Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica Deutschland are collaborating to speed up the expansion of their mobile communications networks, with the connection of at least 5,000 Telefónica Deutschland mobile base stations with Deutsche Telekom's fibre-optic network, long-term.
In turn, Deutsche Telekom can dedicate the captured synergy effects directly to its own network expansion. The companies say that this cooperation helps them to create the ideal foundation for upgrading antennas at their base stations to 5G in the coming years.
The collaboration is not entirely new for the businesses, as Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica Deutschland have been partners for many years, including a mobile backhaul contract that concluded in 2011. The new agreement builds on this contract, significantly expanding the partnership.
Markus Haas, CEO at Telefónica Deutschland said of the collaboration: ‘This partnership between Telefónica Deutschland and Deutsche Telekom represents an important milestone for network expansion in Germany. By using the available infrastructure, we can accelerate the expansion of our mobile network and get a significant portion of our mobile base stations in shape for the future 5G standard. As a result, our customers will benefit directly from a more powerful mobile network and a better user experience.’
Agreed Dirk Wössner, managing director at Telekom Deutschland: ‘This agreement is an important step toward ensuring the future viability of Germany's mobile communications infrastructure. Everyone will win from this cooperation, because Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica can both capture synergies. The resources that we save will be dedicated directly to our own network upgrades and the development of 5G.’
Image shows Markus Haas, CEO at Telefónica Deutschland (left) and Dirk Wössner, managing director at Deutschle Telekom (right)
