New mobile monitoring rules from Federal Network Agency

With the introduction of a new, standardized measurement procedure for monitoring mobile coverage in Germany, the Federal Network Agency has implemented the mandate of the Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernization "an important component of the "measurement package" from the Federal Government's Gigabit Strategy 2022".

Mobile coverage from the user's perspective

The aim of the new measurement concept is to record the quality of mobile coverage from the user's perspective, according to the statement. The information collected in the course of the measurements is important "to further improve the framework conditions for network expansion", writes the Federal Network Agency in its announcement.

This will give "a more precise impression of how the expansion of the networks in Germany is progressing", says Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency. So far, only the strength of the radio signal has been measured. In the future, it should also be possible to record data rates and the reliability of voice telephony.

The new concept is also open to third parties, so that states, municipalities and service providers can use the measurement concept to commission their own measurements. They can share the results with the Federal Network Agency and thus "expand the nationwide data situation". The Federal Network Agency has defined minimum requirements for this purpose to ensure that the measurement data is comparable.

Core of the measurement concept is based on eight smartphones

According to the Federal Network Agency, the new measurement concept is based on eight smartphones with standardized software. Four of the devices are used to test the quality of voice telephony during measurement runs through defined areas. The other four will measure the available data rates in the networks of the four mobile network operators, i.e. Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, O2/Telefonica and 1&1. A cloud-based application will be used to control and record the series of measurements, explains the Federal Network Agency.

This approach sounds more practical than the previous text method, in which measurements were carried out with scanners and primarily recorded the strength of a radio signal on site.

The measurement system is also to be supplemented with a backpack setup at a later date. This will make it possible to test areas that cannot be reached by measurement vehicles. Indoor measurements would also be possible. Implementations for measurements along waterways are also being considered.

(afl)