Hungarian mobile operator Yettel has launched a 5G Standalone network, the first in the country.

The launch of the network follows a pilot with researchers and engineers at the University of Obuda.

5G Standalone is not reliant on older mobile generations and solely uses a 5G core network.

Up until now, Yettel's 5G network was solely reliant on Non-Standalone 5G, which is integrated with 4G.

Yettel stated that its 5G network spans 700 base stations across Hungary, with the standalone network switched on across every base station.

Yettel's home and office 5G Internet users will be offered 5G Standalone in a phased launch scheduled to run until the end of Q1 2024, before the service is extended to its 5G mobile customers.

Yettel announced in October that it's switching its 3G network off this month. In doing so, Yettel will become the last Hungarian mobile network operator to turn off its 3G mobile network.

Founded as Pannon GSM Telecommunications in 1994, Yettel is Hungary's second-largest mobile operator. Investment firm PPF acquired a number of Telenor's eastern European units in 2018, with the Hungarian unit rebranding to Yettel last year.