At that time Elf took over one of the biggest businesses in eastern Germany, the Leuna oil refinery and its network of petrol stations, as part of the wholesale privatisation of former East German state assets.

BBC: A potential political earthquake

The government is also providing funds for the construction of a nationwide network of charging stations.

FORBES: Green Business

The network of base stations, keeping them all on, running the system itself, having management and the biggie, buying the spectrum in the first place.

FORBES: No, It Does Not Cost 1/1000th Of A Penny To Send A Text Message