- Vodafone’s tower arm Vantage Towers is accused of delaying access for German rival 1&1’s 5G network.
- German regulators are investigating whether Vantage failed to meet fair and non-discriminatory access obligations.
What happened: Regulators probe Vodafone’s tower unit over alleged delays in supporting 1&1’s 5G network expansion in Germany
Vodafone’s infrastructure spin-off, Vantage Towers, is under regulatory scrutiny in Germany for allegedly delaying 1&1’s access to critical mobile network sites. According to an inquiry launched by the Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA) — Germany’s Federal Network Agency — Vantage may have breached obligations to provide fair and non-discriminatory access to the passive infrastructure needed for 1&1’s new entrant 5G rollout.
The dispute concerns a long-term tower agreement between 1&1 and ATC Germany, where Vantage Towers was brought in to help access thousands of tower sites. Germany’s regulator, BNetzA, is concerned because there have been delays in giving 1&1 access to these sites — delays that 1&1 says are making it very difficult to build its new mobile network on time. In response, Vantage Towers claimed it had already provided access to more than 700 sites and is working “constructively” with all stakeholders.
VodafoneWatch first reported the regulatory tensions and the implications for Vodafone’s infrastructure arm.
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Why it is important
The outcome of this dispute carries significant implications for competition and infrastructure access in Germany’s mobile market. The United Internet 1&1 is the country’s fourth network operator and a key challenger aiming to shake up a market dominated by Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefónica. The BNetzA investigation touches on broader European concerns that tower companies — especially those linked to incumbent telcos — may act in ways that disadvantage emerging competitors.
By delaying site access, even indirectly, Vodafone Vantage risks undermining trust in the neutrality of independent tower firms, a sector rapidly consolidating and now vital to 5G rollouts. If Vantage is found to have breached its obligations, it could face regulatory penalties and damage to its reputation, particularly as it partners with firms like DigitalBridge and KKR, who co-own the company.
This episode echoes similar issues elsewhere in Europe, where infrastructure access remains a critical bottleneck in delivering open, competitive telecom markets. The investigation also pressures BNetzA to enforce more vigorously to prevent market distortion.
For Vantage and Vodafone, the fallout could reshape tower-sharing norms in Germany and beyond.
