Who has the best cell phone network in Austria?

Data connections

Magenta leads the data rating just ahead of A1. Three is catching up significantly compared to its high performance.

Magenta and A1 stop in the Data category largely the same as the previous year (Magenta: -2 points, A1: -1 point). Three is catching up significantly and scores 10 points more in the data rating. This may partly have to do with the progress in the 5G expansion of the smallest Austrian provider. However, an analysis of the measured values ​​collected in the drive and walk tests shows that 5G radio cells are widely used by all three operators – especially in urban areas. The crowdsourcing results, on the other hand, reflect the actual 5G usage by Austrian mobile customers. It also depends on the end devices and the tariffs booked.

In the 15 major cities tested show them Drivetests for Magenta and A1 a 5G share of over 99%, for Drei over 98%. In the walk tests, the values ​​are slightly lower: around 94% for magenta, around 91% for A1, around 89% for three. In smaller cities, Magenta and A1 are around 99%, while the 5G share in Drei is around 93%. On connecting roads, A1 leads with around 99% 5G share, while Magenta achieves around 69% and Drei only achieves around 37%. The same applies to trains: A1 achieves around 88%, Magenta around 82% and Drei around 61% 5G share.

Large cities: Magenta minimal in front of A1 and Drei

The race in the Drivetests is scarce in major Austrian cities. In the photo finish, Magenta, A1 and Three cross the finish line one after the other with a razor-thin margin of one percentage point each. The metropolitan walk tests show very similar results for Magenta and A1: Three falls slightly behind. A closer look at the measurement data also shows that A1 and Magenta have already come a long way with the combined use of several frequencies – “carrier aggregation”. In cities we see high shares of 5G on two plus LTE on three frequencies (5GNR 2CA plus LTE 3CA). With Magenta there is one 5G and four LTE frequencies (5GNR + LTE4CA).

Magenta is just ahead in small towns, on a par with the A1 on roads

The level of performance in those attended in the test 15 smaller cities and up connecting roads is similar: In the small towns, Magenta leads by a narrow margin over the A1, and on the connecting roads both are on the same level. Three follows at a relatively short distance. A pleasing result for drivers in Austria.

Also on the rails: Magenta just before A1

In the most difficult scenario, in the tests in Austrian trainsthe points achieved decrease and the gaps in the ranking order become more pronounced again: Magenta is in the lead here, closely followed by A1 and a little further away from three. Compared to Germany, the achievements are high – but it’s a shame that they have declined somewhat compared to the previous year.

Voice connections

When it comes to mobile phone calls, Magenta defends its top spot, with A1 and Drei each following a short distance behind. Given the otherwise high level, only telephoning on the train could increase somewhat.

In the language discipline, Magenta and A1 each gained one point compared to the previous year. Three achieved a slightly more significant increase with an increase of 5 points.

Magenta just ahead in town and country

Although there is a difference of a few percentage points in each case, the results are Language measurements in large and small towns and on connecting roads at a high level. Magenta is just ahead, but its two competitors follow a short distance behind. On the connecting roads, A1 and Drei even share second place.

The high voice quality in all of the scenarios mentioned is pleasing. Magenta benefits most clearly from VoLTE (“Voice over LTE”), which has now been introduced in all networks. Magenta and A1 also offer fast call setup times – but with three they are slightly longer.

Slight restrictions on the train, Magenta is just ahead of A1 and Drei

Like with those Data measurements the performance that the test teams determined in Austrian trains drops visibly compared to the other scenarios. What is noticeable here, however, is that all three providers are still close together. Compared to the previous year, A1 and Drei were able to narrow the gap to the narrowly leading Magenta. Overall, making phone calls on ÖBB trains works comparatively well.

Crowd

In the crowdsourcing analyzes that reflect the actual customer experience, Magenta leads in third place, with A1 coming in a close third.

In the crowdsourcing analyzes carried out by umlaut, Magenta gained 4 points compared to the previous year, while A1 fell slightly behind by 2 points. The most noticeable increase is three, by 9 points – and thus moves up to second place in the crowd discipline. The crowdsourcing thus confirms the significant improvements we are seeing this time with the smallest Austrian network operator.

In the evaluations of broadband coverage, magenta comes first in the quality KPIs Broadband coverage and share of time in leadership. When it comes to the range of broadband coverage (definitions and explanations in “How we test the best cell phone network”), A1 is ahead. In the passively monitored data rates, A1 is able to carve out a small lead in the demanding speed class “UHD Video” (at least 20 Mbit/s). Drei lands in second place here and pushes Magenta into third place. In the lower data rate classes, the competitors are again very close to each other. The actively determined upload and download speeds are in the order magenta – A1 – three.

Both Latency measurements Magenta and Drei are ahead in the gaming category (less than 50 ms), while in the “OTT voice services” (less than 100 ms) the gaps are close. However, the differentiation becomes clear in the “high-end gaming class” (less than 20 ms) that was added this year: Here A1 falls well behind magenta and three. Something similar can also be observed to a small extent in the proportion of voice connections in HD quality and in the stability rating.

reliability

The reliability rating, which focuses on basic performance, also shows the well-known ranking order magenta – A1 – three.

Our special rating reliability only takes into account the KPIs that are relevant for good basic care, while we ignore the emphasis on top performance. That is why this discipline is not a separate evaluation category, but rather an additional look at the overall result.

Accordingly, this ranking shows the same ranking as in Austria overall. In the language discipline, Magenta stands out somewhat more clearly from A1 and Drei, which are quite close together. In the data category, however, A1 has a wafer-thin lead of one point. Drei was able to narrow the gap to its two competitors here, but is still 8 points behind Magenta.

Im Crowdsourcing Magenta leads, but with the increases already observed in the other subsections, Drei takes second place, 2 points ahead of A1. Overall, the reliability rating shows that the three Austrian network operators provide their customers with stable connections.

Radio standards

The crowdsourcing carried out by umlaut also provides insights into which mobile communications technologies Austrian customers use.

The crowdsourced look at the use of the various Mobile standards The networks examined in Austria revealed two peculiarities: On the one hand, 3G/UMTS was gradually being switched off, but was still in operation at the time of the evaluation shown below. The shares in the 2G/3G category are correspondingly large, particularly pronounced in the A1 network.

On the other hand, the smallest Austrian network operator Drei has decided to quickly rely on the technically more advanced “5G Standalone” (5G SA) when expanding 5G. Shares with this radio connection, which we have not yet used in this year’s drive and walk tests for compatibility and performance reasons, grew quickly at Drei during the period under review.

Drei benefits from the fact that the provider has implemented a “5G Common Core” in its network: a core network that supports both 5G non-stand-alone (i.e. in collaboration with LTE) and 5G SA. But the number of customers using 5G is also growing at Magenta and A1 in the long term. This is also in the interest of network operators because it relieves pressure on their 4G frequencies and provides new capacities with 5G.

Magenta

With this year’s test victory, Magenta achieved first place in our mobile network test for the seventh time in a row – once again with the rare grade of “outstanding”. The provider leads in all individual disciplines and improved by three points compared to the previous year. In the drive tests, Magenta achieved over 99% 5G share in small towns and large cities – together with A1.

A1

A1 maintains its very high level of performance from the previous year and rightly receives the rare grade of “outstanding”. In most test disciplines, A1 is almost on a par with Magenta. When it comes to 5G expansion, the provider is leading on Austrian connecting roads and on trains; in the drive tests in large and small cities, together with Magenta, we see 5G shares of over 99%.

Three

With an increase of 24 points, the Hutchison brand achieved the most significant improvement compared to the previous year. This is true in both the data and voice disciplines and is confirmed by crowdsourcing. In many test disciplines, Drei comes close to A1 or even overtakes the competitor. Its increased 5G expansion is also worthwhile.