Mobile network providers are unable to find locations for 5G towers

In Überlingen on Lake Constance, Telekom is desperately searching for locations of modern 5G cell phone towers. But booking in is great. This case is an example of slow network expansion in Germany.

“Our antennas are looking for a home”: With this slogan in the brand’s typical purple color, Deutsche Telekom is looking for possible locations for its mobile antennas on large billboards around Überlingen, the second largest town in the Baden-Württemberg lake district of Constance .

The reason: Telekom would like to expand the network for the new and fast mobile communications standard 5G – but there is a lack of suitable space for radio towers. This is a problem the company continues to face across Germany, says Telekom spokesman Markus Jodl.

At full capacity, Grid is reaching its limits

In principle, the 5G network in Überlingen is not bad at all, says Gödel. Only some sub places have not been fully covered yet. But the biggest problem is network capacity. “The use of mobile networks is increasing by about 30 percent annually.”

Broadcasting, messaging services, video calling – these are all data intensive applications. Even when network coverage is good at first glance, the capacities are often no longer sufficient. “You don’t even need the maximum speed, but as many people as possible should be able to use the network at the same time,” says Jodl.

In other words, more antennas are needed. But in Uberlingen, the company has not yet received any suitable sites for rent either from the city or from private individuals.

reservations against cellular antennas Still great

Deutsche Telekom is authorized by the Federal Network Agency for Supply Assurance. You have to find the sites where you set up the masts yourself – and also take this job to other cellular operators.

But in many places one fails because of resistance. “We often encounter a lot of reservations in societies,” says Goodell. The expansion of mobile networks in the 2000s was seen more significantly.

“We have often discussed health aspects or whether mobile communications are needed at all.” In Gödel’s opinion, things have improved, but many are still skeptical – not only in the country, but also in the cities.

Website Offers From the city is not suitable for Telekom

Take Uberlingen as an example: Telekom tried to contact the city ahead of time — that’s the normal process, says a company spokesperson. Telekom detects places where it thinks the mobile network needs improvement, the so-called search circuits. The first thing to do is contact the municipalities. At Überlingen, however, they received little support, and Gödel criticized.

City spokeswoman Andrea Winkler sees it differently and notes that urban plots have been proposed that the city of Überlingen thinks are suitable. “However, these are not always in research circles or not accepted by Telekom in specific cases,” Winkler says.

Germany-wide problem, says Telekom. Many societies lack the understanding that mobile service providers do not only need any location, but they also need locations that fit into the network.

“The site can’t be somewhere in the woods. Rabbits and hedgehogs don’t make calls, people do,” says Telekom spokesman Jodl. That’s why Telekom is now looking for private owners in Überlingen to whom they will lease their space – for 15 years.

Others too mobile operator Learn about the problems

The problem with the location of radio poles is also known to other mobile operators. Vodafone reports that it is often very difficult to find a suitable replacement site, especially when the old sites are no longer available.

Telefónica, an umbrella group for O2, is critical not only of municipalities and individuals’ willingness to hire, but also of the often lengthy planning and approval processes. “Bureaucratic hurdles in creating new sites and expensive frequency auctions impede the expansion of mobile communications,” says Valentina Daiber, member of the Board of Directors. tagesschau.de.

In their opinion, one of the solutions could be the so-called “consent fantasies”: permission is considered granted if the process has not been processed by the end of the period.

Federal Network Agency He keeps a low profile

The Federal Network Agency is still far from the dispute. when asked before tagesschau.de. Only they can answer questions on this topic.

According to the Federal Network Agency, 5G coverage by at least one network operator has increased to about 79 percent of federal lands in recent months.

In Telekom’s opinion, it might be more if there weren’t so many reservations about antennas in Germany. After all: there have been many offers from private estate owners for poster campaigners in Überlingen. Two of them are now being examined intensively.