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Residents of Saxony Encouraged to Help Identify Mobile Network Dead Zones During National Campaign
Saxony's inhabitants are invited to participate in a nationwide initiative aimed at identifying mobile network dead zones. Economic Affairs Minister Dirk Panter (SPD) called on citizens to contribute during the Mobile Network Measurement Week, which will run from Monday to Sunday.
The campaign seeks to gather a more accurate picture of the actual mobile network coverage in Saxony and across Germany. Particular attention will be paid to rural areas and locations with challenging topography.
Panter highlighted that Saxony already boasts a high level of mobile network coverage, with 98.80 percent for the fourth generation (4G/LTE) and 96.06 percent for the fifth generation (5G). The initiative aims to bring residents' real-life experiences into sharper focus.
During the measurement week, residents can use their smartphones and an app from the Federal Network Agency for Broadband Measurement to record the mobile network coverage in their area. The data collected can offer insights to improve the quality of mobile network coverage. The data will be anonymized and fed into the "Gigabit-Groundbook" of the Federation's dead zone map, indicating areas that still require improvements for the Federation and mobile network providers.
Residents interested in participating can:
- Keep an eye out for announcements and registration instructions from local government, mobile service providers, or research institutions. Such organizations often publish details about measurement campaigns on their websites or through the media.
- Install the required measurement app on their smartphones. These apps collect data on signal strength, network speed, and coverage areas as users go about their daily lives.
- Use the app during the campaign week, as the app runs in the background, collecting network data without requiring active input from the user. Moving around their area, especially in rural or sparsely populated regions, helps collect more comprehensive data.
- Ensure the app uploads collected data automatically or provides feedback as instructed.
For up-to-date information on a Saxony-specific campaign, it's advisable to regularly check the websites of the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) or regional news outlets.
- The Federal Network Agency's app, used during the Mobile Network Measurement Week, can be installed on smartphones to help gather data and improve the quality of mobile network coverage, particularly in undercovered areas like rural Saxony, following the community policy guidelines.
- To bring the residents' real-life experiences into sharpen focus, the gathering of data on mobile network coverage will involve employment policies related to technology, as shown by the cooperation between local government, mobile providers, and research institutions for the campaign.
