Since yesterday, Drillisch Netz AG, Telefónica, Telekom, and Vodafone have been able to submit bids for frequencies in the 2 GHz and 3.4 GHz to 3.7 GHz bands. These frequencies are intended for use with the upcoming 5G mobile network. Germany is expected to receive at least €104.6 million for the 41 frequency blocks. According to Bitkom Research, Germans expect 5G to offer better network coverage, higher speeds, and fewer outages. However, surveyed smartphone users are generally unwilling to pay more for an improved network. 39 percent said they would not pay anything extra per month for a 5G mobile contract, while another 25 percent would find less than €10 extra acceptable.
Since yesterday, Drillisch Netz AG, Telefónica, Telekom, and Vodafone have been able to submit bids for frequencies in the 2 GHz and 3.4 GHz to 3.7 GHz ranges. These bids are to be used for the upcoming 5G generation of mobile phones. Taken together, Germany will receive at least EUR 104.6 million for the 41 frequency blocks. According to Bitkom Research, Germans expect better network coverage, higher speeds and fewer network failures from 5G. However, smartphone users surveyed do not want to pay more for an improved network. 39 percent say that they would not pay anything extra for a 5G mobile phone contract every month, another 25 percent would find less than ten euros extra acceptable.
Germany only ranks 28th in mobile broadband – Germany only in 28th place for mobile broadband
In Germany, there are currently 81.1 mobile broadband connections per 100 inhabitants. This puts Germany in 28th place among OECD countries. Japan leads the way with 168.2 mobile broadband connections per 100 inhabitants – of which around 43 percent are pure data connections. Of course, this says nothing about network speed and quality. But Germany likely still has some catching up to do in this respect as well, as a graphic from August 2018 shows. Not to mention the 240 mobile network dead zones across Germany.
Currently, there are 81.1 mobile broadband connections per 100 inhabitants in Germany. This puts Germany in 28th place in an OECD comparison. The leader is Japan with 168.2 mobile broadband connections per 100 inhabitants – of which around 43 percent are pure data connections. Of course, this says nothing about network speed and quality. But in this respect, too, Germany should continue to have some catching up to do, as a chart from August 2018 shows. Not to mention the 240 radio holes in the whole of Germany.
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