T 4.41 Non-availability of the mobile communication network

The availability of mobile communication networks is significantly lower than that of landline networks. Like all systems which cannot guarantee 100% availability, mobile communication networks are often not available in the places and at the times when they are needed the most urgently. Not all mobile communication networks are designed to ensure blanket coverage.

The most frequent cause of inadequate availability of mobile communication networks is gaps in radio coverage, i.e. areas which are not covered by any network provider. If demand is very high, parts of the network may also overload. This may prevent the reception or transmission of messages.

Moreover, jamming transmitters may be used which interfere with radio operations in a spatially limited area in such a way that no mobile phone reception is possible. There are devices which can be purchased precisely for this purpose. However, in Germany the use of such devices is illegal.

Example:

The call handling capacity of a transmitting station is not sufficient when a huge number of people simultaneously try to notify the emergency services or inform their families by mobile phone after a major accident.