MONTABAUR (dpa-AFX) - Internet group United Internet plans to accelerate its subsidiary's stumbling 5G network rollout in the coming months and is budgeting more money for this than recently. However, the investment volume is lower than Group CEO Ralph Dommermuth had targeted a year ago. Delivery bottlenecks and an alleged conspiracy by the build-up partner Vantage Towers and its parent Vodafone then thwarted the plans.

1&1 feels it has been hindered in its expansion plans and suspects intrigue. The accusation: British telecommunications provider Vodafone is said to have ensured through its radio tower subsidiary Vantage Towers that 1&1 does not achieve its goals. As the new fourth network operator in Germany, the United Internet subsidiary was supposed to meet the expansion obligation of 1,000 activated 5G stations by the end of 2022 - but according to the latest information, only five were installed. Vantage Towers is responsible for the vast majority of the planned antenna sites.

The 400 million euros targeted a year ago for the 1&1 network then most recently became only 250 million euros. For this year, the new investment volume of EUR 320 million thus means slightly more than what United Internet actually spent - but also less than originally planned.

For the year as a whole, United Internet aims to increase sales to EUR 6.2 billion, which would correspond to growth of around 4.8% compared to the 2022 figure. In the past year, the Group achieved an equally strong increase to around EUR 5.9 billion. However, operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization are expected to remain at the previous year's level of around 1.27 billion euros as a result of increased investments, the company announced on Wednesday evening.

Two-thirds of revenue was generated by the mobile communications subsidiary 1&1, which grew by 1.4 percent to almost EUR 4 billion. Operating profit adjusted for special effects climbed 3.2 percent to 693.3 million euros. In 2023, revenue is expected to increase by around two percent, while day-to-day operations are likely to generate less profit.

Meanwhile, web hosting subsidiary Ionos has mixed feelings about the current year. Although revenue should increase by around a tenth and adjusted operating earnings (Ebitda) by at least ten percent. In 2022, however, the stock market newcomer still increased its sales by 17.2 percent to almost 1.3 billion euros. However, less of this was left over in operational terms: due to greater marketing expenditure to raise brand awareness and increased energy costs, adjusted operating profit (Ebitda) fell slightly to 345.6 million euros./ngu/he/bek/he