Noticia
Deutsche Telekom brings 5G+ Ultra to FaceTime calls in Germany
Deutsche Telekom is extending its latency-focused 5G+ service from cloud gaming to FaceTime, using network slicing and L4S to keep video calls steadier when mobile cells are busy.
Deutsche Telekom is extending its 5G+ service beyond cloud gaming with a new option designed to make mobile video calls more stable in crowded places. The operator says 5G+ Ultra combines 5G standalone, network slicing and L4S technology to prioritize consistent latency and reduce interruptions when a mobile cell is under heavy load.
The announcement, published in the company’s official media information, positions 5G+ Ultra as a network feature rather than a new calling app. FaceTime on iPhone and Apple Vision Pro is supported at launch, while Deutsche Telekom says additional partners will follow.
A different goal from peak download speed
5G+ Ultra is less about raising a phone’s maximum download speed than about protecting the quality of latency-sensitive traffic. Deutsche Telekom describes the service as an end-to-end combination of its 5G standalone network, a dedicated network slice for gaming and video calling, and L4S, short for Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput.
L4S is intended to identify congestion early and manage data flows before delays and packet loss become disruptive. In a video call, that can matter more than a headline speed figure. A fast connection can still produce frozen video, delayed audio or uneven motion if queues build up in a busy radio cell. The operator’s stated use cases include calls from busy train stations, stadiums, festivals and concerts.
That does not mean 5G+ Ultra can solve every connectivity problem. It cannot replace network coverage, a compatible plan or a supported device, and the feature does not turn a weak signal into a strong one. Its purpose is to make traffic handling more predictable where the underlying 5G service is available.
FaceTime is the first calling service
At launch, FaceTime is the named video-calling service supported by 5G+ Ultra on iPhone and Apple Vision Pro. Deutsche Telekom says no additional device settings are required beyond having the latest iOS software. The operator also says it plans to expand the service to more video-calling apps and smartphones in the future, but it has not specified which partners will be added or when.
The initial choice of FaceTime gives the feature a clear test case: video calling is sensitive to latency, jitter and packet loss, but it also varies significantly with the user’s location, device, app version and network conditions. The announcement therefore describes a network capability and supported setup, not a guarantee that every call will remain perfect in every environment.
What Deutsche Telekom has measured
The company’s release includes quantitative results for cloud gaming rather than a full independent assessment of FaceTime. Deutsche Telekom reports 73 percent fewer frames with packet loss and a 20 percent reduction in latency on NVIDIA GeForce NOW platform servers when comparing sessions with gaming-slice treatment against other Deutsche Telekom 5G sessions without it.
The comparison covers data evaluated between October 7, 2025 and February 1, 2026. Those figures are useful evidence of the operator’s network testing, but they should be read as Deutsche Telekom’s own measurements, not as a MobileTechScope test or a universal performance guarantee. The same release says FaceTime tests in a congested mobile cell produced strong results, without publishing numerical video-call results.
Who can use 5G+ Ultra?
Deutsche Telekom says 5G+ Ultra is a free add-on for eligible customers. The stated requirements are a current MagentaMobil plan from August 2024 or later, a compatible device and the latest iOS software. The company directs customers to its official compatibility information for the supported hardware and plan details.
The operator also says its 5G+ service is available nationwide wherever Telekom’s 5G network is available, and that more than 99 percent of Germany’s population can currently access that 5G network. Those figures describe Deutsche Telekom’s network claims at the time of the announcement; individual experience will still depend on local coverage, indoor conditions, congestion and device support.
Why the move matters
5G standalone and network slicing are often discussed as infrastructure technologies for factories, transport systems and enterprise services. Bringing the same concepts to a consumer video call makes the benefit easier to understand: the network is being configured to protect responsiveness and continuity for a specific type of traffic.
For eligible iPhone users, the appeal is simplicity. There is no separate app to install and no special calling workflow to learn. The main practical step is to check the compatible device and plan list, update iOS, and confirm that the add-on is available for the account. The service remains limited by Deutsche Telekom’s current device and app support, but its expansion from gaming to FaceTime shows how operators are trying to turn advanced 5G features into everyday smartphone improvements.