O2 Telefónica, Ekinops Partner to Drive 5G Connectivity for Enterprise

Key Takeaways

• MRU‑5G delivers gigabit speeds with 5G backup
• Deployable up to 100 m from data room, zero dB loss
• Installation time cut dramatically, no civil works required
• Supports full VLAN isolation and enterprise‑grade security
• Integrated with O2 Business for unified service assurance

Summary

O2 Telefónica and Ekinops have co‑developed the MRU‑5G Managed Remote Unit, a mobile‑fixed solution that extends gigabit‑class 5G connectivity into enterprise buildings where fiber is impractical. The outdoor unit can be installed up to 100 m from a data room with zero dB loss and provides automatic 5G backup, leveraging Ekinops’ OneOS6 routers for secure, VLAN‑isolated networking. Integrated into O2 Business, the offering promises rapid, civil‑work‑free deployment and remote management. It targets high‑performance, always‑on connectivity for demanding verticals such as finance, healthcare and logistics.

Pulse Analysis

The rollout of 5G has traditionally focused on outdoor coverage, leaving many enterprise sites—especially deep‑inside office complexes or underground facilities—reliant on costly fiber extensions. By pairing O2 Telefónica’s extensive mobile spectrum with Ekinops’ expertise in secure enterprise networking, the new MRU‑5G solution bridges that gap, creating a true mobile‑fixed convergence. This collaboration reflects a broader industry shift toward hybrid connectivity models that combine the flexibility of wireless with the reliability of wired backhaul, a trend accelerated by the surge in bandwidth‑hungry applications such as AI analytics and remote manufacturing.

The MRU‑5G unit is a centrally managed outdoor radio that can be placed up to 100 metres from a data centre without signal loss, delivering gigabit‑class throughput and automatic 5G failover. Integrated with Ekinops’ OneOS6 routers, it offers template‑driven provisioning, full VLAN isolation, and end‑to‑end encryption, all controllable via a dedicated installer app and CLI. These capabilities shrink deployment cycles from weeks to days, eliminate civil engineering work, and enable remote monitoring, making the solution especially attractive for verticals such as finance, healthcare, and logistics where downtime is unacceptable.

For O2 Telefónica, embedding the MRU‑5G into its O2 Business portfolio strengthens its position against pure‑play fixed‑line providers and emerging private‑LTE/5G rivals. Enterprises gain a scalable, cost‑effective path to high‑performance connectivity without the capital expense of new fiber runs, accelerating digital transformation initiatives. As more operators adopt similar mobile‑fixed hybrids, the competitive landscape will reward those that can deliver rapid, managed services with enterprise‑grade security. The partnership signals that the next wave of 5G growth will be driven not only by consumer demand but by the need for resilient, plug‑and‑play connectivity in the corporate sector.