Deutsche Telekom announced that over 400 new mobile stations were commissioned during the fourth quarter of 2018.
Deutsche Telekom aggregated and modernized the network, and filled gaps. Roughly 9,500 new services (GSM, UMTS, and LTE) were integrated in the network during the same period. 163,000 additional customers can now access Deutsche Telekom’s LTE network. Population coverage now stands at 97.6 percent.
Deutsche Telekom says it will raise the number of mobile base stations in Germany from now 29,000 to 36,000 in 2021. The LTE expansion will help Deutsche Telekom fill coverage gaps in mobile communications and increase bandwidths. Population coverage is set to increase to 98 percent this year.
This expansion is an important component for the future 5G network.
According to Walter Goldenits, CTO, Telekom Deutschland, "LTE will remain for many years to come, the basis for further development of the mobile network. The rollout of LTE must therefore be driven forward. Also in order to provide our customers with the best possible network wherever and whenever possible."