Overview

• The WIK-Consult study for BDEW found that using existing energy assets could accelerate LTE rollout, supporting 5G expansion in rural areas.
• Co-utilization of 50 percent of power poles, wind turbines and utility properties could cover over 40 percent of white and grey spots, reaching nearly 50 percent of households in surveyed regions.
• Sharing these infrastructures could save mobile operators nearly €400 million in rollout costs.
• Germany’s three primary tower companies form a concentrated market that could dampen willingness to share passive infrastructure, potentially prompting Bundesnetzagentur oversight.
• Researchers call for a Mobilfunkinfrastrukturgesellschaft-led round-table to align energy providers with network operators, meeting the 2030 coverage mandate.