Mobile phone rights: Telecom, Vodafone & Co.: Federal Network Agency considers waiving mobile phone auctions - shares mostly up

Before a meeting of the Federal Network Agency’s advisory board in Bonn on Monday, the agency’s head Jochen Homann said he could envision expanding mobile radio frequencies “shortly and conditionally” and only later with additional spectrum. Can carry out an award process.

The last auction was held in 2019, when network operators acquired spectrum for 6.6 billion euros. As of now, it is expected that the next allocation of other frequencies will take place in 2023 or 2024 – but instead of a new allocation, existing rights of use may be extended subject to expansion requirements.

The “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” previously reported on the attitude of the head of the agency. The next prize includes, among other things, frequencies in the 800 MHz range, in which antennas can transmit particularly far – so they are very important for wide coverage. However, the problem is that only three instance packages will be released. So far, they have been used by 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 strongly against the extension of the current position. A spokesperson for 1&1 said it was “absolutely necessary” for their company to be able to achieve field frequencies soon.

On Monday, the authority’s advisory board will deal with the question of how to proceed. The question is “open and not yet ready for decision,” Homan emphasized. The network agency will probably decide next year whether to go with the previous auction model, expand use, or some other approach. “Before a decision is made, a large number of procedural questions must be clarified.”

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Telecom shares fell 0.10 per cent at times to 16.07 euros in XETRA trading, while Vodafone Title in London rose 5.92 per cent to £1.25. Telefonica title also rose 1.01 percent to 2.60 euros, with 1&1 shares listed up 1.36 percent to 23.82 euros.

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Bonn (DPA-AFX)