Vodafone Continues to Pave the Way for a Nationwide LTE Network

* Ericsson and Huawei selected as partners
* Joussen: nationwide highspeed Internet is coming to everyone

Vodafone has made further decisions in connection with its LTE upgrade and has selected Huawei and Ericsson as technology partners. "We eventually plan to upgrade all base stations in Germany to LTE � the next generation mobile communications technology. These investments will ensure in the mid-term that the new broadband wireless standard is available to customers and in the coming years broadband Internet will be available all over Germany. We will be commencing network extension into regions which don't currently have any coverage in the near future, providing actual transmission speeds of around 3 mbit per second right from day one," said Friedrich Joussen, CEO of Vodafone Germany. In the cities, Joussen is expecting much higher average speeds: "Mobile Internet is becoming a real fixed line alternative."

Vodafone will start work on the LTE upgrade at the end of September, and by next year 1,500 base stations will incorporate LTE technology. The communication company has been implementing field trials with HSDPA technology in rural regions over recent months, providing residents there with wireless access to the Internet. The infrastructure for Internet access is now in place in the Uckermark region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, plus Thuringia and Saxony. One major advantage of wireless Internet access in the 21st century infrastructure is that there is no need for any complex and time-consuming ground work for cable laying as the final leg of connectivity to the home via copper cable, the so-called "last mile", is no longer required. That's because high speed Internet access in rural regions will be provided via the wireless network. Mobile Internet is just as fast, reliable and efficient as a cable connection. According to Joussen, "A high-tech country like Germany needs a high tech infrastructure, both in the cities and in rural regions."

Vodafone has promised to extend its network and provide high speed Internet in rural regions where it isn't currently available within the framework of the German government's broadband initiative. "We're going to achieve the objective set by Chancellor Merkel and Trade Minister Br�derle and our network will be delivering much higher speeds than those agreed in Berlin," said Joussen. The government's wireless frequency auction was the best and most efficient way of generating the investments that are now being made in the German economy.


Vodafone Germany

is one of the largest and most modern telecommunications providers in Europe. It realises turnover of more than EUR nine billion and has 13,000 employees. Based in D�sseldorf, Vodafone Germany is a one-stop innovative and integrated technology and service provider with a portfolio including mobile communications, fixed network telephony, Internet and broadband data services for business and private customers. Continuous development, numerous patents and investments in new products, services and the modern network have made Vodafone an innovation leader in the German telecommunications market. In 2009, Vodafone received the "connect" magazine's award for the best voice and data network in Germany.

Vodafone is committed to CSR. The German Vodafone Foundation is a socio-political think tank that initiates and supports numerous projects in the fields of education, integration and social mobility, art/culture and health. The company is part of the Vodafone Group. Visit the website at www.vodafone-deutschland.de for further information.