Germany's new online tool reveals if your internet meets legal standards
The Federal Network Agency has released an online tool to help German households check their internet and phone service coverage. Available in beta, the tool uses a colour-coded map to show whether an area meets minimum telecom standards. Users can now verify their eligibility for basic services in less than a minute.
Since December 2021, German law guarantees citizens access to essential telecom services, including voice calls and internet. The new tool, called the Market Monitoring Tool, breaks down coverage into 100 x 100 metre grid cells. Green cells indicate full compliance with the 2025 minimum requirements: 15 Mbps download, 5 Mbps upload, and latency under 150 milliseconds. Red cells flag potential shortfalls.
The map data comes from provider-reported metrics, but gaps remain where no information exists. In Dresden, for example, over 1,600 addresses—around 3,300 households—were previously identified as 'white spots' under federal funding rules. These areas had speeds below 30 Mbps, though fibre expansion is ongoing. Nationwide figures for undersupplied households under the new standards are not yet available.
The agency stresses that the tool's results are not legally binding. A red cell does not automatically confirm undersupply under the Telecommunications Act. Residents suspecting inadequate service must still file a formal report via the contact form linked to their grid cell.
To refine the system, the agency invites users to complete a short anonymous survey. Feedback will help expand data sources and improve accuracy before the final version launches.
The beta tool offers a quick way to assess telecom coverage, but official action requires a separate report. Dresden's experience shows ongoing efforts to close gaps, though national data remains incomplete. The agency will continue updating the system based on user input and provider contributions.
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