The question of how to get fast 5G internet arises mainly in rural regions, but even in Austria’s major cities there are challenges due to “urban canyons,” where not every signal can penetrate. The major providers—A1, Magenta, and Drei—are aware of the problem and are working on it. They use different frequency bands to find the right “tradeoff” between cell size and reception depending on the situation.
“When we talk about reception, it’s always the combination of coverage—the signal strength shown as bars on the phone—and capacity, meaning the speed of the data connection,” an A1 spokesperson explained to APA regarding the “tradeoff.” “With 5G, we are in the process of expansion: basic 5G coverage already stands at 85 percent outdoors, and 5G capacity is gradually being expanded in the cities.”
Outdoor kits with antenna modules at windows or balconies often help improve 5G reception. Nevertheless, there are occasional cases where the technician tasked with installation has to leave without success because the signal strength is still insufficient. Such cases, however, are said to be increasingly rare.
“Many densely populated cities such as Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg, or Linz are blessed with beautiful historic architecture. For mobile service, this can be a challenge in some cases, as thick and winding old building walls partially impair indoor coverage,” Magenta said. “The technology behind 5G is, however, so advanced that good performance is possible even with a low signal level.” Here, too, reference is made to “simple solutions in the form of weatherproof 5G outdoor routers.” “This usually ensures good 5G reception for home internet.”
The provider Drei promises that its 5G coverage areas will extend significantly beyond the current 4G zones. “We are building 5G on all stations and are implementing new low-frequency bands with better propagation conditions in addition to the existing frequency bands at many stations. This will make 5G available in all streets and urban canyons.” At present, however, only 4G is available in some areas.
What does 5G reception mean for autonomous driving?
Autonomous vehicles are truly autonomous, emphasize A1, Magenta, and Drei. “They can orient and move independently thanks to their own sensors,” A1 said. “The advantage of a broadband data connection for these vehicles is that with detailed information about, for example, the next 100 to 500 meters of the planned route, they can move faster.” Magenta added: “Critical decisions are made by the car independently of the internet. Nevertheless, good mobile coverage is essential for autonomous driving, since regular updates and telemetry data must be transmitted. Naturally, our network is optimized for this.”
Drei: “Mobile networks will provide vehicles with extensive information on traffic, regulations, or current hazards.” However, a vehicle can continue driving even without mobile communication, since sensors provide sufficient information for operation.
