German mobile operators to co-operate on LTE networks

German mobile network operators are set to start co-operating more than ever in the coming months as they face the prospect of building expensive new networks. O2 German CEO Renue Schuster told the Financial Times Deutschland (FTD) that pressure was increasing to agree on models of co-operation. Thoma Jul, head of global business with Deutsche Telekom for Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN), told the FTD that mobile network operators were starting to value potential co-operation. Currently, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, E-Plus and O2 operate their own mobile networks in Germany. By co-operating in the future, they will be able to share the costs of building new networks, optimise use of existing networks and maintain profit margins. Such business models are already common in the UK, Spain and Sweden. Driving forces in Germany towards similar developments include falling mobile communications prices, rising data traffic and the planned development of LTE networks towards end-2010.