German cellcos progress plans to eliminate mobile ‘grey spots’

German mobile network operators (MNOs) Vodafone, O2 Telefonica and Telekom Deutschland have revealed they are working closely to eliminate dead network signal spots in rural parts of Germany to improve mobile phone coverage. In a press release, Vodafone published an update on progress to date, noting that, working with Telekom, the pair have now closed more than 2,600 ‘grey spots’ since signing the cooperation agreement in early 2021, with around 400 more areas to follow. Further, Vodafone noted that its agreement with Telefonica has also finally kicked into gear. ‘The starting signal has also been given for the cooperation between Vodafone and Telefonica: Vodafone is now using the network technology of the operator O2 Telefonica, which has been the only operator there up to now, at its first locations,’ the statement read. In turn, O2 Telefonica customers can access Vodafone’s network in these locations, while in its own press release O2 Telefonica revealed that under its pact with Telekom, so far mutual access has been provided at 200 cell phone sites, with up to 700 locations set to follow by the end of the year – affording coverage to some 100,000 Germans.