Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone’s German unit and Telefonica O2 Germany are in talks to build a joint LTE network by the end of the year, according to the Financial Times Deutschland.
Deutsche Telekom’s CEO Niek Jan van Damme was quoted saying that…
Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone’s German unit and Telefonica O2 Germany are in talks to build a joint LTE network by the end of the year, according to the Financial Times Deutschland.
Deutsche Telekom’s CEO Niek Jan van Damme was quoted saying that cooperation was likely. The country’s Federal Network Agency and the Federal Cartel Office, Germany’s competition regulator, are also reportedly involved in the discussions.
This potential cooperation comes as a surprise given the tough competition in the German telecom sector, wrote the newspaper. However, this could help companies save money by sharing costs.
O2 recently said it would become the first spectrum winner to pilot an LTE network. Tests were expected to take place in Munich and Hall by year-end, and then later on in the cities’ suburbs. René Schuster, CEO of Telefonica O2 Germany, was cited saying that the company aimed to offer Germany-wide services as soon as possible, with full broadband coverage also a goal.
The spectrum auction for LTE networks in Germany closed at the end of May this year. Besides Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica, E-Plus also secured some blocks of frequency.
The auction has been considered as a benchmark for other European countries, as it was the first time operators could secure spectrum for LTE networks that will allow users to watch high-definition video and get much faster downloads on mobile devices.
