Telefónica promises nationwide 5G mobile communications under certain conditions

Telefónica boss Markus Haas offers politicians seamless coverage with the new 5G mobile communications standard in Germany. “We would be willing to offer 5G at the milk can, i.e. to upgrade every station with 5G across the board and have it available everywhere. That is our offer," said Haas in an interview with WELT AM SONNTAG. The prerequisite, however, is that the right to use the frequencies is extended and not auctioned off for large sums.

Telecom companies repeatedly complain about high prices for frequency auctions. As a result, the funds would no longer be available for network expansion. Most recently, however, the head of the monopoly commission, Jürgen Kühling, denied such a connection.

Telefónica boss Haas sees it differently and refers to experiences in Europe: "Countries with the lowest frequency costs have by far the best network quality," he said, referring to countries such as Sweden, Norway, Finland and Switzerland. In these countries there is the same intensity of competition as in Germany. "We do not share the conclusion of the Monopolies Commission." In Germany, the Federal Network Agency has the legal option, even in the event of a shortage, to extend frequency rights instead of auctioning them off. "That's the better way."

On Monday, Haas has to explain to the Federal Network Agency's Advisory Board the extent to which he can meet the expansion obligations by the end of the year that he committed to at the most recent frequency auction in 2019. He contradicts reports in WELT AM SONNTAG that the group is behind schedule. "We achieve the goals," he said.

Telefónica submitted the data for this to the network agency last week. “We are on the home straight with speeds of 100 megabits per second in the federal states. We fulfilled the 5G expansion requirement in the last remaining federal state last week.”

By the end of 2024 he wants to have full coverage in Germany. Joint expansion with our competitors also helps here. In the large white areas, the network operators grant each other access to the mobile phone masts.

At the same time, Haas is demanding more frequencies for mobile communications, especially if 1

Mobile operators actually need more frequencies today. "If I divide a cake that is already too small for three providers by four and at the same time withdraw investment funds from the providers via an auction, it will be worse for all users."

At least one of the network operators would then no longer be able to fully maintain the existing supply for millions of people. That's why the cake needs to get bigger. "We need more frequencies, for example at 600 megahertz." These frequencies are currently used by radio and for wireless microphone transmission at cultural events. From there there is resistance to the demand of the mobile operators.

The Telefónica boss refers to frequencies in the 700 and 800 megahertz range, which have also passed from radio to mobile communications in the past. "If we had listened to the broadcasters back then, we would still be living in the Stone Age of mobile communications today."