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g · NetworksCurated

Vodafone wants tax money for new 5G mobile network

Summary

In January 2018 Vodafone Germany CEO Hannes Ametsreiter called for state funding for fibre in order to build a 5G network faster. Until then, funding had mainly gone into copper and DSL expansion. With fibre reaching two percent of households, Germany ranked 28th of 32 OECD countries.

Ideas

  • 5G radio cells need a fibre connection (backhaul).
  • Funding for vectoring and FTTC strengthened the copper network.
  • The automotive industry served as an argument for a fast 5G launch.

Insights

  • Fast mobile communications depend on fibre in the ground.
  • Funding policy fixes infrastructure decisions for decades.

Facts

  • Ametsreiter made the demand in the Rheinische Post.
  • Vodafone promised all cable customers 1 Gbit/s connections by 2020.

References

Critique

  • The report reproduces a lobbying demand without asking why Vodafone does not finance the expansion itself.

Remarks

  • The German 5G frequencies were auctioned in 2019.

Recommendations

  • When choosing locations, check actual fibre availability, not just announced expansion.
  • For connections, look for real fibre into the building instead of FTTC.

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