27.10.2021
SMARTPHONE magazine network test:O2 network jumps to second place and receives "very good" rating
Markus Haas
In SMARTPHONE magazine's major mobile network test, the O2 network secured the grade "very good" for the first time this year. Due to the latest expansion successes and enormous increase in network quality, the O2 network also moves up to second place among the best German mobile network providers. The O2 network impressed in the test with strong performance in cities. Here, O2 is expanding its fast 5G network with great focus on the particularly powerful 3.6 GHz frequencies. In addition, the provider scored with its significantly improved coverage in rural areas.
"We are investing more than ever before in the expansion of our O2 network – around 1.3 billion euros this year alone. These investments in network expansion are having an impact, as impressively demonstrated by the latest network test: We offer our around 45 million customers nationwide a very good O2 network for their everyday digital lives," says Markus Haas, CEO of Telefónica Deutschland / O2.
Further network test proves: O2 offers very good mobile network
In the SMARTPHONE magazine network test, the O2 network improved from the grade "good" in the previous year to a strong "very good".
In the SMARTPHONE magazine network test, the O2 network improved from the grade "good" in the previous year to a strong "very good". Already last year, the trade magazine connect - in what is probably the toughest industry comparison in the country - awarded the O2 network the grade "very good".
In urban areas, the O2 network scored 111 out of a possible 120 points in the current SMARTPHONE magazine network test, just behind Deutsche Telekom (115 points) and a respectable distance ahead of Vodafone (101 points). In almost a quarter of all cases, the testers were on O2's fast 5G network. Since the network primarily transmits over the 3.6 GHz frequencies, O2 customers get a significantly better 5G network experience. They benefit from higher data rates and additional capacity when using their digital applications. This was also recently proven by the mobile communications analysis company Opensignal: In an industry study on the quality of 5G mobile networks, Opensignal singled out O2's network as the fastest 5G network in Germany in terms of the average download speed category.1
In rural areas, O2 was able to catch up with the competition thanks to its expansion campaign. For the network test, SMARTPHONE magazine drove around Germany for two months, collecting over 2 million measurement points.
Improvement in network quality is the result of consistent O2 network expansion
By the end of 2022, O2 wants to cover half of the German population with 5G, and by 2025 the whole of Germany.
O2 has continuously improved its network quality in recent years. To this end, O2 put more than 11,000 new 4G transmitters into operation last year alone in 2020 for better area coverage and more capacity. O2 now supplies more than 99 percent of the German population with its 4G network. The provider continues to expand its 4G network to close remaining 4G coverage gaps and upgrade additional 4G capacity for its customers in high-traffic locations.
However, the focus is on the 5G rollout. Following the 5G launch in October 2020, O2 ignited the 5G expansion turbo this year: O2 now offers a fast 5G network in more than 100 German cities. More than 3,000 5G antennas are transmitting on the particularly powerful 3.6 GHz frequency, which is suitable for 5G. The provider has ambitious expansion plans: by the end of 2022, O2 wants to cover half of the German population with 5G, and by 2025 the whole of Germany.
| 1) | Opensignal Awards – Germany: 5G Experience Report August 2021 |