The German and European claim for deploying a powerful 5G mobile networks deep into the rural areas, implicitly expecting the use of the new 3,6 GHz frequeny spaces. The question arises if that shall mean full 3.6 GHz coverage throughout the union. Radio cells with 3.6 GHz are rather small (radius below 1 km). They primarils serve for providing high capacity rather than coverage. A roll out with such small cells would severely challenge profitability of such networks.
The new EU State Aid Guidelines of 12. Dec. 2022 allow mobile subsidies in a complementary, mobile market, separated from the fixed market. This might induce hughe subsidies if the goal would be full 3.6 GHz coverage throughout the countries.
For full 5G coverage the study does not assume a full 3,6 GHz coverage, instead it follows a more differentiated approach by assuming that all existing frequency ranges will be enabled operating 5G New Radio interfaces . The lower the frequency, the better it covers large areas. 3.6 GHz frequencies will be deployed only in those locations with significant additional demand for capacity.
The analysis compares the existing population and demand distribution with the existing 5G capacity distribution per each radio cell with a GIS-based tool.
