Germany, together with the Netherlands, was one of the first markets to adopt the strategy to use the 450 MHz spectrum for M2M critical communication such as Smart Metering and Smart Grid, but had since fallen behind as the Dutch utility Alliander is already in full deployment of a CDMA450 network.
Over the last few years most of the large German utilities conducted comprehensive trials of CDMA450 technology proving in particular the superior coverage and indoor penetration, thanks to characteristics of the 450 MHz band. While there is little public information available the third largest German utility EnBW stated in a press release in April 2014 that they would use CDMA technology for a larger smart meter field trial in cooperation with the city utility of Karlsruhe.
According to recent market information, the German Utility Association favors a 450 MHz wireless network for utility communication and a group of large utilities is currently testing both CDMA450 and LTE450 solutions to compare technology alternatives.
Full-scale deployment of 450 MHz networks in Germany seems to hinge on the Smart Meter rollout obligation that provides the critical mass of connections. Already in August 2013, Ernst & Young underlined in the Cost-Benefit-Analysis for the German Ministry of Economy that the use of
CDMA450 Technology could improve the economic benefit of the introduction of Smart Metering in Germany by up to Euro 2.6 Billion. After the German election in autumn of 2013, it was widely expected that the Smart Meter regulation would be implemented in first half of 2014 but this was delayed as other topics, such as the reform of the renewables regime, took precedence. This August the German Government confirmed in its Digital Agenda that it would finally start with implementing the legal framework for the obligatory Smart Meter rollout later this year. Accordingly, market participants expect that Germany move forward with deployment of a 450 MHz network for M2M critical communication with utilities as anchor users in 2015.