Bundesnetzagentur updates network coverage map with 5G
5G rollout making progress
Year of issue 2022
Date of issue 2022.11.23
The Bundesnetzagentur has updated its mobile network coverage map for Germany. Rollout of the high-performance 5G networks by mobile operators is making progress.
Coverage with 5G
5G coverage by at least one network operator has increased in recent months to around 79% of the area of the country (as at October 2022). When the first data were collected in October 2021, coverage was at around 53%. Current data show that the 5G coverage achieved by individual mobile operators ranges from about 37% to 55% of the country.
Increase in 5G measurement points with the dead spot app
The progress in rollout is reflected in the tests made using the Bundesnetzagentur's broadband and dead spot checker app. There has been a steady increase in the number of 5G measurement points. In September 2022, they already accounted for about 14%, and the percentage is rising. 4G is still the main technology, however, accounting for around 80% of all measurement points. End-users need a 5G device and a corresponding contract to use the 5G technology.
Current rollout of 5G networks is still partly based on the existing 4G infrastructure. In this case, Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) is also used. DSS allows bands to be used for both 4G and 5G at the same time. The bandwidth available in a particular band is shared between the active 4G and 5G users in a radio cell according to demand. An increasing amount of radio spectrum exclusively for 5G is also being used.
Information on the Bundesnetzagentur's mobile communications monitoring is available at www.bundesnetzagentur.de/mobilfunk-monitoring (in German).