for being equipped to the highest technical standards. We are very pleased we can offer this mobile connection technology with our partner Deutsche Telekom,” said FC Bayern München AG CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “Of course it is a shame that our fans cannot currently experience this special progress live on site. Nevertheless, we want to continue to develop even during this unique situation, and we’re already well prepared for the resumption of play in front of spectators.”
A total of eleven 5G antennas had been installed in and around the stadium by Deutsche Telekom.
Allianz Arena München Stadion Managing Director Jürgen Muth said: “With 5G, thanks to Telekom and FC Bayern Munich, we now have the very latest mobile connection in the Allianz Arena. This marks the beginning of a new era in the field of mobile and network communication. We are also very proud to play a pioneering role in the field of stadium development.
Deutsche Telekom is rapidly expanding its 5G footprint across Germany. The carrier expects to deploy 5G technology in 14 additional cities this year to reach its goal of rolling out this technology in at least 20 of the largest German cities by the end of 2020.
In a conference call with investors, the carrier’s CEO Timotheus Höttges recently said Deutsche Telekom aims to cover half of the country with 5G during this year.
Deutsche Telekom kicked off the rollout of its 5G network in a limited number of cities across Germany at the beginning of July 2019. Currently, Telekom’s 5G network is available in Berlin, Bonn, Darmstadt, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Leipzig.
Deutsche Telekom expected to end 2019 with a total of 450 5G base stations across the country, according to previous press reports. By the end of 2020, the number of 5G sites is expected to climb to nearly 1,500.
