“5G is the future of economic growth, business innovation and the wider progress of the place and the improvement of the quality of life of all of us,” Chrysis Finiotis, senior director of Technology & Information Technology at Cyta, told “F”.
To be precise, from today the possibility of using 5G in Cyprus is a fact, something that can be safely deduced from the invitation distributed by Cytamobile-Vodafone for “live streaming event, which marks a new era in the evolution of communication”. The online -festive- event will take place today at 6 pm and according to Cytamobile-Vodafone “the future begins”! Apparently with the official announcement of the commercial launch of 5G technology.
In his interview with “F”, Mr. Finiotis informs that the semi-governmental organization has completed the stage of its investments in the necessary infrastructure, has completed the cycle of licenses and is now ready for the commercial exploitation of the 5G network, offering its customers expanded possibilities. (“With incredibly increased speeds”) and options, which will increase gradually. All that is required of consumers is the possession of an accredited device (the accreditation process will be continuous and the compatible devices will gradually increase) and its use in the areas covered by the new network (70% of the free areas), without no additional charge is imposed.
Specifically, Mr. Finiotis states that “Cyta is ready to take the first step for an exciting new era, bringing to Cyprus the first 5G network. With the licensing of the 5G frequency spectrum by the state, it gave the green light for the implementation of our infrastructure development plan. Imagine the infrastructure, ie the networks, as the 'streets', or the 'boulevards' of a city. First the roads need to be created and then the cars need to be released. “So, we have already started to open the 'roads' for those cars that are properly equipped, that is, the mobile devices that support the new technology and have been certified, so that they can use them immediately”.
According to him, 5G networks are the 5th generation of wireless networks, ie the natural continuation, the evolution of the existing 4G networks. They aim to create a technological ecosystem that will benefit, not only end-users, by enhancing the user experience, but will also allow the emergence of new services and business models. 5G manages voice and data with significantly higher data rates (10 to 100 times), more device connectivity, faster response, better power and power management, improved overall wireless coverage, greater reliability and increased interface availability.
All Cytamobile-Vodafone subscribers, individuals and companies will have access to the 5G network, at no extra charge and regardless of the contract plan, card contract or prepaid. All SIMs that are compatible with the 4G network are also compatible with the 5G network. All you need is subscribers to have a 5G device, certified in the Cyta network and be in an area with 5G coverage.
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“5G is the future of economic growth, business innovation and the wider progress of the place and the improvement of the quality of life of all of us,” Chrysis Finiotis, senior director of Technology & Information Technology at Cyta, told “F”.
And the semi-governmental organization has completed the stage of its investments in the necessary infrastructure, completed the cycle of licenses and is ready for the commercial exploitation of the 5G network, offering its customers expanded possibilities (“with incredibly increased speeds”) and options, which will gradually increase. What is required of consumers is only the possession of an accredited device and its use in the areas that will be covered by the new network (70% of the free areas), no additional charge will be imposed.
What investments has your organization made to be almost ready to provide this service today? How much did the new infrastructure cost Cyta?
In telecommunications, the ability to stay on top of technology is a prerequisite for survival. At Cyta, since 2015 we have started a very demanding program of modernization of the mobile network, investing tens of millions of euros, from equity, without bank lending, something that is of particular importance. In this direction, the introduction of the 5G network was also planned. With Cyta specifications in quality, reliability, security and technological excellence, 5G lays the foundations of the digital transformation of our country. We create the background, the main pillar of the digital ecosystem, that will support the introduction of new innovative services, products and applications. With incredibly high speeds and a new upgraded user experience. That's why the investments we made for 5G do not stop here. They are enduring and prescribe an exciting future. And 5G is the future of economic growth, business innovation and the wider progress of the place and the improvement of the quality of life of all of us.
What was the key factor that allowed Cyta to be able to offer 5G first, in Cyprus?
Cyta has timeless know-how in the development of reliable networks and infrastructure. We want every new step we take to be a step of confidence and reliability, which is why we timely installed and operated the first 5G internal pilot network in Cyprus, at Cyta's facilities, a fact that has now allowed us to step into the solid ground of specialization and expertise of our staff. 5G networks require very complex design, implementation, control, and thorough preparation techniques. They also require full compliance with internationally recognized international standards. It is in this context that we moved to Cyta, to create the infrastructure that gradually releases new unprecedented opportunities and boosts the economy, while making our lives better.
At what point today, Mr. Finiotis, are Cyta's final preparations for the start of commercial use of 5G networks? What is left for the big event for the organization itself and the country?
Cyta is ready to take the first step for an exciting new era, bringing the first 5G network to Cyprus. With the licensing of the 5G frequency spectrum by the state, it gave the green light for the implementation of our infrastructure development plan. Imagine the infrastructure, ie the networks, as the 'streets', or the 'boulevards' of a city. First the roads need to be created and then the cars need to be released. So we have already started paving the way for those cars that are properly equipped, that is, mobile devices that support the new technology and have been certified, so that they can use them immediately.
How late does this technology reach Cyprus, compared to other countries in Europe and elsewhere?
The planning and preparation had started at the right time, as significant preparation is required in the various infrastructures of our network and regardless of the provision of the relevant spectrum. Despite the expected delays caused by the pandemic, we are within the time frame set by the European Union. The European directive to the Member States provided for the sponsorship of the relevant radio frequency spectrum until the end of 2020, as it was done, which now allows the commercial operation of 5G networks. International reports increase the number of commercial networks already operating in the European Union to 85, while globally it is 160. It is worth mentioning that, since December 2020, three commercial networks were launched in Greece, by Cosmote, Vodafone and Wind.
How is 5G technology different from existing mobile technologies (2G, 3G, 4G)?
Each generation of wireless telecommunications is designed to serve the specific needs of technological applications and features. Initially, the first generation of mobile communication, 1G, introduced the concept of wireless analog telephony, exclusively for voice. Subsequently, 2G was designed primarily for voice over digital telephony and introduced SMS and MMS chatting, creating a new “language” of communication. Then, 3G, thanks to the increase in data capacity, made video communication and the use of Mobile Internet possible for the first time. The latest technology, 4G, brought significantly increased speeds, live video and HD streaming.
5G networks are the 5th generation of wireless networks, ie the natural continuation, the evolution of the existing 4G networks. They aim to create a technological ecosystem that will benefit, not only end-users, by enhancing the user experience, but will also allow the emergence of new services and business models. 5G manages voice and data with significantly higher data rates (10 to 100 times), more device connectivity, faster response, better power and power management, improved overall wireless coverage, greater reliability and increased interface availability.
Far below the limits are electromagnetic fields
What are the limits of human exposure to 5G broadcasting and how different or larger is this broadcast compared to 4G? How justified are the concerns of part of the population in Cyprus and elsewhere?
It should first be made clear that the determination of the boundaries does not concern Cyta, but is the subject of scientific research and study by independent bodies and reputable international organizations. Cyta, as a technology and communications organization, but also a public benefit organization, applies the provisions of the legislation determined by the state. In Cyprus, the maximum exposure limits are set by the Ministry of Health, which has adopted the EU recommendations, which in turn has adopted the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
With the introduction of each new mobile technology there is a relative adjustment to the levels of electromagnetic fields (EMF) recorded. In any case, the total levels of EMFs are much lower than the limits set by law, as confirmed by the relevant measurements of state-certified / licensed laboratories, carried out over the last 15 years, at all base stations of mobile networks communications in Cyprus. The same is true after the introduction of 5G technology.
It is worth mentioning that, as the use of the previous generations of mobile telephony networks (2G, 3G, 4G) decreases, the exposure levels decrease accordingly. It is therefore important that the public is properly informed about the security framework governing wireless communications. The more reliable the information, the smaller the space for misinformation and “fake news”.
Only one compatible device is enough
What should consumers and Mr. Finiotis do, from a technical and procedural point of view, in order to use 5G? Do they need to invest in new technology or additional infrastructure? Will connecting to the new network cost extra money for your customer?
All Cytamobile-Vodafone subscribers, individuals and companies will have access to the 5G network, at no extra charge and regardless of the contract plan, card contract or prepaid.
All SIMs that are compatible with the 4G network are also compatible with the 5G network. All you need is subscribers to have a 5G device, certified in the Cyta network and be in an area with 5G coverage.
Who can use 5G, how and in which areas
What and when will change, Mr. Finiotis, for the businessman-user of 5G and depending on your “home” customer? Will everyone benefit at this stage and how? Is it just a matter of increased speed and capacity or are other possibilities offered at this stage?
The “when” depends on the “how”. This means that it is not enough for 5G to provide the required infrastructure. Ultra-high speeds, huge capacity and virtually zero response time, are just the beginning of the unlimited possibilities that the new 5G network will offer. The services that will make our world truly exciting, will emerge through the applications that will be developed. For example, everything we now define as the Internet was not created as soon as the technology became available to the public. In the beginning, ordinary users were limited to exchanging emails, then came the image and the sound and then all this multimedia ecosystem that we have in mind when we refer to the internet. Infrastructure and appropriate tools, such as search engines, e.g. of Google. When technology is available to us, then we also begin to discover its potential and find solutions through its applications, which improve our daily lives.
This will be done now, at the same time as the introduction of the new network. As we expand, the new wireless ecosystem will be created at the same time, with many stakeholders: providers, device manufacturers, the state, users, a whole chain of specialists and technicians who will begin to develop innovative applications. Obviously, not everything will be done immediately, but the road is open and it is a road of great changes.
The roadmap for the introduction of 5G services, as defined by the International Telecommunication Union, will initially provide enhanced Mobile Broadband / eMBB services, which will use a large bandwidth and require very high data rates. Examples of such potential services are the Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality sectors. This is followed by ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (uRLLC), high-capacity, high-speed data transmission for real-time monitoring and remote control of critical processes. Examples of such services are remote healthcare, motor vehicles, related applications in energy, food production, agriculture, animal husbandry, transport, etc. The third range of most advanced services concerns mass communication between machines (massive Machine) Type Communications / mMTC) to provide interconnection between hundreds of thousands of devices per square kilometer. Examples of such applications include building automation, smart city and home implementations, smart logistics, and generally services we call the Internet of Things, but in a much broader sense than what we know about 4G.
So, one can easily understand the size and dynamics created with the 5G network. An ecosystem of technical and business innovation is evolving, which will strengthen almost all sectors of the economy and lead a wave of new technological applications and services.
Which of your current or future customers can take advantage of the 5G network at this stage? Are all telephones compatible with this technology? Will different packages of this product be offered to the public or will this service be provided horizontally by Cyta?
All mobile customers, home and business, will be able to use Cyta's new 5G network. They just need a certified device that supports 5G. The certification process for 5G network compatibility with mobile devices is very demanding and time consuming and the introduction of new devices will be gradual. It is a requirement of the various mobile device manufacturers to successfully perform these compatibility checks before certifying and licensing the use of their devices on the 5G network, while many require their own on-site presence. The certification process is very important because it maximizes reliability and overall user experience through the 5G network connection.
At the moment, some devices have already been certified, while others will be gradually added, in order to certify all available devices on the market as soon as possible. Our customers can be informed about the models that have been certified on the Cyta website (cyta.com.cy) which is constantly updated.
This first step – but extremely important – that we are taking today, guides an overall upgrade of the organization's networks. New networks enable us to offer new packages and upgraded speeds to existing connections. In this way, all our subscribers will benefit, simultaneously with the commercial introduction of the new 5G network.
With the commercial launch of the 5G network by Cyta in the near future, which areas will be covered and what percentage of consumers will be able to take advantage of the new technology? What does Cyta's plan provide for the gradual coverage of the population and the territory?
In the first phase, 5G will be available to about 70% of the population and will cover urban, tourist areas, highways and large rural communities. It will be expanded gradually, so that by the end of 2021 almost the entire population will have access to our new network.
