Deutsche Telekom will “later this year” launch LTE in Germany using digital dividend spectrum which was allocated in a May 2010 auction, a move equipment supplier Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) says will make the country the first to deploy the technology using the 800MHz frequencies. Rather than focusing its efforts on metropolitan areas, the new LTE network will initially be available for rural “whitespots” without broadband access of any kind. The German authorities have set-out ambitious targets for LTE deployment, including the elimination of gaps in broadband coverage before the end of 2010, hence Deutsche Telekom’s focus on rural areas first – although this will also cap the potential revenue that can be generated from the new network. The spectrum was auctioned in a EUR4.38 billion auction process, where Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Germany and O2 Germany picked up 800MHz frequencies.

In addition to being its preferred – although not exclusive – partner in Germany, Deutsche Telekom has also selected NSN as a global LTE supplier. The “major part” of the contract in Germany is dedicated to services, with the vendor planning and optimising the LTE network to deliver the quality and coverage necessary to serve rural areas. It was suggested previously that the rollout of Deutsche Telekom’s 800MHz network is already underway, as part of a plan to serve 1,000 locations before the end of this year. It was also reported yesterday that Germany’s mobile operators are considering a partnership for the deployment of LTE infrastructure, with the country’s competition authorities involved in the project.