- German operator now offers the 5G+ Gaming option with 5G SA functionality
- Only the Samsung Galaxy S24 ultra currently supports the gaming service
- DT is keen to link 5G SA to specific use cases
It’s official: Deutsche Telekom (DT) has finally joined the 5G standalone (SA) party in Germany, although the market’s former incumbent has chosen a different way to roll out the service compared to rivals Telefónica Deutschland (O2) and Vodafone Germany.
As previously trailered in August, DT is launching 5G SA in tandem with a new 5G+ Gaming option that is based on network slicing. In other words, the operator is opting to market specific 5G SA-based use cases to its subscribers as opposed to a general 5G SA network launch.
According to a DT spokesperson, its 5G SA network has been ready for some time from a technical perspective. However, the operator’s view is that the “premature use of 5G SA purely as a standard network, that is, without the use of the additional 5G SA functionalities, does not provide any added value for the customer.”
“Our aim has always been to launch SA for private customers if it is linked to a specific use case and our customers notice a difference. We have achieved this with our new gaming product,” the spokesperson said.
DT also noted that it is working on other applications “for which the additional functions are also useful, such as video conferencing or AR/VR applications.”
The spokesperson made it clear that only 5G+ Gaming customers will be using 5G SA for now, and only if they buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 ultra device. More devices will become available before the end of December. DT said it intends to expand availability of the gaming service in Germany on a step-by-step basis.
DT also noted that it is using the 5G+ moniker “to point out that the customer is using SA and additional 5G features,” indicating that this is not necessarily a brand for its 5G SA network.
“In general, we have one 5G Network: T-5G. Our customers will always get the best connectivity. This could be based on 5G non-standalone, for example, for maximum download rates, or based on 5G SA for specific use cases like gaming,” the spokesperson said.
In terms of 5G SA offers from rivals, O2 Germany began marketing 5G SA services under the 5G Plus brand last year and Vodafone Germany launched 5G SA services to the wider market under the 5G+ brand in March 2022 after switching on the technology in April 2021.
Worldwide, the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) said in its September update that at least 60 operators in 34 countries and territories are now understood to have launched or deployed public 5G SA networks, one of which has only soft launched the network.
New approach to cloud gaming
DT’s new 5G+ Gaming service is a mobile cloud gaming option that customers can now add to their MagentaMobil packages. Here, DT has joined forces with European technology provider ALSO and its partner Ludium Lab to put together a package for cloud gamers, including 100 games free of charge for a six-month period.
Ludium is providing its Sora Stream cloud-based gaming subscription platform that is designed for companies that want to offer cloud gaming services to their customers.
DT said a smooth image is provided for the gaming service by optimizing the existing data rate and thus ensuring stable response times even in a busy mobile cell. It claims to be the first network operator to integrate these intelligent additional functions into its 5G network and offer it to its customers.
DT switched to a partner-led, content aggregator approach for cloud gaming following the failure of its Magenta Gaming offering that was originally launched in 2020.