New mast: o2 Telefónica wants to quickly close the huge dead zone in Bad Wildbad

The Munich-based telecommunications provider o2 Telefónica has announced that it will restore mobile phone coverage in Bad Wildbad in the short term: The mobile network operator's network technicians "will install a mobile transmitter mast on an area at St. Bonifatius Church, which has been jointly agreed with the town, from September 8," the company explained. The o2 network should be available again for customers in the idyllically situated spa town in the Black Forest by September 19 at the latest.

"It is a top priority for us to provide the local population, guests and businesses with mobile communications," emphasized an o2 Telefónica spokesperson on Friday evening. "With the mobile mast, we are creating a temporary solution until a new permanent location can be realized. We would like to thank the city for its constructive cooperation". The company is doing everything in its power to offer customers in Bad Wildbad "reliable mobile coverage as quickly as possible" and to close the current huge coverage gap.

In addition to thermal treatments and other spa pleasures, the town with around 10,000 inhabitants and numerous spa guests has been offering the following for around two months now Digital Detox. This is because the Vodafone and o2 Telefónica mobile network collapsed without warning at the end of June.

The reason for the radio silence was the dismantling of mobile phone masts on the chimney of a district heating plant that was to be demolished. A new location could not be found in time. Local customers have been powerless for weeks. Many are unable to terminate their contracts, even with a special right of termination, and complaints to customer service remain unsuccessful.

The city council also felt powerless, as network coverage is a matter for the mobile phone providers. The Baden-Württemberg district heating company (fbw), owner of the property, had already informed them three years ago about the planned demolition of the chimney and the termination of the contracts.

The previous mobile communications site had to be taken out of operation, o2 Telefónica now explained. Since 2023, the company has been "working at full speed to find a suitable alternative location that can reliably supply the entire city as far as possible". In the meantime, a location has been found, "which, however, could not be made suitable for the mobile phone antennas due to the statics". The installation of the mobile transmitter is now "an important step towards closing the coverage gap quickly". The network operator will continue to look for a permanent solution in parallel.

Vodafone also offers interim solution

Vodafone also wanted to bring a mobile transmitter mast to Bad Wildbad by truck by August 28, set it up there and connect it to the power grid. This work would take around two to three weeks after installation, explained a Vodafone spokesperson. Commissioning is planned by September 12.

More than a year ago, the company's equipment supplier Vantage Towers was commissioned to set up a permanent transmission system. However, this will take some time. Vodafone conceded: Currently, the restrictions ranged from a weaker network to a total outage – which those affected rightly complained about. The surrounding Vodafone stations are not strong enough despite a realignment.

The deputy mayor Ursula Jahn-Zöhrens (SPD) previously criticized to SWR that either technical inability or intent was behind the radio failure because both providers "the location here is not lucrative enough". Deutsche Telekom does not operate its own radio mast directly in the city. It only provides coverage via surrounding antennas, which has so far led to poorer coverage than the two competitors. A Telekom mast in the west of the municipality on the Sommerberg is equipped with 4G and 5G technology.

(spa)