Germany’s three main mobile operators will take part in a spectrum auction including, the sale of 700 MHz frequencies, next month, the country’s regulator announced this week.
The country will sell off a total of 270 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 1500 MHz and 1800 MHz bands, the Bundesnetzagentur revealed.
The auction will commence on 27 May and Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and Vodafone will take part, the regulator confirmed.
"We expect the auction to be a strong driver for the rapid rollout of broadband networks, in particular in rural areas," said Bundesnetzagentur president Jochen Homann, in a statement.
The 700 MHz spectrum has to date been used by terrestrial TV broadcasters, but is being freed up for mobile broadband. The winners of that spectrum will be subject to an obligation to cover 98% of the population, the regulator noted.
The digital switchover is due to begin immediately, with a view to enabling usage for mobile broadband from April 2017 in some regions and nationwide from mid-2018.
Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and Vodafone between them share control of the German mobile market following Telefonica’s acquisition of E-Plus in October last year.
