Before a meeting of the Advisory Board of the Federal Network Agency on Monday in Bonn, head of agency Jochen Homann said that he could imagine “extending short-term and conditionally” mobile radio frequencies and only later carrying out an award procedure with additional spectrum.
The last time there was an auction was in 2019, when the network operators secured spectrum for 6.6 billion euros. So far, it is expected that the next allocation of other frequencies will take place in 2023 or 2024 – but instead of a new allocation, existing usage rights could be extended subject to expansion requirements.
The “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” had previously reported on the attitude of the head of the agency. The next award involves, among other things, frequencies in the 800 megahertz range, in which the antennas can transmit particularly far – they are therefore very important for widespread coverage. The problem, however, is that only three frequency packages will be released. So far, they have been used by the network operators Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefonica Germany.
In the meantime, however, a fourth telecommunications company, 1&1, is also involved as a network operator – the company also wants access and is therefore strictly against an extension of the current status. A 1&1 spokeswoman said that it was “absolutely necessary” for her company to be able to acquire the area frequencies soon.
On Monday, the advisory board of the authority will deal with the question of how to proceed. The question is “open and not yet ready for a decision,” emphasized Homann. The network agency will probably decide next year whether to go with the previous auction model, the extension of use or another approach. “Before a decision is made, a large number of procedural questions must be clarified.”
/wdw/DP/eg
BONN (dpa-AFX)
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