Spectrum auction will take place at the beginning of 2019
Germany’s Federal Network Regulator (BNetzA) said it plans to auction spectrum in the 2 GHz and 3.6 GHz frequency bands for the provision of 5G services.
“The mobile network operators need additional frequencies for network expansion in order to cope with the rapidly increasing data volumes,” said Jochen Homann, president of the Federal Network Agency.
The official said that 5G technology will not only improve data rates for end users, but will also enable completely new applications such as automated production (Industry 4.0) and real-time applications. The body added that the final specifications for the auction will be available by the end of 2018.
Earlier this week, the regulator said that it aims to award 5G spectrum in early 2019, rather than this year as originally planned.
According to German press reports, the delay in the process is due to a conflict between the transport ministry and the network regulator over the conditions under which bidders will be admitted to the auction.
Also, the Federal Network Agency said it will also award frequencies for local and regional networks in the 3,700 to 3,800 MHz and 26 GHz ranges. The regulator said that this spectrum will allow regional networks to provide Industry 4.0 applications.
German operators are paving the way for the future launch of commercial 5G services.
Earlier this month, Deutsche Telekom announced the deployment of the first 5G antennas to test the technology in downtown Berlin. The antennas, which are based on 5G New Radio (5G NR), allowed Deutsche Telekom to demonstrate what it claims to be Europe’s first 5G data connection over a live network. The telco said that it is currently in process to deploy a 5G cluster in Berlin.
The first six commercial antennas are now installed in sites in Berlin’s Mitte and Schöneberg districts for test operations. The telco said that an additional 70 cells are to be installed in the coming months, across a total of more than 20 sites.
Claudia Nemat, Deutsche Telekom board member for technology and innovation, previously said that the carrier aims to launch 5G in 2020. During the 2018 Mobile World Congress, Nemat told reporters that Deutsche Telekom was on track to launch 5G commercial trials in Europe during 2018.
In February, Nokia and Telefónica Germany signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a joint 5G innovation cluster. The two partners said this initiative will allow them to test networks and technologies on the path to 5G. The innovation cluster will be located at Telefonica’s lab in Munich, Germany. The two companies also said the cluster will be followed by trials in the operator’s live network, currently planned with priority in Berlin with the objective of building a benchmark network with 4.5G, 4.9G and 5G technology.
Also, Vodafone Germany has recently opened a 5G testing lab in Dusseldorf. Its 5G Testing Area will determine whether devices like upcoming smartphones, tablets and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are compatible with 5G and with Vodafone’s own 5G network under various conditions.
