Lower Saxony: Mobile phone coverage improved – where is the network?

Lower Saxony: Mobile phone coverage improved – where is the network?

On July 9th, 2025, Lower Saxony will draw a thoroughly positive conclusion from the first nationwide mobile phone measurement week, which took place from May 26th to June 1st. With around 17.5 million measuring points, which are measured using the dead zone app Federal Network Agency were collected, the state government came to encouraging results. Almost half of the points recorded are already covered by 4G, and almost 48 percent can access 5G reception. Only around 1 percent of the points had to make do with 2G, while 0.63 percent had no reception at all.

Particularly in less densely populated regions such as the Weserbergland, the Harz and the Solling, it is clear that there is still a lot of catching up to do. Lower Saxony's Economics Minister Grant Hendrik Tonne (SPD) emphasizes the importance of these measurement results: "They are an important step for the further expansion of mobile phone coverage in our state." The collected data is evaluated in collaboration with the mobile phone providers and the Federal Network Agency in order to be able to respond quickly to the actual network needs.

The goals of the mobile communications measurement week

The mobile communications measurement week is an initiative by the federal, state and local governments that aims to increase transparency about existing network gaps and network performance. Federal Digital Minister Dr. Karsten Wildberger emphasizes how important these measurements are for network availability and points out that the data is recorded anonymously and processed in an online map that is updated weekly.
In addition, Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer emphasized the relevance of this measurement week for rural areas and agriculture. He pays particular attention to the challenges that arise in these areas with regard to a stable mobile phone connection.

• Aktuelle 4G-Flächenversorgung in Deutschland: 97,53%
• 5G-Verfügbarkeit: über 93,85% der Fläche
• 14% der Bundesfläche sind „graue Flecken“ (mindestens ein, aber nicht alle Netzbetreiber mit 4G oder 5G)
• 2,10% der Fläche sind „weiße Flecken“ (keine 4G oder 5G-Abdeckung)

Advances in digital infrastructure

The Federal Network Agency also updated the gigabit land register and noted important progress in the digitization of the network infrastructure. By mid-2024, 76.5 percent of German households already had access to gigabit-capable connections, and fiber optic coverage increased by 3.5 percentage points to 36.8 percent of households in the first half of the year. Germany can also score points when it comes to mobile phone coverage: around 98 percent of the area is now covered by broadband mobile communications.

Mobile phone monitoring also offers interactive maps of the availability of 4G and 5G. These new display levels help to better visualize the “white spots” (regions without mobile phone coverage) and “gray spots” (regions with only one network operator). The ongoing review and updating of this data is intended to help drive network expansion in Germany and create a transparent information base for all users.

In order to always be up to date, interested users can access the interactive map and further information at gigabitgrundbuch.bund.de and broadband measurement.de see. The developments relating to mobile communications coverage are therefore well on their way and the commitment of those involved will continue to be important in order to equip rural and urbanized areas equally with modern mobile communications.