Mobile communications
Table of contents
Mobile networks are among the country’s most important infrastructures. They are not only used for communication and entertainment, but are also a location factor in the competition to attract companies, make a major contribution to a region’s tourism success and help to drive digital change in cities and regions – the keyword here is smart city/smart region. In addition, employees expect to be able to work anywhere and at any time – including on transport and rail routes. In addition to closing the last remaining mobile communications gaps, it is increasingly important to further densify the networks with frequencies above 1GHz in order to exploit the full potential of 5G.
aconium GmbH supports those responsible in the public sector as well as companies in the private sector in the development and expansion of mobile networks and provides advice on technical, economic, legal and regulatory issues.
Table of contents
Recording mobile phone coverage
Determination of mobile coverage based on published data
aconium offers the survey and visualization of the actual coverage on the basis of published coverage data as well as by involving the population via the Funkloch app of the Federal Network Agency. Computer-aided simulation models are used to create an image of the local mobile coverage and processed on a GIS basis.
Detection of mobile phone coverage through measurement runs
A more accurate picture of mobile coverage is obtained by collecting data with state-of-the-art mobile scanners. During measurement runs, aconium GmbH records, for example, signal levels of all Mobile communication technologies, the available technology (4G, 5G), download and upload speeds, ping values and the frequency bands used. The data is then visualized. This makes it possible to quickly identify where reception is good and where unserved and underserved areas are located. The data is processed and made available to the client as thematic layers and maps for viewing in the GIS and as a download in a suitable database or geodata format. On request, the expansion progress and the development of coverage quality in selected regions can be documented with repeated measurement runs.
Example project:
Funkmasten-Infrastrukturgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mbH (FMI)
Funkmasten-Infrastrukturgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mbH (FMI) was founded in 2020. As a subsidiary of Landgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mbH, it erects mobile masts in so-called white spots, i.e. areas that have not yet been covered by mobile communications and are uneconomical for network operators to develop. FMI then leases the sites to interested mobile communications companies. Around 40 million euros of state funding is initially available for the expansion program. aconium has closely accompanied and supported the state from the very beginning, from the initial analysis of the white spots, the founding of FMI and the implementation of market exploration procedures to the first mast construction and its commissioning.
And Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is planning even more: in addition to simply closing white spots, the state government sees the need to increase the number of mast sites. In the coalition agreement, it was agreed that the state would erect all mobile phone masts that are necessary for a nationwide mobile phone expansion with 4G/5G. There are no plans to privatize these mobile phone masts. The radio mast infrastructure company is to erect the masts (including fiber optic connections) as a “tower company” and lease them to the mobile network operators. aconium was commissioned to investigate the actual coverage in the state, to provide the planning basis for further expansion with mobile communications sites and to determine the investment requirements and economic viability of a radio mast infrastructure company. This was carried out computer-aided on the basis of existing data from aconium GmbH, data from the state and the three established network operators as well as with the help of a geoinformation system from aconium GmbH. The results were recorded in an expert report.
To the project “
The GIS Hub Mobilfunk from aconium GmbH
Collection of infrastructure data for the closure of white spots and network densification
With the product “GIS Hub”, aconium GmbH provides a geoinformation system that manages data easily and makes it usable for various processes. The system can also be used for a wide range of applications in the mobile communications sector.
The georeferenced raw data supplied by the mobile network operators or collected during measurement trips is processed and visualized for the GIS system. For example, the mobile coverage of all mobile network operators can be displayed, differentiated according to the various mobile technologies (GSM, LTE, 5G). The GIS-supported coverage maps can also be used to visualize expansion progress over time and white mobile network spots.
With the addition of further data from the mobile network operators, aconium identifies the mobile network locations that are additionally required to close white spots or for the expansion of high-performance 4G/5G networks in the area.
Our offer
With our GIS Hub Mobile, infrastructures and data are recorded and then visualized, for example:
- Existing mobile radio sites
- Fixed network infrastructures
- Nature conservation areas, public buildings and traffic areas
- Distance of the network infrastructure to the mobile phone mast
- Routing data of existing infrastructure to the mobile phone mast
Do you already have a concrete project idea that you would like to implement alone or together with partners? Get in touch with us contact us or use our Funding Quick-Checkto obtain initial feedback on the eligibility of your project for funding.
Projects on the topic of mobile communications
Expert opinion on radio mast infrastructure company Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Recording of mobile phone coverage in the district of Cham
Recording mobile communications coverage in Brandenburg
Project example: “Mobil BB” – Measuring trips in Brandenburg
Click image to watch the video on www.youtube.com
On behalf of DigitalAgentur Brandenburg GmbH (DABB), aconium carried out surveys of the road network in Brandenburg in 2020/21 to analyze mobile network coverage.
The main inspection covered the entire public road network in Brandenburg. Over 40,000 kilometers of road were driven with a total of ten measuring vehicles to collect measurement data. Repeat drives took place in parts of Brandenburg in 2022/2023.
Kilometers driven
Measuring points analyzed
Measuring vehicles in use
Articles on the topic of mobile communications
Mobile communications to every corner: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern closes white gaps with state-owned radio mast infrastructure company
Sustainable ideas for rural areas: 5G as a driver of innovation for smart regions
Communications initiative: The German government provides information on 5G and mobile expansion
Mobile phone promotion
Mobile coverage in previously unserved areas is one of the biggest challenges in mobile communications. For the foreseeable future, the so-called “white spots” will not be developed by the mobile network operators themselves. For this reason, funding programs have been developed by the federal government and some federal states in recent years to support the expansion.
Determination of requirements, analysis of funding opportunities as well as application and processing of funding projects.
aconium identifies eligible sites in municipalities or districts and supports the implementation of the subsidized mobile network expansion. We work closely with mobile network operators, tower companies, local authority representatives and other institutions involved in mobile network expansion, such as mobile infrastructure companies (MIG) and licensing authorities. The focus is on the technical and economic planning of passive infrastructure, finding suitable sites (real estate, open spaces), securing sites and providing support with application and approval procedures.
5G study commissioned by “Hessen Trade & Invest” (HTAI)
On behalf of “Hessen Trade & Invest” (HTAI), aconium GmbH has written a study that addresses the challenges facing municipalities in the expansion of the 5th generation of mobile communications (5G). It was published by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Regional Development.
The study “5G – Current developments, challenges and potential for access to municipal infrastructure” deals with technical issues arising from the introduction of new frequency ranges. These include the search for suitable locations for transmitters. Furthermore, the legal framework conditions for 5G expansion are examined, e.g. aspects relating to the application of the NGA framework regulation (PDF) and considerations in connection with the DigiNetzG (PDF). The study also looks at the role of local authorities and the opportunities that 5G opens up for public areas.
Reference projects:
Mobile communications clearing center for Rhineland-Palatinate
aconium GmbH has been supporting the Clearingstelle Mobilfunk Rheinland-Pfalz since August 2023 and is also responsible for its further development. It is the central point of contact for topics relating to mobile communications for mobile network operators and tower companies, for companies, citizens and other groups interested in the topic and concerned with the expansion of mobile communications. The clearing office has a wide range of tasks, including the implementation of the mobile communications pact and the associated compliance with expansion commitments:
- Monitoring and data processing in order to control and constantly evaluate the expansion of the mobile communications infrastructure in Rhineland-Palatinate
- Direct support for municipalities to accelerate the expansion of mobile communications and improve mobile communications coverage, e.g. in the search for public properties or moderation in cases of conflict and development of solutions.
- Evaluation of the opportunities and risks of mobile communications with regard to future technological developments
- Participation in simplifying the framework conditions for accelerated mobile communications expansion and support in positioning the interests of the federal states vis-à-vis the federal government, the federal states and the Federal Network Agency
- Coordination with committees and with the respective players in mobile communications expansion, in particular as part of the subsidized mobile communications expansion with the German Federal Mobile Communications Infrastructure Company (MIG), the commercial mobile communications expansion with the mobile network operators, infrastructure operators and other companies involved in mobile communications expansion and with the BNetzA and the network operators to close the coverage gaps from the license conditions of the frequency auction in 2019 (BNetzA white spot program 500).
- Support in organizing events such as trade fairs, community events, etc. in order to make the Clearing House known to a broad public in the country.
Support for the mobile infrastructure company (MIG)
aconium supports the federal mobile communications infrastructure company (MIG) in the subsidized expansion of mobile communications. The MIG, which is responsible for the nationwide mobile communications funding program, finances the construction and connection of mobile phone masts in previously identified white spots. To this end, the construction of the passive infrastructure, usually a mobile phone mast, and the connection of the mast to an electricity and fiber optic network are funded. The mobile network operators install their active technology on the masts and then supply the area with mobile communications. In order to keep costs as low as possible, MIG strives to use existing fiber optic infrastructures to connect the masts. MIG is supported in this by aconium GmbH, the federal government’s project management agency for subsidized fibre optic expansion. aconium GmbH uses the data provided to it to check whether a subsidized broadband network is located or planned in the vicinity of the planned mobile communications site that can be used to connect the mobile communications site. If this is the case, the existing infrastructure can also be used. This saves time and resources.
Contact us
Our expert Andreas Schröder is available to you personally as a contact person. You can reach him by e-mail at a.schroeder@aconium.eu or by phone on +49 30 22183-1302.