Just in time for the holiday season, Vodafone has also concentrated on popular German holiday regions when it comes to expanding mobile communications. 1,750 construction projects have been completed in the seven most popular holiday areas, including the North and Baltic Seas, Harz, Lüneburg Heath, Allgäu and Bavarian Forest as well as the Mecklenburg Lake District.
As a result of the construction work, 45 new locations have been put into operation in the regions mentioned, explains Vodafone. In addition, LTE is being used for the first time at 57 existing mobile radio stations to close dead spots and enable broadband coverage. In the 5G area, Vodafone counts more than 2,500 antennas that have been activated at over 850 locations. Capacity has also been increased at a further 800 locations.
Baltic Sea
Specifically, the network operator names 700 completed construction projects on the Baltic Sea, in the course of which 23 new mobile radio stations were built and dead spots were closed at 20 locations. With the now 900 mobile radio stations in the Baltic Sea region, Vodafone can offer its own network to 99.9 percent of the population and more than 99 percent of the populated areas, with the vast majority of stations also with LTE. 5G can already be used at 400 of the 900 stations, and in the future this will also increasingly be used in the 5G Standalone (5G SA) variant, called 5G+ at Vodafone, for which one station is currently ready. A further 22 new locations are to be created on the Baltic Sea coast in the future to close dead spots and promote 5G.
North Sea
Vodafone has 300 mobile radio stations on the North Sea, which reach 99.9 percent of the population and 98 percent of the populated areas. In ten districts and cities, the network has been strengthened since the summer of 2021 by 200 construction projects, including seven completely new locations for mobile communications. Half of the 300 stations are ready for the current standard with almost 500 5G antennas. A further 40 construction projects are to be completed by summer 2023, including five new stations in the districts of Cuxhaven (3), Friesland (1) and Wittmund (1).
Mecklenburgische-Seenplatte
There are 110 construction projects and a total of 141 mobile radio stations in the Mecklenburg Lake District, which reach 99.9 percent of the populated areas and 98 percent of the population. 60 percent of the stations support 5G, while 5G+ is planned to be introduced as part of the next 24 construction projects.
Harz
In the Harz Mountains, the focus was on expanding the mobile network across the board, but at the same time capacities should be increased. Vodafone counts around 180 construction projects for the five districts, which, among other things, are said to have eliminated twelve dead spots. With 238 stations, the network operator reaches 99.9 percent of the population and with LTE and 5G more than 97 percent of the populated areas. There is strong demand in the region, so that a further 60 expansion projects are planned by summer 2023, including seven new locations.
Lüneburger Heide
200 construction projects are on the Lüneburg Heath, where practically the entire population in the five districts is now supplied with mobile communications. Of the 236 mobile radio stations, more than half can handle 5G. With 17 of 18 upcoming projects, the capacities and speeds in the network are to be increased, and a new location is also planned in Heidenkreis.
Allgäu
After 100 construction projects, the Allgäu has six fewer locations with dead spots. In addition, Vodafone reports 96 locations with higher capacities. By mid-2023, five new locations in the districts of Oberallgäu (3), Lindau (1) and Ostallgäu (1) are to be added to the current 150 mobile radio stations in the Allgäu. Another 35 projects are to close two dead spots and increase capacities and speeds by next summer.
Bavarian Forest
For the Bavarian Forest, the network operator counts around 240 completed construction projects, including seven newly commissioned cell phone stations and twelve areas that have been cleared of white spots, so that a total of more than 300 stations are now active in the region. The expansion is to be continued by next summer with ten more cellphone stations in the districts of Passau (3), Cham (2), Regen (2), Straubing-Bogen (2) and Deggendorf (1). Another 60 construction projects serve the purpose of closing dead spots, promoting 5G and expanding capacities.