Network test
Vodafone wins the “Chip” landline test
Significant advantage in terms of price-performance ratio and speed. photo
© Federico Gambarini/dpa
Vodafone has received a lot of criticism in recent years because its cable internet was not as fast as promised. After major investments, the provider is now receiving better grades.
Vodafone owes its narrow test victory primarily to the fact that the company is the largest TV cable provider and serves the majority of its customers via this connection technology, while the smaller part is supplied via VDSL technology. “There is more potential in TV cable compared to VDSL in terms of maximum speed and coverage at lower speeds,” the report says.
During the Corona pandemic, however, increased Internet use in home offices and video streaming meant that Vodafone customers in particular were often not provided with the contractually guaranteed line quality. This led to many customer complaints and contract terminations. Vodafone technology boss Tanja Richter said that Vodafone technicians had brought more and more fiber optics into the cable network over the past two years and significantly increased the number of network elements for customers. “This means that, on average, each individual customer receives significantly more speed and reliability.”
Vodafone is not ahead in all areas
The trade magazine “Chip” went to great lengths to test the landline network: it sent almost 1,000 small Raspberry computers to conventional landline users, who used them to test the networks continuously and under controlled conditions. This method delivers much more reliable results than simply evaluating speed test data or relying solely on the evaluation of smartphone apps.
However, test winner Vodafone is not ahead in all areas. Its arch-rival Deutsche Telekom achieved better marks than the Düsseldorf-based company in terms of network availability and data runtime (“latency”). Telekom also narrowly maintained its lead when it came to the question of whether the provider delivers the contractually agreed bandwidth. However, the “Chip” testers found that Vodafone had a clear lead in terms of price-performance ratio and speed.
In some regions, however, TV cable technology is not the best choice because a much more powerful fiber optic connection has been installed directly in the house or apartment. However, the offers from providers such as Deutsche Glasfaser are not available across the board in Germany. Regional providers such as the cable provider were able to consistently convince the “Chip” testers. The cable specialist Pyur has conquered the top position in five federal states – including Saxony and Baden-Württemberg. “The pace is right, the contract fulfillment is right and the tariffs, such as 40 euros for 1 Gbit/s, are cheap.” Deutsche Telekom was also able to convince regionally. She won in four federal states.