Bundesnetzagentur extends mobile communications map to include high-performance 5G standalone
Year of issue 2024
Date of issue 2024.06.13
The Bundesnetzagentur has extended the interactive map on mobile communications monitoring to include data on 5G standalone, thus providing a clear overview of the most powerful mobile communication technology currently available. The updated map shows data from April 2024.
5G expansion in Germany
5G has been available in Germany since late 2019. The roll-out of the 5G network was initially based primarily on 4G infrastructure, with existing access networks being upgraded or new radio sites constructed. These have been increasingly connected to the 5G core network, resulting in a mobile communications network that is operated exclusively on the basis of 5G technology and referred to as 5G standalone.
Advantages of 5G standalone (5G SA)
By creating a complete 5G network infrastructure and using only 5G frequencies, the advantages of the new 5G technology can be better utilised. These include higher data rates and lower latency. Depending on the frequency band used, data-intensive applications, such as merging the digital and analogue worlds through augmented reality, can be realised. The technology also enables the interconnection of numerous devices and machines. This is of increasing importance for industry and is used in Internet of Things applications such as e-health and e-government. Due to the very high level of network reliability and extremely low latency, applications such as autonomous driving will also be possible in future.
Current 5G coverage
Some 92% of Germany receives 5G coverage provided by at least one network operator. The proportion with 5G SA coverage already stands at 90% (as at April 2024). When the first data were collected in October 2021, 5G coverage was just 53%. It has therefore increased by almost 40 percentage points since then. At that time, there was no 5G SA coverage.
Mobile communications monitoring
Mobile communications monitoring collects all the relevant data on mobile communications coverage in Germany. The interactive mobile communications map of the Bundesnetzagentur shows current mobile coverage in Germany from a consumer perspective. The data for the mobile communications maps are provided by the four operators of the public mobile communications networks, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica Deutschland and 1&1, in line with the Bundesnetzagentur’s requirements. The Bundesnetzagentur checks the data for comparability and plausibility against the findings of the dead spot app, amongst others. The data are updated every quarter. Data on mobile communications monitoring are published at https://gigabitgrundbuch.bund.de