Press releases

• NRW Mobile Network Measurement Week Enters Its Fourth Year: Working Together to Eliminate Dead Zones.
• Minister Neubaur: Every measurement counts—join in now in Aachen, too!
• From June 24 to July 1, 2026, all residents are once again encouraged to measure their cell phone reception using the Federal Network Agency’s free app.

The NRW Mobile Network Measurement Week is entering its fourth round—and it’s making a difference: A new cell tower in Eitorf-Hönscheid in the Rhein-Sieg district will go into operation at the end of June because residents used the Mobile Network Check app to document a coverage gap in that exact location. North Rhine-Westphalia already has 4G coverage across 98.6 percent of its territory—now it’s all about closing the remaining gaps. From June 24 to July 1, 2026, all residents are once again encouraged to measure their mobile signal strength using the Federal Network Agency’s free app.

Economics Minister Mona Neubaur is once again supporting the initiative as its patron: “We need good cellular networks for our daily lives. North Rhine-Westphalia has come a long way in cellular communications—and the people of the state have contributed to that. Over 87,000 participants, 53 million data points, and now a new cell tower being built exactly where the data indicated it was needed. Together, we’re closing the last gaps. Join us in measuring coverage!”

How does the dead zone search work?
Participating is easy: Download the Mobilfunk-Check app, launch it while you’re out and about, and use your phone as usual—whether you’re on your way to work, on a bike ride, or taking a short walk. In the background, the app automatically measures how well the cellular network is performing. The results are collected anonymously and published on the Federal Network Agency’s dead zone map. The Mobilfunk-Check app is available for free and ad-free in the app stores.

What are the benefits of mobile network measurements?
Over the past three years, more than 87,000 people in North Rhine-Westphalia have provided approximately 53 million measurement points. The results have helped to realistically map the coverage situation from the users’ perspective—and to improve it in a targeted manner. Important: The smaller the coverage gaps become, the more crucial precise local measurements by citizens become.

What is the current status of mobile network coverage in North Rhine-Westphalia?
According to the Federal Network Agency, 4G coverage by at least one mobile network operator in North Rhine-Westphalia stands at 98.6 percent. 5G is already available in 96.8 percent of the state’s territory through at least one network operator. 10.7 percent of the state’s territory consists of so-called “gray spots”—areas that are covered by at least one, but not all, network operators with 4G or 5G. 1.2 percent of the state’s territory are “white spots” that currently have neither 4G nor 5G coverage. The baseline data on mobile network coverage at the district and independent city levels in North Rhine-Westphalia is updated every six months on the dashboard www.mobilfunk.nrw based on data from the Federal Network Agency’s mobile network monitoring.

More about the NRW Mobile Network Measurement Week:
The NRW Mobile Network Measurement Week originated as an initiative of the digital infrastructure coordinators in the districts and independent cities of North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2026, the measurement week will take place nationwide for the second time, with events held simultaneously in all federal states.

Further information on the nationwide mobile phone radiation measurement week is available at www.check-dein-netz.de.

According to the Federal Network Agency’s mobile network monitoring report (as of January 2026), current mobile network coverage in the city of Aachen is as follows: