Das neue Selbstbild:
I have to say I’m pleased with Germany’s performance. As you can see on the chart on Germany, we continue to be co-leading, or close to Deutsche Telekom. In all fairness, they still have a bit of an advantage on data; we have an advantage on voice. But the important thing is that the gap versus the third is opening here. And we now have pretty good 4G coverage throughout the country, and improved a lot. In some cities we are already getting to the highest possible speed.
Der Drillisch-Effekt?
It is worth commenting on Germany, which despite reaching 100% of our targeted cost and capex integration synergies six months ahead of plan our costs rose year over year due to increased subsidy levels during H1 given competitive aggression in indirect channels.
o2 Free
Q: With Germany we’ve seen O2 launch launching its ‘free’ proposition, which arguably provides a pretty decent data experience once you maxed out on your data allowance and, more importantly, does not allow a MVNO on a resale basis to easily replicate that vital proposition. What is preventing the likes of Vodafone or Deutsche Telekom, for example, from replicating that and utilising this market cost advantage on the use of data?
A: What’s stopping them (DT) from doing that? Probably nothing is stopping them from coming up with similar types of propositions.
A: I think the question is what was stopping us. Correct? Shall I take it? I think the answer is nothing; ... Clearly not having unit-based MVNOs is helpful for us, and we are going to use more aggressively our second brand in the low – in the median - and low end of the market.