Vodafone Germany has partnered with vendor Ericsson to deploy compact 5G antennas.

In an announcement earlier this week, Vodafone revealed that the first compact 5G antenna was deployed on a parking garage in Düsseldorf.

By the end of next year, Vodafone plans to deploy up to 500 more.

It notes that the deployment of the sites will allow it to expand its 5G mobile network coverage across Germany, in particular on rooftops.

Vodafone acknowledged the issue of expanding its network on Germany's rooftops, noting a lack of space, plus objections from landowners.

The company also said that there is "often no space for additional 5G antennas on existing roof sites where LTE antennas are already transmitting."

Because of this, Vodafone said it has launched the new antenna technology to increase the performance, capacity, and coverage of the 5G network at a mobile phone site on the roof without increasing the footprint of the antenna.

"Strong winds put pressure on the antenna surfaces mounted on roofs. The more mobile phone antennas there are up there, the higher the wind load," said Marc Hoelzer, head of network development at Vodafone.

"This also increases the requirements for wind resistance and statics, so that not every existing roof location can be upgraded with active 5G antennas. The search for new mobile phone locations on roofs is a major challenge for network expansion in Germany."

The carrier said that the antennas have been developed by Ericsson, with 5G installed directly behind the existing LTE technology - without the static requirements on the roof being massively changed.

"The use of a compact active-passive antenna will improve the mobile broadband experience in cities in the future. Ericsson's 'Interleaved AIR 3218' will massively simplify site upgrades and accelerate 5G deployment in areas that were previously restricted by building regulations, planning law or for static reasons," added Daniel Leimbach, head of the Western Europe customer unit and managing director of Ericsson.