Mobile Network Measurement Week in Rhineland-Palatinate Seeks Residents' Participation
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In a bid to ensure improved mobile phone reception, particularly in rural areas, Rhineland-Palatinate is inviting its residents to participate in Germany's first ever nationwide mobile network measurement week. The action, under the slogan "Germany Checks Its Network," is scheduled to run from May 26 to June 1, 2025.
Led by the Federal Network Agency, the initiative involves the use of a broadband measurement app on participants' smartphones. This app records data on mobile network coverage in their respective locations. The collected data will contribute to improving the quality of mobile network coverage across Germany, and will be integrated into the dead zone map of the Gigabit Land Register.
According to Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister of Digitization, Dörte Schall (SPD), this measure provides an authentic representation of mobile network user experience compared to the figures reported by telecommunications companies. The week-long mobile network measurement enables a grassroots measurement effort.
Rhineland-Palatinate had previously conducted a similar exercise in May 2024, with over 2,800 participants contributing around 1.6 million valid measurement points. The findings indicated that while 95% of the measurement points showed a supply of 4G or 5G mobile networks, 3.2% of the points only displayed 2G supply, and 1.7% showed no network availability.
By relying on real-world user experiences, the initiative aims to add a user-centric layer to existing databases, helping identify gaps and dead zones in mobile coverage across the country. The collected data will inform policy decisions, infrastructure investments, and operator improvements, particularly in under-served regions. By increasing transparency and ensuring improvements are based on actual user needs, this initiative bridges the gap between official coverage claims and real-life user experiences.
Sources:
- Bundesnetzagentur
- zafaco GmbH
- State of Rhineland-Palatinate
- Broadband Measurement App
- Deutsche Welle
Participants in Rhineland-Palatinate's mobile network measurement week can utilize technology within their vocational training programs to contribute data for improving coverage, particularly in education-and-self-development and general-news sectors. By integrating collected data into community policy, the initiative aims to enhance quality of service in under-served regions, bridging the gap between official coverage claims and real-life user experiences.
