Shapers of telecommunications
With a unique cluster of established mobile operators, international network equipment and electronics manufacturers as well as innovative start-ups, the telecommunication of the future is being shaped in Düsseldorf.
The last 1.5 years of pandemic have had a major impact on the way people communicate. Social distancing as well as travel and contact restrictions have further enforced telecommunications - communication across a spatial distance. The networking of physical and virtual objects in the Internet of Things is also advancing in leaps and bounds - in both professional and private contexts (keyword: smart home).
ICT companies from Düsseldorf - for example Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Huawei and Xiaomi - also have a major share in this. We asked these four players about important topics for the future. For example, on how the expansion of the mobile network and fibre optic cables in the city is progressing, what role sustainability plays in the industry and why Düsseldorf is a good ICT location.
Huawei
The ICT industry can make the world more sustainable - for example, with digital knowledge transfer and environmentally friendly, low-emission concepts. We wanted to know from Huawei what this means in concrete terms.
Carsten Senz, Vice President Corporate Communications
What is Huawei's contribution to sustainability in business?
We are working on the issue in three areas: firstly, reducing CO2 emissions at our own company, in the ICT industry, and through smart solutions in other industries; secondly, promoting renewable energy; and thirdly, our contribution to the circular economy. First of all, as a company we need to reduce our energy consumption. For the former, we use materials and technology in our equipment that is environmentally friendly. But more importantly, data centres as a whole need to become more energy efficient. Our latest data centres already use 20 to 30 per cent less to cool the hardware - the area that eats up the most energy. Furthermore, 5G, for example, consumes only 1/10 of the energy per bit compared to 4G. Fibre optic technology is much more energy efficient than data transmission over copper cables. Examples for other industries are many: Video conferencing instead of business trips by plane, for example, or flexible and demand-based power consumption thanks to digital technologies.
How can innovative technology help protect the environment?
We cooperate with environmental protection organisations such as the Rainforest Connection: With our support, among others, they can listen into rainforests with the help of digital devices and thus immediately identify illegal deforestation acoustically, for example. This enables the authorities to stop it immediately. At the same time, biologists can use the analysis of the recorded animal sounds to optimise measures for the protection of endangered species, because it can be determined where endangered species are and when. In Ireland, we support an initiative that records whale sounds in the sea to gain important insights for species protection. •
Vodafone
Vodafone is the first network operator in Germany to introduce its users to 5G. By the end of 2021, 30 million people in this country are to be reached with the super-fast network. In Düsseldorf alone, 99 mobile network sites are already transmitting with 5G.
Guido Weissbrich, Director Networks Planning & Deployment
Their networks are based on a so-called multilayer technology. Why do you need 4 layers to drive digitalisation forward?
As a digitalisation group, we have combined the power of 4 technologies for the network: 4G, 5G, IoT and cable fibre. We reach over 99% of the people in Germany with our 4G network. They can use it to make mobile phone calls and surf the net at super-fast speeds. At the same time, 5G ushers in a completely new era of mobile data transmission. The 5G network is not only as fast as human nerves - it also forms the basis for almost unlimited future-oriented applications. Whether in entertainment or for the industry. The 5G network also brings a new boost for transport solutions, real-time gaming or new applications in education. With our narrowband IoT layer, we provide an effective, high-performance machine network in the Internet of Things. And our cable fibre layer is the basis for 50 million people soon being able to use the landline network at gigabit speeds.
What are currently the biggest challenges in expanding the mobile network?
The challenges in mobile network expansion are manifold. Above all, it is often difficult to find new suitable locations. Aspects of building law, urban planning, monument protection and static aspects as well as aspects of nature conservation and immission law have to be taken into account. Of course, the landlord of the location must also agree to the planned construction measures and the construction must be approved by the authorities. Which often takes time. In order to make faster progress here, we cooperate with other grid operators and share sites, for example. Politicians also help by speeding up approval procedures and adapting laws. •
XIAOMI
With Xiaomi, Düsseldorf has a fast-growing newcomer in the ICT sector. Because the company enriches the location with expertise and innovation and creates new jobs, it recently received the NRW Global Business Award.
Why did Xiaomi choose Düsseldorf as its location?
Three factors were decisive: the flight connections to our headquarters and other offices in Western Europe, the synergies with all other stakeholders in our industry, and the fact that some of our key providers are already located here. For example, Vodafone, Telekom or 1&1 are not far away, and some of our distributors are also located here in the region. Last but not least, Düsseldorf is a beautiful and open city. We received a very warm welcome here and have felt very much at home since our arrival at the end of 2019.
You offer the largest customer IoT platform in the world (excluding smartphones and laptops). What exactly is this platform and how does it work? How does it set you apart from competitors, potentially?
Our goal is to make life better and more comfortable for everyone through technology. That's why we not only have smartphones, but also countless other connected products in our portfolio, such as kettles, heaters, fans, lamps, air purifiers, toothbrushes, rice cookers, induction hobs or smart speakers. This is our unique selling point, and we are working hard to bring more and more of them to Germany as well. All these products are connected via the internet platform and can thus be controlled via just one app. This not only makes it easier to set up the products, but also opens up completely new possibilities in the interaction of the products and takes the topic of smart living to the next level. •
Deutsche telekom
The expansion of fibre optics in Düsseldorf - and thus the basis for fast internet – is in full swing. Deutsche Telekom is supplying a large part of the city's industrial estates (GWG) with the new connections.
What is the current roll-out situation in the GWGs you serve?
7 of 11 GWGs have already been upgraded and another 4 are under construction or about to start.
GWG Auf der Lausward: The GWG is currently under construction and will be completed by the end of April 2022.
GWG Peter-Müller-Str.: The GWG is currently under construction and will be completed by the end of November 2021.
GWG Erkrather Str. / Flingern/Lierenfeld: The Tichauer Weg section has already been upgraded, the rest of the GWG is currently being upgraded and will be completed by the end of June 2022.
GWG Grafenberger Allee: The partial area of Grafenberger Allee has already been upgraded, the rest of the GWG is currently being upgraded and will be upgraded by 30 April 2022.
The following GWG have already been completed in 2019/2020:
GWG An der Steele, GWG Monschauer Straße, GWG Prinzenallee, GWG Rather Straße, GWG Wahlerstraße, GWG Mündelheimer Weg, GWG Eichsfelder Straße
How has COVID-19 affected the use of the telephone?
Overall, people made more and longer phone calls during the pandemic - both in the landline and mobile network. Internet data volume also increased significantly, because on the one hand people communicate with each other via video conferencing, Whatsapp or Skype but also because the evening trip to the cinema or the pub had to be cancelled and therefore streaming offers such as MagentaTV have become very popular. •
Words Tom Corrinth
Pictures Joes Valantine/unsplash, Huawei, Valéry Klouber/Vodafone, Xiaomi Deutschland, Deutsche Telekom AG