Ralph Dommermuth has firmly dismissed the ongoing speculation about a possible sale of Germany’s fourth mobile network. The founder and CEO of United Internet and 1&1 made it unmistakably clear that there are no discussions whatsoever with Telefónica regarding a takeover. He is thus responding to market rumors that had recently gained momentum in light of the high investment costs for network expansion. Dommermuth emphasizes that the project is a long-term endeavor and was not launched with the goal of selling it off prematurely.

By building its own mobile network, 1&1 is positioning itself as the fourth network operator alongside Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefónica O2. This move is considered significant for the German telecommunications market, as it is expected to strengthen competition and lead to better prices and more innovative offerings in the long term. Despite the considerable financial and infrastructural challenges, the company is staying the course and views the progress made so far as confirmation of its strategy.

According to its own figures, 1&1 had already reached around 27 percent of households in Germany with its network by the end of 2025, thereby exceeding regulatory requirements. The goal is to increase this to about 35 percent by the end of 2026. At the same time, Dommermuth is open to partnerships, particularly regarding the shared use of wireless infrastructure in less densely populated regions. Such models are already established in other European markets and could help make the expansion more efficient.

At the same time, the company faces regulatory challenges. A key point of contention is the Federal Network Agency’s decision to extend certain low-band frequencies exclusively to the three established network operators. 1&1 considers this to be discriminatory and has initiated legal action. These frequencies are considered crucial for reliable network coverage in buildings and rural areas, which is why their availability plays a key role in the network’s long-term success.

Despite these hurdles, Dommermuth draws a positive interim conclusion. The entry of a fourth network operator has already had a noticeable impact on competition and contributed to falling prices for consumers. However, the further expansion of the network remains a complex and capital-intensive undertaking, the success of which will depend largely on regulatory conditions, partnerships, and technical implementation.

Conclusion

The clear exclusion of a sale underscores 1&1’s long-term ambition to permanently establish itself as the fourth network operator in the German market. Despite regulatory conflicts and high investment costs, the company remains on a growth trajectory and is relying on a combination of its own network expansion and potential partnerships. If it succeeds in increasing network coverage as planned and offsetting structural disadvantages, the competitive dynamics in the German mobile communications market could change permanently.