1:30 PM -- Nothing stands in the way now for German regulator Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA) to hold the biggest spectrum auction the country has ever seen on April 12.

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