At the end of 2022, the United Internet subsidiary had only 5 in operation instead of 1,000 of its own 5G antenna sites. In the new year, further network expansion has been sluggish so far. “But the construction capacities are growing and if things go as contractually agreed by our expansion partners, then we will complete 3,000 locations over the next few years,” said 1&1 boss and United Internet main shareholder Ralph Dommermuth of the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (Monday ). This would also meet the long-term requirements of the Federal Network Agency.
1&1 is currently arguing with the telecom group Vodafone because of the sluggish network construction. The Federal Cartel Office only got involved in the case last week. The Bonn authority announced that it had initiated abuse proceedings. It is now being examined whether there was an antitrust obstruction by Vodafone. This is Germany’s top competition watchdog reacting to a complaint from 1&1 in February. They will “take a close look to see whether there are good reasons for the delay in providing antenna sites for 1&1,” said Andreas Mundt, head of the Cartel Office.
The lawyer is referring to the sluggish network expansion by 1&1, which bought its own mobile spectrum for the first time in 2019 and wants to use the frequencies for its own network. This gives the previous network operators Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica (O2) competition.
Why was that? In answering this question, 1&1 pointed to its contractor Vantage Towers, who was to build most of the masts and roof locations so that 1&1 could install its antennas there. Together with financial investors, Vodafone holds almost 90 percent of its former radio tower division, which was listed on the stock exchange as Vantage Towers in 2021. Vantage Towers and Vodafone both rejected the allegation of obstruction.
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