BONN (dpa-AFX) - Because of 4G radio holes, Germany's established mobile network operators are coming under some pressure. "We are checking very closely whether the mobile operators are fulfilling their obligations," Klaus Mueller, president of the Federal Network Agency, told dpa on Monday. "If not, the companies must expect consequences. That is quite clear." Earlier, a meeting of the supervisory authority's advisory board, which is made up of politicians, had taken place to provide information on the state of play regarding mobile network expansion. Among other things, it was a question of whether Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefonica Deutschland had kept expansion commitments that originated from the 2019 frequency auction.

When it came to the obligation to close 500 "white spots" (4G radio holes) by the beginning of this year, "none of the three had really been one hundred percent successful," Advisory Board member Reinhard Houben (FDP) noted soberly after the meeting. Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs, Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters), who also sits on the advisory board, found it regrettable that the white spots had "not been fully closed".

The crux of the matter is the question of whether there are plausible legal and factual reasons for not erecting cell towers - for example, if there is absolutely no owner in an area who wants to rent out his property for this purpose. If such a valid reason exists, the company is off the hook. Currently, the Federal Network Agency is examining whether such reasons exist where no radio mast was erected despite the obligation to expand. "There are certainly cases where technical, geographical or legal reasons are understandable," Houben said. "But where that is not the case, you have to expect a fine."

In addition to the white spots, there are other expansion obligations that companies have met after investing billions of dollars. By contrast, the newcomer among network operators, 1&1 from Rhineland-Palatinate, fell very far short of an obligation to commission 1,000 5G sites, with only five at the turn of the year. Here, the Bonn regulatory authority has already opened fine proceedings. In the case of white spots, on the other hand, where the requirement was not missed as blatantly as in the case of 1&1's site obligation, this has not yet been decided.

"We don't want to talk down the expansion progress of the network operators," said Bavarian Minister Aiwanger. At the same time, however, he called on the network agency "not to go easy on us" and not to be lenient. The agency's inspection concept must be improved, he said. From his point of view, a move-up list would help in the future: If no radio mast can be erected in an area with poor reception, the network operator should be given another location and improve the network there.

The network operators stated that they had complied with the requirement and had erected radio masts where possible. At the same time, they emphasized high investments in general network expansion. Telefónica (O2) says it covers 92 percent of the area that comprises the white spots it is required to cover. However, O2 is taking an unusual approach here: in part of this area, it is not using new masts, but has amplified the radio signals from antennas that are nearby and increased the range. Whether the Federal Network Agency will accept this is questionable./wdw/DP/ngu