German LTE Auction Is Set
An administrative court in Cologne has rejected the lawsuits filed by operators E-Plus Mobilfunk GmbH and Telefónica O2 Germany GmbH & Co. OHG against the regulator, which threatened to derail the auction proceedings. Since the spectrum on offer can be used for Long Term Evolution (LTE), a delay would have set back operators' plans for next-gen mobile broadband deployments in the country. (See Court Could Halt German LTE Auction, Lawsuits Threaten German LTE Auction, Germany's Monster 4G Auction, and 4 Bidders in German LTE Auction.)
But now, all will go according to plan and the auction cannot be delayed, according to a spokesman at the BNetzA.
If the operators decide to appeal the court's decision, the case would be heard after the auction has taken place.
— Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Light Reading Mobile