Consultation on an order for cooperative shared use of equivalent radio spectrum below 1 GHz
Year of issue 2026
Date of issue 2026.02.17
The Bundesnetzagentur has today commenced a written consultation on an order for cooperative shared use of equivalent radio spectrum below 1 GHz in the rollout areas of 1&1 Mobilfunk GmbH.
"Through this consultation we are enforcing the requirements of the decision on extending spectrum usage rights. Interested parties will have the opportunity to express their views on possible changes to the spectrum assignments,"
said Klaus Müller, President of the Bundesnetzagentur. "This is an important step forward in the swift rollout of mobile networks in Germany and in establishing the fourth network operator."
The Bundesnetzagentur had extended usage rights in the 800, 1800 and 2600 MHz bands for the three network operators already established, Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone. As a consequence, they were obliged to negotiate cooperative shared use of equivalent radio spectrum below 1 GHz in the rollout areas of 1&1 Mobilfunk GmbH if requested to do so by 1&1 Mobilfunk GmbH. If the negotiations did not arrive at an agreement by 31 December 2025, the Bundesnetzagentur had reserved the right to order the cooperative shared use.
As the network operators’ negotiations have not yet led to any agreement, the Bundesnetzagentur is now consulting with the interested parties on an order for the cooperative shared use of spectrum. Interested parties have been called upon to submit their comments in writing by 18 March 2026. The consultation paper sets out the questions as to whether an order is necessary for the cooperative shared use and, if so, how it should be implemented and which mobile network operator(s) should be subject to this obligation. This consultation will provide transparency regarding the spectrum assignments for public mobile networks.
More information about the proceedings for the provision of mobile spectrum can be found here: www.bundesnetzagentur.de/mobilesbreitband (in German).