Telefonica’s German subsidiary Telefonica O2 Germany is to pilot LTE networks in Munich and Hall by year-end, according to BroadbandTV News. Operating in the 2.6GHz band, the telco will thus become the country’s first operator to deploy spectrum suitable…
Telefonica’s German subsidiary Telefonica O2 Germany is to pilot LTE networks in Munich and Hall by year-end, according to BroadbandTV News. Operating in the 2.6GHz band, the telco will thus become the country’s first operator to deploy spectrum suitable for mobile broadband won in the recent auction. It paid E1.4bn for two blocks in the 800MHz range and four blocks in the 2.6GHz range.
Telefonica O2 Germany will later launch LTE networks in suburbs outside the two cities, using digital dividend frequencies in the 800 MHz range.
René Schuster, CEO of Telefónica 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 unit competes with Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and KPN’s E-Plus.
Announcing results for the first six months of the year yesterday, it reported organic revenues growing in Q2 at more than 8%, with OIBDA up by 6%. Its mobile customer base reached 16.3 million at June end, 2010, a 9% year-on-year increase.
The integration of former Telecom Italia broadband unit HanseNet was progressing well, it said, emphasising the importance of new technologies and high-speed mobile internet.