The two German associations have identified power connections as a bottleneck for operators trying to meet Federal Network Agency’s (BNetzA) spectrum obligations
Competitive carrier organisation Verband für Telekommunikation und Mehrwertdienste (VATM) has joined forces with German digital association Bitkom to issue a guidance document on the practical implementation of requests from tower companies to connect mobile phone masts to the local low-voltage network. Given the spectrum coverage requirements outlined by German regulator BNetzA it is unsuitable that the industry is getting frustrated by delays in connecting new mobile phone sites to electricity.
The manual is aimed at operators of supply networks and aims to create a better understanding of the needs of towercos for the construction of mobile phone towers and to provide a basis for the development of best practice processes to enable faster mobile network expansion. And the document is revealing in just how many things can go wrong in this space.
The organisations begin by outlining exactly what operators need. In accordance with the Low Voltage Connection Ordinance (NAV) and the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), towercos typically require a low-voltage connection with 30–40kW capacity directly at the base of their tower sites.
For successful grid integration, towercos need predictable timelines for quotations and implementation of all project aspects. Transparent cost estimates are equally crucial, necessitating regular communication with distribution network operators (DNOs). Prompt feedback and clear timelines are essential for towercos to manage their projects effectively.
This commonsense approach with realistic requests then comes face to face of the everyday realities of dealing with DNOs, which are perhaps distracted by the MW/GW requests being hurled at them from the data centre sector.
Challenges abound
In many cases, towercos are only offered connections at a grid connection point several hundred metres away, rather than directly at the tower site. DNOs often cite insufficient connection capacity, significant line losses, or high installation costs as reasons. Despite regulatory requirements, medium-voltage connections are sometimes proposed instead of low-voltage connections. In such cases, towercos are often required to procure and own transformers, contrary to NAV and EnWG regulations.
Cost proposals for low-voltage connections frequently lack transparency and do not provide detailed calculations as prescribed by NAV. In extreme cases, connection offers are withdrawn due to planning errors after towercos have already commenced tower construction.
If a towerco gets this far, the application process then throws up new hurdles. DNOs often rely on online portals as the primary means of communication, which frequently lack fields to specify that the request concerns a mobile communication site. Consequently, towercos may receive inappropriate generic offers.
Queries regarding unsuitable offers are often routed through general hotlines or email addresses, lacking a dedicated point of contact. This results in delays and necessitates resubmitting applications, further postponing project timelines. In addition say the organisations, obtaining initial cost estimates is hindered by incomplete breakdowns of individual cost items, contrary to NAV stipulations.
Delays due to these challenges can extend the timeline for obtaining a calculated offer to 3 months–2.5 years, and the implementation period to 2 weeks–9 months. These delays not only hinder site commissioning but also disrupt planning and reliability in infrastructure expansion.
The guidance spells out the legal framework for the technical requirements for grid connections and points out grid operators may refuse connections only in exceptional cases where they are economically infeasible, and such decisions must consider the significant importance of mobile communication expansion for Germany’s economy. Costs associated with connection establishment (Section 9 NAV) are not grounds for refusal.
What can be done?
While the document aims to foster a better understanding of the needs of towercos in establishing mobile communication towers – and to lay the groundwork for best practices to accelerate development – the target audience feels more the various levels of government – and BNetzA – rather than the grid operators themselves and their regulator.
In proposed solutions, the document lists several principles for technical implementation to ensure Germany achieves the “politically desired rapid and nationwide mobile communication expansion”. These include, first and foremost, that connections must comply with EnWG and NAV, ensuring low-voltage connections directly at the site rather than at distant connection points. In addition, where technical constraints necessitate transformer solutions, these should be provided and owned by the DNO, as stipulated by NAV and EnWG.
VATM and Bitkom urge government and industry to implement process improvements including: establishing working groups between DNOs and towercos; creating single points of contact or dedicated communication channels; and setting clear expectations for response times and throughput. Commonsense stuff really but the grid operator are patently not playing by the rules in the eyes of the telecom industry.