Telekom, Vodafone & o2: FDP minister makes a clear statement
The three major mobile network operators Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica/o2 are about to set their expansion targets for 2022 in the sand. Volker Wissing, Minister for Digital Infrastructure, doesn’t want to just let that get away with it. If the providers fail, he wants to change the strings.
Too many dead spots: Telekom, o2 and Vodafone have to keep up
Uncomfortable times could dawn for the operators of the German mobile phone networks. Volker Wissing from the FDP, responsible as Federal Minister for digital infrastructure, does not want to accept if the big three Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica/o2 break promises. Because that’s what it looks like.
According to Wissing, there could be a variety of reasons, “e.g. because delivery delays, citizens’ initiatives or lengthy approval processes are slowing down expansion.” According to the minister, these reasons should be discussed with the network operators. But he is already making it clear: “In our view, where network operators are responsible, legal options should also be used to sanction self-inflicted delays.”
The Federal Network Agency, as the provider’s supervisory authority, would be responsible for such sanctions. According to the German Press Agency (dpa), in the event of a violation of the supply requirements “heavy penalties” threaten (via time). Meanwhile, no information is given about the type or amount of such penalties.
According to calculations by the Federal Network Agency, around 97 percent of the area in Germany is currently covered by 4G coverage. At the 5G network is the coverage as of October 2022 on already around 79 percent increased, an increase of not quite 50 percent compared to the previous year.
Network operators cannot manage timely expansion
“However, it is already becoming apparent that the coverage requirements will be extended by the end of 2022 by the telecommunications industry likely not to be complied with become,” Wissing continues. The Federal Network Agency had only recently announced this.
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With the Defeat in the promised expansion targets Meanwhile, Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica/o2 are not alone. Even the newcomer to the group of German network operators 1&1 cannot keep to its plans in good time. Instead of having 1,000 antenna sites ready for the start of its own network by the end of the year, this first milestone will probably not be reached until summer 2023.
