450connect Receives the 450 MHz License Rights for the Next 20 years
450connect has been awarded the license for the usage of the 450 MHz frequencies for the next 20 years in Germany.
The 450 MHz allocation will be used to establish a Germany-wide, highly resilient and secure LTE radio network for applications of energy and water utilities and other critical infrastructures.
450connect is supported by four equal shareholders – Alliander, a consortium of regional utilities, E.ON and Versorger-Allianz 450 (a consortium of multiple predominantly municipal utilities, with the participation of the EnBW subsidiary Netze BW). Together, these companies supply around 90% of Germany with critical infrastructure services.
“We are very pleased that the 450 MHz frequencies have been awarded to the Joint venture 450connect supported by companies in the energy and water sector “, says Carsten Ullrich, management spokesman at 450connect GmbH. “The decision of the Federal Network Agency shows that our frequency usage concept for the critical infrastructures has been convincing and that 450connect is able to implement this concept reliably, efficiently and promptly. It is recognition of great expertise and the extensive experience that 450connect has built up in the rollout and operation of 450 MHz radio networks and in cooperation with the utility industry. ”
The Federal Network Agency officially opened the procedure for awarding the 450 MHz frequencies on 16thNovember 2020. Applications could have been submitted until 18th December. The evaluation was carried out on the basis of previously defined criteria, such as reliability, expertise and ability. The award of the license to 450connect allows for the usage of the spectrum until end of 2040.
Full press announcement available on the website of 450connect (in German) https://www.450connect.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/20210225_PM_450connect-erha%CC%88lt-Zuschlag-fuer-450_FINAL-mit-Logo.pdf
About 450connect:
450connect GmbH is Germany’s sole license holder and operator of 450 MHz radio frequencies. Goal of the company is to quickly establish a nationwide mobile network based on LTE technology (4G and 5G) for digitalizing German energy and water utilities as well as other critical infrastructures. The 450MHz radio network is a crucial requirement for a secure and highly available communication of millions of critical machine-to-machine (M2M) applications and thus for the successful energy transition and transformation. Equal shareholders of 450connect are: the largest Dutch energy network operator Alliander, a consortium of regional energy providers, E.ON and Versorger-Allianz 450, to which numerous public utilities, energy and water suppliers with the participation of the EnBW subsidiary Netze BW belong.