Deutsche Telekom is planning to build 400 additional radio masts along the German autobahn by 2027, significantly expanding phone reception and 4G coverage and going beyond the minimum expansion requirements set by the German government.

Deutsche Telekom to build 400 autobahn radio towers

The German communications provider, Deutsche Telekom, has announced that it has signed a contract with the Bundesautobahn (federal motorway) to improve phone reception and minimise cell dead zones along its 13.000-kilometres of roads which sprawl the country.

Deutsche Telekom currently has 6.000 mast locations along autobahn routes. By 2027, the international company will build an additional 400. Existing mast locations will also be modernised, and the entire project is expected to increase transmission rates from at least 100 megabits per second to up to 200 megabits per second by the end of 2027.

Mast expansion plan exceeds German government requirements

According to rules set by the German government in 2019, each network operator in Germany was required to cover all Autobahnen with at least 100 megabits per second from the beginning of 2023. 

Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica (O2) all report that their internet services already meet this demand, though the regulatory authority has not yet confirmed whether this is the case or not.

With the new radio mast expansion plan, Deutsche Telekom is certain to exceed the minimum megabits per second requirements set by the government. The Autobahn GmbH will help the company to locate new sites and provide Telekom with land which is directly adjacent to the motorway, and is urging Vodafone and Telefónica to enter into similar contracts.

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