The 5G network expansion is making good progress – the reduction in dead spots in the older 4G standard is less so: the growth in the 5G network is 18 percent, but the progress in the existing 4G network is only one percent. A year ago, 19 percent of Germany was underserved, now it is 16 percent. Southern German regions perform particularly poorly. This is shown by an analysis by the comparison portal Verivox based on the Federal Network Agency’s new mobile phone monitoring.
Progress in the 4G network is only one percent
The German network operators are making good progress in expanding the 5G network: Compared to the previous year, the increase in coverage across Germany is 22 percent for O2, 21 percent for Telekom and 12 percent for Vodafone. In the 4G network, however, which is most important for existing coverage, all three network operators were only able to increase the area by around one percent. No comparative figures are yet available for the youngest German network operator 1&1.
“The current data raises fears that some German regions will have to wait a long time for adequate mobile phone coverage,” says Jens-Uwe Theumer, Vice President Telecommunications at Verivox. “The 5G expansion in metropolitan areas is, on the one hand, more lucrative for network operators than the unpopular, laborious process of closing 4G network gaps in rural regions. On the other hand, the expansion is significantly faster if existing infrastructure can be used.”
The south in particular remains behind
In Germany, 16 percent of the area remains underserved; There, only one or two network operators can offer a mobile data network via 4G/LTE. Anyone who is under contract with another provider can only receive the old 2G network in these so-called “grey spots”. This only enables telephone calls and, if necessary, the sending of a messenger message or SMS. The 3G network, which was previously often used as a backup, was switched off in 2021.
Baden-Württemberg and Hesse have the highest proportion of underserved areas with 22 percent each, ahead of Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria (21 and 19 percent, respectively). The Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg performs worst nationwide, with more than 40 percent of the area underserved. Another 19 German regions have over 30 percent “grey spots”. The best area is Schleswig-Holstein (6 percent); There is practically no shortage of supplies in the city states anymore. The improvements compared to the previous year are in the low single-digit range in all federal states.
The most holey data network is still in Bavaria
In addition, all German states continue to have “white spots”. In such regions, no network operator can offer mobile surfing, neither on the 4G nor on the 5G network. On average in Germany, this affects a good two percent of the area; In Rhineland-Palatinate the average is highest at four percent. Of the 20 worst-served districts or cities, seven are in Bavaria alone. With 24 percent of the area, Berchtesgadener Land has the most data network gaps in Germany.
Jens-Uwe Theumer sees a need for politicians to expand the network across the country: “The high income from the frequency auctions should be used for the expansion of the infrastructure in a targeted manner and for a specific purpose, similar to the expansion of fiber optics. Financial incentives are also conceivable, for example in the case of complicated ones Location search, but also for the operation of individual locations in affected areas.”
Federal Network Agency wants to close the urban-rural divide
According to the requirements of the Federal Network Agency, network operators should close the supply gap between cities and rural areas. “In particular, sparsely populated regions are underserved,” says Jens-Uwe Theumer. “It’s rarely about individual remote farms, but often about entire areas of land. The brakes are usually slow approval processes or difficult structural implementation on site.” By 2028, every network operator should provide at least 98 percent of households in sparsely populated regions and all federal highways with 100 megabits per second (Mbit/s) or more; At least 50 Mbit/s is planned for country roads and waterways.
methodology
The survey is based on the Federal Network Agency’s most recent mobile communications monitoring (as of October 2023). The basis for comparison is the survey from the previous year (as of October 2022). “White spots” are areas that are not covered by 4G or 5G, and “gray spots” are those that are covered by at least one, but not all, network operators with 4G or 5G. The area supply is shown at the district level. The information is based on data from the mobile network operators Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and O2/ Telefonica. The fourth network operator 1&1 has not yet been taken into account; The company is currently using national roaming agreements with O2 and is still building its own network. The official network launch was December 8th, 2023.