KPN has activated a 5G 2100MHz carrier on a few macro sites in Breda. It looks like they are slowly going to roll out additional 5G spectrum. 2100MHz seems to be DSS now with 4G and 5G, as the spectrum is also still usable on 4G. Nice to see!

Another swapped Odido HVP site in Almere. AIR3218 seems to be the default antenna for high-voltage pylons. 32x32 3500MHz, together with a set of Radio 2238 for 4T4R low, and a Radio 4466 for 4T4R 1800+2100+2600. Some sectors also have Radio 4020 for 4T0R 1400MHz

New blog post on all the recent developments in KPN’s mobile network: antennekaart.nl/blog/kpn-rondt…

An Odido multi-beam site at the TT-Circuit in Assen. 6 sectors in a single antenna. Fed by three Radio 4466, 4T4R 1800+2100+2600, split into 2x 2T2R per RRU. Also one AIR6419 per multi-beam antenna.

We found a few of this type of omnidirectional antenna. I don't know what it is exactly. I don't think it is used any more. Transmission seems to be with two old Ericsson minilink dishes. This site is in Heeten, but there are a few more in the Deventer/Raalte area. Any ideas?

Tomorrow is kingsday. That means it’s one of the busiest weeks of the year in terms for COW deployments. Here KPN and Odido are deploying temporary capacity. KPN even has a box next to the terrain where a permanent fiber connection is always ready for a COW in this location!

Just when you think you know the strategy of each provider for 3500MHz, KPN starts using a new type of antenna. Some BladeAAU with integrated 64x64 n78. On the bottom four MQ4 ports for mid spectrum, and four ports for lowband. Very interesting! Who knows this antenna type?

Recently we discovered KPN was trialing (non-DSS) 5G2100 in a small area in the south. I'm now getting multiple reports around the country that 4G2100 is switched off. I expect it won't take long now before they enable 5G2100 everywhere!

As expected, 5G2100 is now live on KPN's network in a big part of the country, without DSS!

Another Odido HVP swap in Almere. Until now this site had old Kathrein high-only antennas with 1800 and 2100. Now swapped with an Ericsson AIR3218 (3500MHz), a set of two Radio 2238 for 4T4R low, and a Radio 4466 for 4T4R 1800+2100+2600!

Odido has started using a few new Ericsson radios in its network. Previously they deployed 4T4R 700/800/900 with a set of 2238 or a 6646. Now the new Radio 4486 is used. Also a new 4T4R 1800/2100/2600 radio is used, the Radio 4485. Way smaller than the Radio 4466 used until now.

Vodafone is swapping equipment at a site next to a busy highway and rail line. This area is in a pretty dense forest. To improve coverage they chose an antenna with a smaller beam width. This is the Commscope RRZZ-33D-R4. Only 2L2H, so the 1800/2100 and 1400 RRU will be diplexed.

After years of delay, the 3500MHz auction in NL has just finished. All three providers (Vodafone, Odido, KPN) have acquired a block of 100MHz in the 3500MHz band. The government is now going to allocate the permits, so the spectrum can be live soon. rdi.nl/actueel/nieuws…

Last night Odido has activated the first batch of n78 sites and the speeds look amazing! For now it's only active in a big part of the west of NL, I expect the rest to follow soon. Odido has the biggest n78 deployment atm, with at least 3200 of their 5000 sites supporting it.

KPN has also activated 3500MHz yesterday at all their sites supporting it. Contrary to Odido, they already support n1+n78 or n28+n78 NRCA. This improves the upload speeds. At this point they have a bit less than 20 percent of their sites supporting it

KPN is deploying new high-capacity sites. They use a new Huawei Maxwell platform antenna. Still with 2T4R low, 4T0R 1400MHz and 4T4R 2600MHz FDD, but with 8T8R 1800/2100MHz with RRU5866. Even with MQ4 connectors straight into the RRU! Also an integrated 64x64 AAU for 3500MHz.

A nice prefabricated Odido Ericsson set ready to be mounted at a site. Also with two new radio types of Ericsson. Radio 4485 for 4T4R 1800/2100/2600 and Radio 4486 for 4T4R 700/800/900. These new tri-band RRU’s are thinner than the 4T0R 1400MHz-only radio!

The Dutch Formula 1 event in Zandvoort is coming up, which means another massive network deployment. The first where n78 is widely used on COWs. Just some of the sites deployed by the dutch providers. Vodafone unfortunately has no n78 live here. More to come on the website...