LTE Reaches Rural Germany First

Beginning in 2011, providers quietly covered the countryside. This year the race is on to offer lightning-fast mobile coverage to city customers

BERLIN and LONDON, April 23, 2012 /CNW/ - The first places to receive LTE coverage in Germany were not global cities like Berlin or Munich. Towns of 5,000 inhabitants or less were connected to new high-speed networks first. Now that rural areas have been covered, German providers have their sights set on urban areas this year. In total, over half of German households already have access to LTE, including growing networks in Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt and Duesseldorf. Germany's telecommunications infrastructure is a key factor drawing start-ups and IT companies to Germany, according to Germany Trade & Invest experts at this year's Internet World from April 24-26 in London.

"With LTE expanding at a record pace and excellent UMTS coverage for over a decade, companies can stay connected to their clients on the go nearly everywhere," said Julia Oentrich, IT industry expert at Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.

When Germany auctioned its LTE frequencies in 2010, a stipulation ensured that rural areas lacking high-speed internet access could become the first LTE customers. A tiered system was put in place. First, 5,000 inhabitant towns were covered, followed by 20,000 then 50,000-person communities. This unique approach ensured broader access could be provided faster to underserved areas. Now LTE providers have met their obligations in roughly have of the federal states, opening up the gates to reach city customers.

"The LTE implementation strategy reflects the diversity of Germany's economy. The German Mittelstand is dispersed across the country, so it makes sense to take this approach. Businesses aren't constrained to one city or region," continued Oentrich.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Germany Trade & Invest
Andreas Bilfinger
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