National roaming for 1&1 Drillisch
Jochen Homann: "Good news for mobile customers
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Year of issue 2021
Date of issue 2021.02.15
1&1 Drillisch today announced that it has accepted Telefónica’s national roaming offer. In the future 1&1 Drillisch can use Telefónica’s network wherever it does not yet have its own mobile network.
"The national roaming agreement that is being announced is good news for mobile customers in Germany. The cooperation is an indicator of how attractive and dynamic the German mobile market is. 1&1 Drillisch will become the fourth network operator in Germany,"
said Jochen Homann
, Bundesnetzagentur President. "It’s now up to 1&1 Drillisch to build up its network and to efficiently use its acquired spectrum."
Bundesnetzagentur moderated negotiations following spectrum auction
1&1 Drillisch had obtained usage rights in the 2 GHz and 3.6 GHz bands at the 2019 spectrum auction. To immediately be able to offer services throughout Germany, 1&1 Drillisch had called for a national roaming agreement.
The Bundesnetzagentur had required the incumbent network operators in the spectrum auction to enter into negotiations for national roaming with the new entrant 1&1 Drillisch. Alongside this there was a roaming option for 1&1 Drillisch stemming from the European Commission merger procedure of the network operators Telefónica and E-Plus.
Negotiations for a national roaming agreement began after the 2019 auction. 1&1 Drillisch had called on the Bundesnetzagentur as arbitrator. To this end the Bundesnetzagentur had multiple conversations with all network operators to facilitate constructive negotiations.
Cooperation between the Bundesnetzagentur and the European Commission
The European Commission assisted with the negotiations between Telefónica and 1&1 Drillisch. The Bundesnetzagentur actively supported the procedure. The agreement on national roaming that has now been reached deepens the ongoing cooperation between Telefónica and 1&1 Drillisch, who already provides mobile services on Telefónica’s network.
With this roaming agreement, 1&1 Drillisch’s key demand has been met. The Bundesnetzagentur expects 1&1 Drillisch to begin building up its network as quickly as possible and to efficiently use its acquired spectrum.