Mobile communications in the German Bight

The German Bight is an important traffic route for German trade and business and is one of the most frequented sea routes in Europe.

To ensure demands are met in the future as well, mobile communications coverage, particularly by mobile broadband, is relevant to all parties, regardless of whether their interests are of a private or business nature. Mobile communications coverage at sea poses significant challenges not only from a technical point of view and still has not met the demands of a modern digital society.

The Technical University of Braunschweig has carried out a theoretical mobile network planning study for the German Bight on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). Its aim was to identify coverage dead spots and to specify possible nearby sites that could be used to eradicate them.

First of all, an analysis of existing radio sites was undertaken and the currently potentially available mobile network coverage at sea was simulated through use of a proprietary model. Taking into account various parameters (such as transmitter and receiver height or intended link quality), the areas with inadequate coverage were then identified.

The dead spot app needs you!
The next stage is now to empirically substantiate the theoretical findings of the study. To develop a larger factual basis, all interested parties are requested to use the dead spot detection app from the Federal Network Agency. The app records mobile network coverage from the consumer’s perspective and documents, among other things, the mobile network operator, the date and the locally used technology, e.g. GSM or 4G. The results are incorporated into a general map which can be viewed at https://breitband-monitor.de/funkloch/karte.

Once the results of the study results have been validated, it is expected that the findings will be integrated into the measures planned by the Federal Government to eradicate dead spots.

If you have any questions about the app, please send an email to info(at)breitbandmessung.de with the subject line ‘German Bight’.