Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica have decided to share mobile network in a bid to enhance coverage in Germany.
Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica / O2 aim to overcome several hundred gray spots in 4G network coverage for their customers before the end of the year. The partners will share active network technology at the sites.

Unlike previous joint projects, such as site sharing or the operator agreement to close white spots, no second separate wireless technology or additional antennas must be installed with this approach. The two companies have now signed a letter of intent.

The agreement aims to close coverage gap and resolve the financial shortcomings: Both companies plan to implement active network sharing at several hundred selected antenna sites to fill “gray spots” in Germany.

“Joint projects like this are becoming increasingly important to network build-out – in both broadband and mobile communication,” said Srini Gopalan, managing director of Telekom Deutschland.

“German consumers and business are demanding rapid progress in mobile network coverage. Co-usage of sites is an important step in this direction and a positive signal to Germany’s mobile communications customers,” said Telefonica Deutschland / o2 CEO Markus Haas.

In 2019, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefonica / o2 signed an agreement covering under 6,000 new sites. Each operator builds their assigned infrastructure share and grants the other players usage rights to the resulting passive network infrastructure.

Unlike the joint project announced today, only structural infrastructure such as mobile masts and power supply is shared in the white spots. Each operator provides the transmission technology and antennas themselves in their particular area.