The German telecoms regulator has said he has no objection to limited cooperation between rival mobile operators in the construction of third generation (3G) mobile phone networks.
Regulator Mathias Kurth said cooperation did not contravene conditions laid down in Germany's 3G auction, which raised $43 billion from the sale of six licences.
The six licence holders will be allowed to share transmitters and antennas, but will not be allowed to share switching stations, servers and other equipment.
The chief executive of Mobilcom, Germany's fifth largest mobile operator, said cooperation could save the company $1.7 billion. Phone companies are expected to spend $100 billion on network equipment in order to roll out 3G services across Europe.
Other licence winners, including BT and Deutsche Telecom, have been selling assets and scaling back expansion as losses mount because of costs related to financing the purchase of 3G licences.
