Germany - LTE network strategies - 2011

Synopsis

Germany has the largest mobile subscriber base in Europe, with about 111 million subscribers in mid-2011. The high penetration rate – at some 140% – is chiefly attributable to the growing use of SIM cards for mobile Internet access. Vodafone and T-Mobile dominate the German mobile market, together accounting for about 63% of subscribers, about 4% lower than in 2009 since the main network competitors O2 and E-Plus have increased their market share. Customer churn in the German mobile market remains high, driven by number portability, regular tariff changes and competitive deals introduced by operators.

In line with the government’s National Broadband Strategy, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have consolidated their awards for licences in a number of spectrum bands by further advancing their deployments of Long-term Evolution (LTE) networks. MNOs are committed to playing a significant part in Germany’s broadband strategy, given the licence conditions set for their 800MHz licences to provide rural areas with priority coverage.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Spectrum regulations and spectrum auctions
  • 2.1 800MHz, 2.6GHz
  • 2.2 Refarming GSM spectrum
• 3. LTE strategies
• 4. Background operator data
• 5. MNO statistics

• Table 1 – Mobile operator share of revenue – 2008 - 2011
• Table 2 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1995 - 2012
• Table 3 – Mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2000 - 2011
• Table 4 – T-Mobile financial data (Germany) – 2005 - 2011
• Table 5 – T-Mobile subscribers – 2001 - 2011
• Table 6 – Vodafone Germany mobile subscribers – 2006 - 2011
• Table 7 – Vodafone Germany – financial data – 2003 - 2011
• Table 8 – E-Plus subscribers by sector – 2006 - 2011
• Table 9 – E-Plus ARPU by sector – 2006 - 2011
• Table 10 – O2 subscribers – contract and prepaid – 2005 - 2011
• Table 11 – O2 monthly ARPU – 2006 - 2011

• Chart 1 – Mobile operator share of revenue – 2008 - 2011
• Chart 2 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2000 - 2011
• Chart 3 – Mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2006 - 2011
• Chart 4 – T-Mobile financial data (Germany) – 2005 - 2011
• Chart 5 – Vodafone Germany – financial data – 2003 - 2011
• Chart 6 – E-Plus subscribers by sector – 2006 - 2011
• Chart 7 – E-Plus ARPU by sector – 2006 - 2011
• Chart 8 – O2 subscribers – contract and prepaid – 2005 - 2011
• Chart 9 – O2 monthly ARPU – 2006 - 2011

• Exhibit 1 –Spectrum auction block allocations (800MHz, 1.8GHz, 2GHz and 2.6GHz) – May 2010
• Exhibit 2 –Spectrum auction results (800MHz, 1.8GHz, 2GHz and 2.6GHz) – May 2010
• Exhibit 3 –Spectrum auction results - 800MHz – May 2010