(Telecompaper) Telecom Italia (TIM) has announced the details of an agreement with the Republic of San Marino to convert the micro-state into the first nation in Europe have a 5G mobile network, confirming earlier reports. Under the terms of the MoU, the operator will start to update the mobile sites of its San Marino network with 4.5G technology this year, introducing 5G features such as evolved mast towers (MIMO 4x4), carrier aggregation, superior modulation and cloud architecture, as well as installing dozens of small cells in the main streets and piazzas of the Unesco world heritage site. TIM will then begin testing 5G technologies and services ahead of a commercial launch of the network throughout the micro-state by the end of 2018.