BERLIN, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Numerous gaps in Germany's mobile network coverage have been closed in the past ten years, according to a study published by the ifo Institute on Friday.
Over 33,000 new mobile phone masts have been installed in the country since 2011, according to the study. A third of these are in rural areas, where around one quarter of the country's population lives.
"Overall, there is now good nationwide coverage for mobile communications services, although there are still some gaps," the study noted. However, it is "increasingly difficult" to establish new sites for mobile base stations.
"Not only has the use of mobile data services increased sharply, but mobile internet is also a prerequisite for important technologies of the future, such as autonomous driving or the Internet of Things," the institute said.
According to the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), so-called "white spots" still exist in 3.8 percent of Germany's territory, where coverage is 2G or worse. In 7.2 percent of the country's land area only one network operator offers 4G services. (1 euro = 1.14 U.S. dollar) Enditem