Germany's mobile phone networks: These providers are behind bill nets

In addition to the large cell phone network providers, there are various bill nets in Germany. This can save a lot of money, because the supposedly cheap providers always use the network of a large provider like Telekom, Vodafone or O2. We show you who is behind which billing network.

Billing networks: These providers use the O2 network

All mobile phone network providers in Germany use one of the networks of the three major German providers: Telekom, Vodafone and Telefonica (O2). The following overview shows which providers use the O2 network:

• Aldi talk.
• Ay Yildiz
• Simfinity
• simyo
• Unitymedia mobile
• Galeria Mobil
• network Club
• blau.de
• Lidl Mobile

Low-cost providers in the Telekom network

The following providers use the mobile phone network of Deutsche Telekom (D1):

• congstar
• EASYTEL
• Lebara
• Penny Mobile
• Yes! Mobile

Low-cost providers on the Vodafone network

The following providers broadcast on the Vodafone network (D2):

• Fyve
• Lycamobile
• Rossmann Mobil
• EWE Tel
• Otelo
• Edeka Mobil
• BILDmobil
• GMX Mobile

Low-cost provider with different cell phone networks

With some providers you can choose between different networks:

• At Klarmobil you can choose one of the three networks when you sign a contract.
• Smartmobil uses the Vodafone network for almost all contracts, only individual contracts run via the O2 network.
• Depending on the tariff, helloMobil uses the O2 or Vodafone network.
• Depending on the tariff, Maxxim is at home on the O2 and Vodafone network.
• Depending on the tariff, McSim connects in the O2 network or in the Vodafone network.
• Depending on the tariff, Simply transmits in all three networks.

CHIP network test 2017/2018 - who has the best network?

Every year, CHIP tests the network quality of the three German network providers. The NET CHECK team carried out 470, 000 tests across Germany to assess Internet and telephone quality in mobile networks - on the train, in the car and on foot.

• The test winner of the CHIP network test 2017 is Telekom with a grade of 1.4, followed by Vodafone with 1.6. O2 is in last place: grade 3.1.
• Telekom scores with the highest upload and download speeds and, like Vodafone, has an almost nationwide LTE network.
• Vodafone scores with a fast telephone connection. The voice quality is somewhat better at Telekom.
• On the train, the mobile internet at Vodafone is significantly better than that of the competition.

On the next page we explain the differences between 2G, 3G and 4G.