Rapid progress in network expansion:O₂ Telefónica meets expansion requirements of the Federal Network Agency

O₂ Telefónica is rapidly expanding its 5G network. The company already supplies over 75 percent of the population with the fast 5G mobile communications standard. O₂ Telefónica has far exceeded its obligation to commission 1,000 base stations - divided among the individual federal states - and make them available for 5G applications. The company has put significantly more 5G stations into operation in each federal state than required by the stipulation.

O₂ Telefónica has also fulfilled its obligation to supply the most important traffic routes - federal highways, federal roads and railroads - as far as this was legally and actually possible. O₂ Telefónica provides 99.9 percent of federal motorways with at least 100 Mbit/s. The most important federal highways are covered to around 100 percent with at least 100 Mbit/s, taking into account coverage by competitors, 99.6 percent of which is covered by O₂'s own network. The obligation to provide coverage of at least 100 Mbit/s on rail routes with more than 2,000 passengers per day has been met by O₂ Telefónica to 99.2 percent.

Each nationwide network operator was also given the task of setting up 500 base stations in previously defined white spots distributed throughout the federal states. The network operators entered into a cooperative arrangement for this purpose and shared the construction of the new sites. O₂ Telefónica is therefore responsible for around 167 base stations on a pro rata basis and has so far been able to construct 61 of these. In addition, fulfillment was not yet possible as of the reporting date for both legal and factual reasons. This is due in particular to the relatively short lead time for planning and setting up new mobile communications sites in Germany. On average, it takes three years before the sites are put into operation. The network operators received the final definition of the white spots to be covered so late in 2021 that in many cases it was not feasible to implement the construction work. O₂ Telefónica is continuing to work at full speed to build new mobile sites in the white spots and thus further improve coverage. In addition, the company has already been able to cover a large part of the defined areas with 100 Mbit/s via surrounding mobile sites as part of the normal network roll-out, thus closing white spots in numerous regions.

O₂ Telefónica has met the deadline for the coverage obligation. Network expansion continues unhindered: the telecommunications provider already has its sights firmly set on meeting the next requirements. O₂ Telefónica already provides at least 99 percent of all other federal highways, state and national roads, and all other railroads with the required speed. The company is therefore well on the way to meeting the requirements by the end of 2024. The company is thus providing its consumers and business customers throughout Germany with an ever stronger and better-developed O₂ mobile network.