A vacation with a dead zone? That's not for everyone.

Millions of people in Germany vacation at campsites and rely on a good mobile network there, too. However, mobile network coverage isn't always up to date, as an analysis by the comparison portal Verivox shows.

A good half of the 50 most popular German campsites are struggling with dead spots: 52 percent of sites experience minor or major network gaps with at least one network operator. Wi-Fi coverage is often offered, but not guaranteed. According to Verivox research, 42 of the 50 most popular sites offer free Wi-Fi for vacationers – however, some operators limit coverage to parts of the site, such as the reception and restaurant areas. Seven sites charge for Wi-Fi.

According to Vervox, 24 of the 50 campsites surveyed have very good network quality – both the 5G mobile network standard and its predecessor, 4G/LTE, are available across the entire site from all network providers. At other campsites, the intensity of the network gaps varies considerably: At some sites, only a small cell at the edge is poorly served, while others have virtually no 5G network and only partially cover the older 4G standard.

The sites on the North and Baltic Sea coasts generally have very good network coverage, but according to the study, there are also deficits here. The larger the site, the more likely there are gaps – network quality can also vary from site to site.

In places in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate, however, the network is sometimes patchy. "Mobile network coverage is often better in the flat north of Germany than in the more diverse, but often mountainous, south. Such topographical obstacles complicate network expansion," said Verivox telecommunications expert Jörg Schamberg.

Mobile coverage around campsites leaves much to be desired. Hardly anyone stays on the campsite all the time; after all, they have to walk the dog or go to the beach. "In the neighboring cell towers, there are sometimes complete dead spots where even the emergency call doesn't work—this can be particularly the case in the scenic areas of the Black Forest or Allgäu," Schamberg explained.