Germany Prepares for 4G Mobile Phone Networks

Germany’s auction of 4G network spectrum has moved up a notch with mobile phone companies bidding a total €3.73 billion by the time the hammer fell on the auction this week.

Four mobile operators took part in the auction – Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and E-Plus, the German subsidiary of Dutch mobile phone company KPN. The main focus for bidders was the potentially lucrative 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz network bands which are best suited for the new, faster 4G services that operators hope to make money on.

The German 4G auction is expected to raise €6 billion and €8 billion. Other countries in Europe are due to hold their own network auctions between now and the end of next year.