Because of 4G dead spots, Germany’s established cell phone network operators are coming under some pressure. “We check very carefully whether the mobile operators are fulfilling their obligations,” said the President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, of the dpa. “If not, the companies will have to face the consequences. That’s very clear.” A meeting of the advisory board of the supervisory authority, which was made up of politicians, had previously taken place, at which information was provided on the state of affairs in the expansion of the mobile phone network. Among other things, it was about whether Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica had kept expansion commitments that came from the 2019 frequency auction.
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) soberly after the meeting. Bavaria’s Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters), who also sits on the Advisory Board, found it regrettable that the white spots had “not been completely closed”.
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 such a valid reason exists, the company is out of the loop. 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, geographical or legal reasons are understandable,” said Houben. “But where this is not the case, a fine must be expected.”
Further expansion obligations for network operators
In addition to the white spots, there are other expansion obligations that the companies have complied with after investments worth billions. The newcomer among the network operators, the company 1
“We don’t want to belittle the network operators’ advances in expansion,” said Bavarian Minister Aiwanger. At the same time, however, he called on the network agency to “do no whitewashing” and not to be lenient. The inspection concept of the authority must be improved. In his view, a list of replacements would help in the future: if a radio mast cannot be erected in an area with poor reception, the network operator should get a different location and improve the network there.
The network operators said they have complied with the requirement and have installed radio equipment where possible. At the same time, they emphasize high investments in general network expansion. According to its own statements, Telefónica (O2) covers 92 percent of the area that includes the white spots to be covered by them. However, O2 is taking an unusual way 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.
