Nationwide test: Federal & state measure mobile coverage dead spots together

The federal, state and local authorities are stepping up the search for unserved areas in the mobile network in order to close the gaps as quickly as possible. To this end, they jointly announced the first nationwide mobile network measurement week on Friday. From May 26 to June 1, users should use the German Federal Network Agency's "Funkloch" app to specifically record the network availability of their mobile network. Users can start a query by clicking on the corresponding button. From this point onwards, the app will record at regular intervals of a maximum of 50 meters whether there is network coverage – and whether it is 2G, 4G or 5G.

According to the Federal Network Agency, the data is transmitted anonymously from there to the broadband measurement and processed in an online map. This is updated on a weekly basis. The data collected during the measurement week will also be evaluated separately afterwards. Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU) describes it as an important prerequisite for success for rapid action "that we have transparency about network gaps and performance". Together, the parties involved could thus create "the data basis for better mobile coverage everywhere".

Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer (CSU) has rural areas in particular in mind for the campaign. Nationwide digital coverage is a basic prerequisite for modern businesses with digital applications. The President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, emphasized: "If many people use our app, their data can document mobile coverage well." The results can be used to better assess the situation on the ground.

Federal Council wants 100 percent coverage

The official dead spot app has been available since October 2018. The mobile application is based on the Federal Network Agency's older app for broadband measurement. According to the regulators' current findings, 4G coverage by at least one mobile network operator in Germany is 97.53%. 5G is available in more than 93.85% of the area through at least one network operator. 2.10% are not yet covered by either 4G or 5G. The data for the mobile network map is provided by Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica and 1&1 in accordance with the specifications of the Federal Network Agency. The latter examines this data for plausibility, including with the results of smartphone measurements.

At the same time, the Federal Council has passed a resolution to "dynamically" drive forward the expansion of the digital infrastructure. Nationwide mobile communications are the basis for numerous digital applications such as networked, autonomous vehicles, smart metering systems for the energy transition or Agriculture 4.0, but also for emergency call services. The Chamber of the Federal States therefore welcomes the Federal Network Agency's plan to impose coverage requirements instead of budget requirements for the first time. However, the planned coverage of 99.5% of the federal territory does not go far enough for expansion in topographically challenging regions, as this is not a state-specific coverage target. The new coverage requirements could therefore only be an interim step. The Federal Council is also calling for the controversial federal mobile infrastructure company (MIG) to be retained beyond 2025.

(mma)