2023-05-08 18:00:00
The good news first: the cell phone network in rural areas is getting better. And now the bad: It’s still not as good as it should be. The fact that there are still dead spots in some places puts network operators under pressure.
Because of 4G dead spots in the cell phone network, Germany’s three major telecommunications companies could be fined. In Berlin, representatives of the Federal Network Agency informed their advisory board, which is made up of politicians, about the current status of network expansion. Among other things, it was about whether the network operators Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica (O2) have kept all expansion commitments. When it came to the obligation to close 500 “white spots” (4G dead spots) by the beginning of this year, “none of the three were really 100 percent successful,” said Advisory Board member Reinhard Houben (FDP) after the meeting.
The crux of the matter is the question of whether there are plausible legal and factual reasons that justify not erecting radio masts – for example if there is absolutely no owner in an area who wants to rent out his property for it. If there is such a valid reason, the company is off the hook. The Federal Network Agency is currently examining whether such reasons exist where no radio mast was built despite the obligation to expand. “There are certainly cases where technical, geographic or legal reasons are understandable,” said Houben. “But where this is not the case, a fine must be expected.”
Other expansion requirements
In addition to the “blank spots” there are other expansion obligations that the companies have complied with after investing billions. The newcomer among the network operators, the company 1&1 from Rhineland-Palatinate, on the other hand, clearly missed an obligation to commission 1000 5G locations, at the turn of the year there were only five. The Bonn supervisory authority has already opened fine proceedings here. In terms of white spots, on the other hand, where the requirement was not so blatantly missed as with the location obligation of 1&1, this has not yet been decided.
The network operators announced that they had complied with the requirement and had set up radio systems where this was possible. At the same time, they emphasize high investments in general grid expansion. According to its own statements, Telefónica (O2) covers 92 percent of the area that includes the white areas to be covered by them. However, O2 is taking an unusual approach here: on part of this area, it is not using new masts, but has strengthened the radio signals from nearby antennas and increased the range. It is questionable whether the Federal Network Agency will accept this. (dpa)
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