Stiftung Warentest: Mobile network provider in the network test
Stiftung Warentest tested the four mobile phone providers Telekom, Vodafone, O2 and E-Plus: Which provider has the better mobile data network and where can you get the best voice quality? Our test summary shows how tough the struggle of mobile operators for the best network in Germany is.
Stiftung Warentest: Telecommunications providers Telekom and Vodafone are fighting for first place
- The test winner at Stiftung Warentest is Telekom with a grade of 2.3. It offers the fastest network: Fast LTE (4G) was available in 80 percent of the tests.
- Second in the product test ranking is Vodafone with a grade of 2.5. With 78 percent LTE availability, Vodafone is just behind the test winner, but the gap is minimal. Even with 3G availability, there are hardly any differences between Telekom and Vodafone.
- The difference between Telekom and Vodafone: The download takes a little longer with Vodafone and data connections break more often - especially in the train.
Mobile phone providers in the Stiftung Warentest: O2 and E-Plus in the test - two networks, one provider
- O2 and E-Plus have belonged to the same group since October 2014. Nevertheless, there are still two separate networks with different quality. Only gradually are they interconnected - until now, for example, only the 3G network.
- Since E-Plus has a solid 3G network, O2 customers in Germany now also benefit from it. However, the test showed that a 3G network via O2 was not even offered for every second test. Nevertheless, the experts gave the grade 2.9. This works better with E-Plus, where 3G was available in 67 percent of the tests.
- E-Plus is lagging behind, especially at LTE: the network manages just 20 percent availability. In the end, it is only enough for the last place with the mark 3.1.
Product test when calling: Telekom and Vodafone in front
- The quality of the calls is particularly high at Telekom and Vodafone. Telekom is slightly better in the city, but outside of cities and on the train, competitor Vodafone.
- O2 and E-Plus do not do so well in the country. O2 in particular often has connection problems, says Warentest. The connection in the train is similarly bad with all providers.
- It takes an average of ten to eleven seconds for you to have the person you are talking to - too long for all providers.
- All details can be found at test.de.
CHIP test shows: It's really that bad about the networks
- Telekom also has the edge in the CHIP network test: top rating for calls, best mobile internet access and best LTE network.
- Vodafone has a denser LTE network, but is a bit slower and the phone quality is not as good as the test winner.
- O2 and E-Plus are still lagging behind when it comes to LTE expansion - that's why it is only a little off for third place.
On the next page you will find tips if your internet is slow - at O2, E-Plus, Vodafone and Telekom.