1&1 launched mobile services through its own network in December 2023
German operator 1&1, which is owned by United Internet AG, had constructed a total of 1,062 antenna sites by the end of last year, the company’s CEO Ralph Dommermuth said during a recent call with investors.
Dommermuth claimed that the carrier, which launched mobile services using its own infrastructure in December 2023, is currently accelerating the pace of construction of its mobile network, adding that the carrier is targeting to reach 1,350 antenna sites by the end of this month and 3,000 sites by the end of the year.
By the end of March, 1&1 said it expects to have installed base stations at 600 sites, with 200 connected to the fiber network of sister company 1&1 Versatel.
The executive also noted that 1&1 is increasingly acquiring its own sites on masts and rooftops, rather than solely relying on partners such as American Tower and Vantage Towers.
The company said its network is fully virtualized and based on Open RAN (O-RAN) technology. The network uses hardware, software and services from more than 80 partners, 1&1 said.
1&1 also said that it aims to provide 5G services to a quarter of German households by the end of 2025 and to half of them by the end of 2030.
In August 2023, 1&1 said it signed a long-term roaming deal with compatriot operator Vodafone Germany, which will enable the provision of 5G service at a national level.
Under the terms of the binding agreement, the two parties committed to finish up a final national roaming cooperation as soon as possible. The national roaming cooperation will include the “non-discriminatory provision” of national roaming services in areas that are not yet covered by the new 1&1 mobile network and will comprise the access to Vodafone’s 2G, 4G and 5G networks as well as future mobile standards and technologies.
Vodafone will start providing roaming services one year after the conclusion of the final national roaming cooperation or October 1, 2024 at the latest. The roaming cooperation with Vodafone will be valid for an initial period of five years, which can then be extended by a further 13 years.
The German operator also has an ongoing roaming deal with Telefonica, which is expected to expire in June 2025. It has also previously selected Japanese company Rakuten Group to design, build and operate a fully virtualized mobile network based O-RAN technology. In August 2021, 1&1 and Rakuten Group announced a long-term partnership to build the former’s mobile network in Germany. Through this deal, Rakuten became the general contractor for the 1&1 mobile network.
