Press Release | 15 January 2025

Latest Generation 5G: Towards a Connected Metz-Saarbrücken Axis for Autonomous and Secure Mobility thanks to Vantage Towers, TOTEM, Orange, O2 Telefónica and htw saar

Vantage Towers, TOTEM, Orange, O2 Telefónica and the Saarland University of Applied Sciences (htw saar), announce a pioneering collaboration to create one of Europe's first cross-border 5G highway corridors. 
This ambitious project, named "5G Autobahn to Autoroute" (5G A2A), will connect the cities of Metz in France to Saarbrücken in Germany, covering a 60-kilometer stretch. Construction will begin in early 2025 with completion scheduled for the end of 2027.

Click here to watch  images of the project.

Cutting-edge infrastructure for connected mobility: 
The deployment of this latest generation 5G infrastructure goes well beyond national coverage obligations. It will enable the development of innovative mobility services, including: 

Cooperative lane changing 
Collision anticipation and prevention 
Automatic traffic jam alerts 
Testing of (partially) autonomous vehicles

This deployment will improve 5G connectivity for cross-border travelers, while enabling innovative industrial trials of connectivity along the entire route.

A european-scale project: 
This highway corridor includes: 

A 55 km section in France along the A4 and A320 motorways;
A 5 km section in Germany along the A6 motorway.

This infrastructure is fully integrated into the ATLANTIC trans-European transport network, ensuring uninterrupted 5G connectivity along the entire route. 

A unique international collaboration: 
In France, TOTEM and Orange will install nine new masts and upgrade up to eight existing masts to ensure dedicated 5G coverage on the 3.5 GHz frequency. In Germany, Vantage Towers and O2 Telefónica will deploy up to five radio masts using a distributed antenna system (DAS) on the 3.6 GHz frequency. 

A sustainable commitment: 
The infrastructure is designed to operate for at least ten years, demonstrating the partners' long-term commitment to sustainable cross-border digital connectivity. This project receives financial support from the European Union under the "Connecting Europe Facility Digital" program and is supported by the Grand Est Region in France.

Expert perspectives: 

Christian Hillabrant, CEO of Vantage Towers: "With the establishment of the Franco-German mobile communications corridor, we are advancing digital transformation in Europe. Together with our project partners Telefónica, Orange, TOTEM and htw saar, we are creating infrastructure that enables uninterrupted cross-border connectivity and, in the future, the use of advanced mobility applications such as autonomous driving functions - setting new standards for digital connectivity."

Nicolas Roy, CEO of TOTEM: "This project is a great proof of cooperation between towercos and mobile operators to provide latest-generation 5G mobile network between Metz and Saarbrücken. This project relies on each actor's cutting-edge industrial expertise, dedicated to providing better connectivity for all along the way. With this project, TOTEM demonstrates its teams' ability to deploy bespoke and specific infrastructure solutions in a cross-border environment."

Thierry Marigny, Director Orange Grand Est Region, Eastern France: “Orange is proud to be involved in the deployment of the first next-generation 5G corridor between Metz and Saarbrücken. This pioneering project will make this cross-border route the first in Europe to enable the use of connected vehicles and equipment. In future, users of this route will benefit from driver assistance services to enhance their comfort and safety in their connected vehicles”.

Mallik Rao, Chief Technology & Enterprise Officer of O2 Telefónica: “We are building a high-speed 5G highway to test how to provide consumers and companies with gigabit speeds in the best possible way while driving. This can be a major step towards making connected driving a reality in Germany. We are looking forward to be partnering with the automotive and logistics industries to implement and test digital networking solutions of the future based on our high-performance 5G network. The project is a prime example of how digitalization in Europe must not stop at borders.” 
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Horst Wieker, Leader ITS Research Group of htw saar: “The project is an integral part of the htw saar's ongoing efforts to increase the safety of connected vehicles and to realize automated driving in cross-border traffic. The htw saar is proud to be able to support the transition from research to live operation with its renowned partners, to implement innovative applications, and to evaluate the project scientifically.”

Download the presskit

CP_5G_Metz-Saarbruck_ENG

Download Add to cart

Discover more

14 January 2025

Orange and Vodacom create a joint venture to expand network coverage in ...

Orange and Vodacom have joined hands to form, a first of its kind, rural towerco partnership in Africa. Through this partnership, the companies will collaborate to build, own, and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in underserved areas of the Democratic ...

Learn more

03 December 2024

Orange and SETAR launch the CELIA-CETC project connecting the Caribbean, co-funded by ...

Orange and SETAR have launched the construction of CELIA-CETC (Caribbean ELIte Alliance - Caribbean European Territories Cable), new high-capacity “express” fibers in the Caribbean region connecting Aruba and Martinique to Florida (U.S.).  The CELIA-CETC project receives subsidies from the CEF2 ...

Learn more

03 December 2024

French Mobile Industry Accelerates Deployment of Network APIs Through GSMA Open Gateway ...

Bouygues Telecom, Free, Orange and SFR to provide two network APIs to help online businesses combat fraud and digital identity theft 3rd December 2024, Paris: As part of the global GSMA Open Gateway initiative, France's four leading mobile operators – ...

Learn more

About Orange

Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 39.7 billion euros in 2023 and 128,000 employees worldwide at 30 September 2024, including 71,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 292 million customers worldwide at 30 September 2024, including 253 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. These figures have been restated to account for the deconsolidation of certain activities in Spain following the creation of MASORANGE. The Group is present in 26 countries (including non-consolidated countries).
Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business. In February 2023, the Group presented its strategic plan 'Lead the Future', built on a new business model and guided by responsibility and efficiency. 'Lead the Future' capitalizes on network excellence to reinforce Orange's leadership in service quality.

Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA).
For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com and the Orange News app or to follow us on X: @presseorange.

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.