The German operator has set out new 5G rollout goals, following a failure to hit previous base station targets.
Germany’s emerging fourth operator has announced plans to build 1,200 antenna masts by the end of 2023.
Previously, 1&1 failed to reach its rollout target of building 1,000 masts by the end of 2022. It is believed that the German regulator is considering fining the operator for not achieving this target, which was set out in the company’s spectrum licences.
By 2024, the company plans to activate an additional 3,000 antenna sites. The operator says it will launch commercial services in the third quarter of this year. However, this service will in part rely on the company’s roaming agreement with Telefónica.
“While the rollout targets were missed significantly in 2022, 1&1 is now confident that the commitments made by the expansion partners will be fulfilled in accordance with the contracts and that the gap can be closed entirely,” says 1&1.
1&1 became Germany’s fourth national mobile operator after acquiring spectrum at the country’s 2019 auction but it largely operates as an MVNO.
