Mobile communications: Without a network, the country is left behind

In 240 locations across Germany, the three operators Telekom, Vodafone and O2 scored "unsatisfactory" for voice connections.

This article is part of the special feature on crafts in rural areas.

It's not just in villages or sparsely populated regions that phone calls are frequently interrupted; even towns with five-figure populations have dead zones . The comparison portal Verivox discovered this using anonymous data from 150.000 smartphone users. The most dead zones are in Baden-Württemberg (63) and Bavaria (52). In contrast, there are only two in Saxony and four in Thuringia. Even when considering all cities within a federal state, Baden-Württemberg fares worst, with a rate of 5,7 percent.

Schleswig-Holstein fares best here with 0,5 percent. The network coverage data was collected by the independent consulting firm P3 in October 2018 based on anonymized data from 150.000 smartphone users across Germany and analyzed by Verivox .

Leading associations appeal to the federal government

An alliance of five leading associations, including the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH), is now appealing to the federal government: " Only with a nationwide fiber optic and mobile network can equivalent living conditions be guaranteed ." And only in this way can the connection of the economy to the digital age and the realization of modern services for citizens, for example in education, health, transparent food supply, energy and mobility , be ensured , emphasize the German Broadband Communications Association (BREKO), the German Farmers' Association (DBV), the German Association of Rural Districts (DLT), the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU) and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH).

Their demand continues : "The individual steps required to achieve nationwide coverage must be outlined in the overall strategy for mobile network expansion, which the Federal Government intends to present by summer. Good proposals are on the table, such as a negative auction for economically difficult-to-develop areas in future frequency auctions. A necessary step that must be taken now is the adoption of the 5th Amendment to the Telecommunications Act (TKG) before the parliamentary summer recess. This can be used to obligate mobile network operators to implement local roaming if voluntary cooperation has failed beforehand. This would significantly improve coverage across the country . The advantages of local roaming could be felt immediately. At the same time, the regulations on joint deployment under the so-called DigiNetz Act must also be revised as part of the 5th Amendment to the TKG. The Federal Council has recognized the existing problems and made sensible proposals in its statement to correct the structural distortions of competition. These now need to be addressed." say goodbye."

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Dependence on digital infrastructure

Because: Competitive companies in industry, trade, commerce, and hospitality, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient agriculture, and attractive business and residential locations depend on a functional and efficient digital infrastructure . This is especially true for rural areas. 5G technology must be available everywhere, including these regions. If mobile network operators cannot reach an agreement, they should be obligated to implement local roaming, the five associations demand.