5G standalone at O2: iOS 18.4 brings support for the iPhone

The first customers had already discovered it during the beta tests of iOS 18.4. It has been official since Monday evening: With the update from Apple, iPhone users can now also use 5G standalone (5G-SA) in the O2 network. What is marketed under the marketing name “5G Plus” enables a continuous 5G connection from the antenna to the nuclear network. In contrast, the processing of the mobile phone signals takes place in the LTE/4G core network for the previous 5G non-standalone. At Telekom and Vodafone, Apple 5G-SA had already activated 18 in earlier updates from iOS 18.

While 5G standalone in the O2 network has been available since October 2023, iPhone users had to wait longer for support. “We have undergone a comprehensive certification process with Apple, which ensures that the network and end device optimally play together at 5G standstalone-from mobile data use to 5G telephony,” explains Matthias Sauder, Director Networks at O2 Telefónica, when asked by Heise Online. According to the network operator, the network operator already supplies over 97 percent of the population with a 5G standalone.

These are the advantages for customers

5G standstillons should bring several advantages from the beginning. “In areas with high 4G traffic, 5G standalone plays its advantages because only 5G frequencies are used,” said Sauder. Even when calling, the network no longer switches back to 4G, which is noticeable in a faster call structure and HD language quality. O2 promises in particular for rural areas: iPhone users can connect to 700 megahertz via the 5G frequencies, which are considered to be range.

5G standalone is also more energy-efficient than previous mobile communications standards: “The end device no longer has to connect to the 5G and 4G/LTE network in parallel. This protects the battery of the smartphone.” The energy consumption is also to be reduced on the network operator page. With artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technology, energy efficiency at the 28,000 mobile radio locations should be increased. “In times of low utilization, the AI ​​regulates individual frequency bands. If the date of the data increases, the ligaments turn on again,” explains the network manager. With this approach, O2 wants to save around ten percent of electricity.

Further plans with a 5G standstalone

In perspective, O2 wants to go beyond pure use as a mobile broadband network for surfing and streaming. In the future, 5G standard rates can deliver higher data rates if further frequencies are rededicated from 4G to 5G. At the same time, however, changes to the network architecture are planned. Small data centers are planned near the customer to go towards real -time communication. “This is relevant for gaming, VR and AR applications, for example.”

Another technique is Network Slicing: “With 5G standstalon, we can divide the mobile network into different virtual slices, so-called 5G-slices,” explains Sauder. These are programmed on specific customer requirements, for example to guarantee certain bandwidths and response times. So far, O2 has mainly used this technology for business customers, but also plans applications for private customers in the field of gaming, smart home or trackers with health and security functions.

Availability for customers

The telecommunications provider operates its 5G core network in the AWS cloud. The technology of the European network supplier Nokia is used. One advantage is that the network expansion can be increasingly automated, which means that this can be done faster, among other things.

For O2 private customers, 5G standstalones are available as a free “5G plus pack” via the app, among other things, provided they have a term contract. Business customers can also be activated at O2 Business. 5G standalone is supported by iPhone 16 (plus), iPhone 16 Pro (Max), iPhone 15 (plus) and iPhone 15 Pro (max).