German mobile operators team up to plug network holes

Nov 11 (Reuters) - Telefonica Deutschland said on
Monday it would team up with competitors Deutsche Telekom
and Vodafone to build 6,000 new mobile masts
in Germany, as part of a joint push to close gaps in network
coverage.

The approach, supported by the network regulator, seeks to
meet coverage requirements without further straining the
finances of network operators after they spent 6.5 billion euros
($7.2 billion) on frequencies for 5G services.

Telefonica Deutschland, controlled by Spain's Telefonica
, said that 1&1 Drillisch - a virtual network
operator that also won 5G spectrum and plans a fourth national
network - had been invited to join the group.

Further details of the cooperation should be agreed by
spring 2020 at the latest, Telefonica Deutschland said in a
statements. The joint network would be rolled out soon
afterwards.
($1 = 0.9074 euros)
(Reporting by Douglas Busvine, editing by Thomas Escritt)