The efforts of operator E-Plus (KPN) to upgrade coverage and capacity of its 3G network in Germany have already made an impact on data transfer speeds. Now, mobile internet users in bigger cities and their outskirts may experience data transmission rates of up to 1.8 mbps (download) and 384 kbps (upload). Subscribers to a postpaid or prepaid price plan of E-Plus brands such as Base, Simyo, Ay Yildiz and Vybemobile or low-cost providers such as Blau and Medion Mobile (Aldi TAlk) will also benefit from faster data transfer speeds. As described in an earlier post, other mobile operators such as T-Mobile, Vodafone and O2 Germany already offer DSL-like transfer speeds of up to 7.2 mbps in larger parts of their 3G networks.

As reported earlier, E-Plus has announced to upgrade the 3G network with HSPA to meet the growing mass market demand for mobile data communication and to enable the use of mobile data services with data transmissions of up to 21.6 mbps. According to the operator, the mobile network already offers mobile internet access to 90 percent of the German population, primarily based on GPRS/EDGE with data transmission rates of up to 220 kbps (download). E-Plus is offering a GSM/GPRS and 3G network map on its website. Here users can check what data transmission rates they can expect at their place of residence.

The network operator is also taking part in the current auction of mobile spectrum to build 4G networks (e.g. LTE). The auction comprises 360 megahertz of available spectrum in four different bands (800 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 2.0 GHz and 2.6 GHz). The auction ist still in progress and can go on for weeks, people interested in it can follow the bids at www2.bundesnetzagentur.de/frequenzversteigerung2010.