When mobile network operators bought mobile frequencies for several billion euros at auction in 2019, they also committed to eliminating 4G dead spots in remote areas. Now it is getting close to fulfilling this requirement.
According to their own statement, Germany's cell phone network operators are making progress in closing 4G dead spots, but will probably miss a target announced for the end of the year. On request, Telekom announced that it would close 44 "white spots" by New Year's Eve. At the beginning of November there were only 28. It's about areas in which none of the three network operators have so far enabled downloads of 100 megabits per second.
According to a requirement from the 2019 frequency auction, Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica must make this possible in 500 areas by the end of the year. Each company should take over a third, i.e. 167, and give the others access. Telefónica Deutschland (O2) announced that the requirement had now been met in 55 areas. At the beginning of November there were 45. Vodafone reported progress without being specific. A Telefónica spokesman pointed out that in almost all of the 500 areas 100 megabits per second could not be achieved, but by optimizing adjacent locations "a powerful mobile network coverage via 4G/LTE had already been established".
In other words, the network agency's specification is not met, but according to O2, users are spared 4G dead spots. From Telekom's point of view, the "temporary failure to reach" the number 167 at the turn of the year does not mean that the edition will not be reached. According to a company spokesman, the difficult search for a location and lengthy approval procedures play a decisive role. Unfortunately, the list of authorities coordinated with the federal states with the location of the white spots was only available at the end of 2021. Finding and renting locations - if you can get them at all - takes an average of seven months, and permits eight to twelve months.
The reasons for each individual location will be disclosed to the Federal Network Agency. The topic was on the agenda of the Advisory Board of the Federal Network Agency. In the run-up to the meeting, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing had increased the pressure on the network operators and told the dpa that there could be a variety of reasons. But: "Where network operators are responsible, we believe that legal options should also be used to sanction self-inflicted delays."
