1&1's Open RAN network: all customers to be migrated by the end of the year

1&1 reports progress in the self-imposed Herculean task of building a new mobile network. The Montabaur-based company explained at MWC 2025 in Barcelona that the new Open RAN network now comprises 1,000 active antenna sites. But that is by no means the end. "1&1 has made great progress in selecting and securing antenna sites in recent months," said Michael Martin, CEO of 1&1 Mobilfunk GmbH in Barcelona. "As of March 2025, there are 1000 sites and a further 5000 are being developed."

For the far-edge data centers, 241 of the planned 500 sites have so far been completed and are connected to the network, Martin continued. Everything is ready for the remaining locations, including the necessary rental agreements. A far-edge data center is around 40 square meters in size and houses the computing capacity that is found at the mast locations themselves in a conventional network. 1&1 builds these centers partly in existing buildings and partly as de facto turnkey container constructions. The four planned main data centers in Münster, Montabaur, Munich and Berlin are complete and connected to the network.

One partner company in particular has come in for criticism: "Our main supplier for antenna sites is still not providing the contractually agreed number, while our other partners are ensuring a largely reliable supply." The search for suitable sites is also not easy due to increasingly dense mobile phone networks and competition from the space required for photovoltaics on building roofs. Martin does not name names, but the cooperation with the infrastructure operator Vantage Towers did not run smoothly from the outset.

12 million users in the Open RAN by the end of the year

According to 1&1, more than half of the company's 12 million customers are now served by the new network, with around 250,000 new and existing customers joining every week. By the end of the year, 1&1 wants to have completed the migration and only work on the Open RAN. Martin continues: "Open RAN has long since left the laboratory environment behind and is, at least for us, the reality."

Last year, 1&1 had to contend with a massive outage of the new network. This was allegedly caused by a faulty software update that triggered a chain of errors. At times, it was almost impossible to migrate customers to the Open RAN network, according to Martin. The legal experts are still dealing with the consequences, as 1&1 is arguing with the responsible general contractor in court about possible compensation.

Martin leaves no doubt about the fact that an additional mobile network has advantages for providers and end customers: "The fourth network is a win – for consumers and for the country. Four networks are the standard in Western Europe for a reason." Studies have also shown that more choice of networks reduces prices for end customers – unlike mergers of network operators, which would drive up prices.

(sht)