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The state parliament has passed a law to facilitate the expansion of mobile communications. This is intended to eliminate dead spots in the country and further improve mobile phone coverage. At the same time, bureaucracy is reduced and the building authorities are relieved.
On May 24, 2023, the state parliament of Baden-Württemberg approved a draft law by the state government to facilitate the expansion of mobile communications . The approved changes in the state building regulations (LBO) were initiated by the "Round Table Mobile Telephony" and successfully implemented with today's resolution of the state parliament. The changes will probably become applicable law as early as next month after they have been announced.
Combat dead spots
Building Minister Nicole Razavi , whose department drew up the relevant changes to the state building regulations (LBO), said: “By expanding the procedural freedom of antenna systems, we are declaring war on dead spots. At the same time, we reduce bureaucracy and relieve the construction law authorities. As a pioneer, we go beyond what is provided for in the model building regulations of the federal states and also in most other federal states."
“The innovative heart of Europe beats in Baden-Württemberg. For our country, one of the leading innovation and business locations in Europe, fast and nationwide mobile phone coverage is a service of general interest. This is the only way we can remain attractive and competitive. Good mobile phone coverage is now also indispensable for the general public. Optimum building law framework conditions are the cornerstone for making progress here," said Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Thomas Strobl .
Changes in the state building code
The following changes in the state building regulations (LBO) will come into force in June:
Extension of the procedural freedom of mobile radio antennas to a height of up to 15 m indoors and up to 20 m outdoors ( number 5 c of the appendix to Section 50 paragraph 1 of the LBO )
Reduction of the distance areas for outdoor antenna systems by changing the relevant calculation factor from the current 0.4 to 0.2 of the building height ( § 5 Para. 7 LBO )
Procedural exemption for portable antenna systems up to an installation period of 24 months ( number 10 of the appendix to Article 50 paragraph 1 of the LBO )
Better mobile coverage
The proportion of dead spots (areas that are not provided with services by any mobile network operator, regardless of the technology (2G, 4G, 5G)) is currently 0.42 percent of the area in Baden-Württemberg (as of January 2023). Since mid-2021, the number of dead spots in the country has reduced by 16 percent. The proportion of so-called "white spots" (areas where there is no 4G or 5G coverage by at least one network operator) is 4.14 percent. Here, the proportion has even fallen by more than 22 percent since mid-2021.
“Digital infrastructure is a future task that we can only master together. Cell phone coverage in the country is constantly improving across all technologies: Currently, more than 95 percent of the country is covered with 4G (LTE). With the latest 5G mobile communications standard, coverage is already at almost 77 percent. However, there are still gaps in the mobile network. With today's decision by the state parliament, Baden-Württemberg is creating even better framework conditions for rapid and unbureaucratic mobile communications and 5G expansion. Annoying dead spots can be closed even faster in the future,” explained Digitization Minister Thomas Strobl.
