Regional mobile network presents inconsistent coverage - Regional disparities present in mobile network coverage
The first nationwide mobile network measurement week in Germany has been hailed a success by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs, with over 145 million valid measurement points collected. This data is now being used to scrutinise the supply reported by network operators and identify regional discrepancies, especially in rural areas of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) reports that while Germany is making progress towards nationwide mobile coverage, regional gaps remain, particularly in rural areas of these two states. The Agency has set ambitious targets for mobile network operators, requiring them to supply at least 99.5% of the national area with downlink speeds of at least 50 Mbps by 2030, and to cover at least 99% of rural households in every federal state, including Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Currently, 5G coverage in Germany's 3.4-3.8 GHz band stands at about 44%, which is below the EU average of 51.34%. Although 5G uptake is growing strongly, it remains conservative with roughly 38% of SIM cards using 5G services. This indicates that while urban and many suburban areas are well covered, gaps persist in more rural and challenging geographic areas of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate due to the slower expansion of infrastructure.
The Federal Network Agency's annual broadband measurement indicates that 5G enables very high speeds but regional performance can vary significantly. The agency's transparency measures help identify and address these performance gaps, supporting mobile network improvements across Germany, including in less covered regions.
During the mobile network measurement week, users reported 145,000 measurement points. The largest areas with only a 2G network were found in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with 2.25% of measurement points. In Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, 1.12% of measurement points had no available network in each region.
The ministry plans to expand the concept of the mobile network measurement week, using the data to hold network operators accountable for meeting the set targets and improving coverage, particularly in rural areas. René Henn from the Federal Network Agency stated that the mobile network measurement week was about comparing the data of the network operators with the user perspective, ensuring that the needs of the population are met.
[1] Bundesnetzagentur (2021). Mobile Communications in Germany: Market Development and Regulatory Framework. Retrieved from https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/EN/Topics/Telecommunications/Mobile-communications/Market-development-and-regulatory-framework/mobile-communications-in-germany.html [2] Bundesnetzagentur (2021). Annual Broadband Measurement 2020. Retrieved from https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/EN/Topics/Broadband/Annual-broadband-measurement/Annual-broadband-measurement-2020/annual-broadband-measurement-2020.html [3] Bundesnetzagentur (2021). Mobile Network Measurement Week 2021. Retrieved from https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/EN/Topics/Telecommunications/Mobile-communications/Mobile-network-measurement-week/mobile-network-measurement-week-2021/mobile-network-measurement-week-2021.html
Community members are encouraged to participate in the yearly Mobile Network Measurement Week organized by the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). This initiative aims to gather data on mobile network coverage, especially in rural areas like Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, which have been identified as regions requiring improvement. The collected data will be used to advocate for community-friendly policies in vocational training programs focused on technology and telecommunications.
In order to address the technology gap in these areas, the ministry is planning to incorporate vocational training programs into its strategy. These programs will equip local residents with the necessary skills to contribute to the expansion of mobile networks, bridging the infrastructure divide and supporting the advancement of Germany's digital landscape in accordance with the Community policy.
