Communications: Electronic and Digital Technologies. - Suggestion for access to decreased fees when experiencing poor mobile phone reception.
Being forced to deal with a weaker data connection on your mobile device than what you signed up for means you could end up paying less for your services. This right has been in effect since 2021, but up till now, no one has decided on what actually constitutes poor performance. The Federal Network Agency has recently come up with a plan to ensure consumers in Bonn get what they're paying for. This move seeks to empower customers over their phone service providers. In the words of Klaus Müller, head of the Federal Network Agency, "The proposed measurement tool allows customers to verify if the mobile communication quality is in line with their contractual agreement."
Providers of telecommunications services need to make a maximum estimated value for data transfer part of their mobile phone tariffs. If you receive less than 10% of this value in less populated areas, you can demand a refund - the actual amount needs to be negotiated with your provider and, in case it doesn't work out, you can resort to legal action.
In locations where the population density is medium, the threshold stands at 15%, while in highly populated areas, it's set at 25%. However, to make a legal claim, you'll need to conduct 30 measurements over the course of five days, which could be time-consuming.
The Federal Network Agency's proposal has now been made available for observation and feedback from industry players and consumer rights advocates. Once all the details are hashed out, and a measurement instrument is set in place, is still unknown. In the case of broadband, this already exists on broadbandmeasuring.de.
Read also:
- If you live in Bonn and experience poor mobile phone reception, you might be able to access lower cell phone tariffs, as suggested by the Federal Network Agency's recent plan.
- TheWhenever your data connection on your cell phone falls below the maximum estimated value provided by your telecommunications service provider, you have the right to demand a refund, as stipulated by the German Federal Network Agency.
- The Federal Network Agency of Germany has proposed a measuring tool for customers to verify if their mobile communication quality matches their contractual agreement, boosting consumer power in telecommunications.
- The proposed threshold for less populated areas is 10% of the maximum estimated data transfer value, while medium and highly populated areas have 15% and 25% respectively, as outlined by the Federal Network Agency in Germany.
- If you want to make a legal claim, you must conduct 30 measurements over five days using the Federal Network Agency's proposed measuring tool to prove your poor cell phone reception in Germany.
- Germany's cell phone network operators should include a maximum estimated value for data transfer in their cell phone tariffs, as required by the Federal Network Agency to protect the rights of consumers.
- The Federal Network Agency in Germany is currently gathering feedback and suggestions from industry players and consumer rights advocates to finalize the proposed plan for improving mobile reception and consumer protection in cell phone tariffs.
