Deutsche Telekom (XETRA:DTE) has agreed to buy 7,700 redundant mobile sites from Telefonica Deutschland (XETRA:O2D) for an undisclosed sum, the companies announced today.
Telefonica Deutschland will be able to use the sites – primarily rooftop sites -…
Deutsche Telekom (XETRA:DTE) has agreed to buy 7,700 redundant mobile sites from Telefonica Deutschland (XETRA:O2D) for an undisclosed sum, the companies announced today.
Telefonica Deutschland will be able to use the sites – primarily rooftop sites – without restrictions until they become unnecessary through the integration of the [local Telefonica brand] O2 and [KPN’s] E-Plus networks. In future, the sites will be managed by DT subsidiary Deutsche Funkturm, which acquires, plans, builds and manages base stations for all network providers.
Telefonica last year acquired E-Plus from KPN in a deal worth £8.6bn, with the Dutch telco retaining a 20.5% interest in the combined group. The deal will enable O2 to redirect resources towards LTE expansion. Deutsche Telekom, for its part, will be able to speed up its own network expansion and optimise its mobile network.
“The agreement with Deutsche Telekom has clear advantages for all concerned,” said Cayetano Carbajo Martín, CTO of Telefonica Deutschland. “Our efforts for eliminating redundant mobile telecommunications sites will be reduced significantly. In the interest of our customers this allows us an even stronger concentration on the future-oriented LTE roll-out.”
““With this acquisition of mobile network base stations, we can realise our expansion faster and our customers will benefit from the additional power of the Telekom network even sooner,” said Bruno Jacobfeuerborn, technology head of Telekom Deutschland. He added: “The collaboration between Telefonica and Telekom in the tower-business, i.e. the joint use of base stations, will also be intensified by this co-operation.”
