July 5, 2022, 10:46 am | Read time: 5 minutes
The magazine “Connect” has published the current 2022 network test. It compared the performance and service of internet providers in Germany. Which provider is leading?
Anyone looking for a new fixed-line internet provider usually wants two things: decent performance and reliability. That’s why Connect reviews the offerings of major internet providers in Germany every year and summarizes their findings in the so-called network test. This year, the 2022 network test revealed surprising winners, especially among regional providers.
Overview
These Internet Providers Were Tested
For 13 years, Connect, together with partner zafaco, has been collecting data on internet providers in their studies. They gather data in various areas, including the quality and reliability of services, data throughput for uploads and downloads, and the use of web services. Connect distinguishes between nationwide providers, those available throughout Germany, and regional providers, whose services can only be booked in certain states. The following providers participated in the 2022 network test:
Nationwide Providers:
- Deutsche Telekom
- 1&1
- O2
- Vodafone
Regional Providers:
- Deutsche Glasfaser
- NetCologne
- M-net
- EWE
- Pyur
For your information: Except for Deutsche Glasfaser, all providers were already part of Connect’s 2021 network test.
Also read: Major Network Test! Which Mobile Provider is Leading?
The Results of the 2022 Network Test
Not surprisingly, Deutsche Telekom leads among nationwide fixed-line internet providers. With 932 total points (2021: 914 points), the gap to 1&1, O2, and Vodafone is significantly larger than the previous year. While Telekom lost a point in the voice category, it improved its previous results in data, crowdsourcing, web services, and web TV. The company achieved top results in the download and upload areas in the 2022 network test.
Once again, 1&1 is in second place with 916 points. The Montabaur-based company also improved in some areas. In 2021, the result was 912 points. In the voice and web services categories, 1&1 lost points, but data connections improved. Like Telekom, the fixed-line internet provider achieved top results in download and upload in the 2022 network test. According to Connect, 1&1’s web TV offerings also made a significant leap forward.
This year, Telefónica/O2 takes third place but also improved from 859 points in 2021 to 910 points–a significant leap forward. In data, O2 performs as well as Telekom and 1&1 with top results. The company gained 20 points compared to the previous year. O2 also improved in voice, crowdsourcing, and web TV. In the 2022 network test, only slow connection setup times and long voice delays in its own network were noted. There were deductions for web services, which Connect rated worse compared to the previous year. Notably, long buffering times for TV and slow gaming pings were mentioned.
Both Deutsche Telekom and 1&1, as well as O2, achieved a “Very Good” rating in the 2022 network test.
Vodafone, on the other hand, scored a rather modest 785 total points last year but improved to 808 points. However, the provider still only achieved a “Good” rating. Vodafone’s performance in voice and data connections worsened significantly, while web services improved. Download rates often fell below the contractually agreed values. Vodafone frequently struggled with overloaded networks, especially during the pandemic. Additionally, there were regular outages, partly due to network expansion efforts the company is pursuing.
Also read: Watching TV Over the Internet–IPTV Offerings Compared
The Surprise Winner Deutsche Glasfaser
Deutsche Glasfaser participated in Connect’s network test for the first time in 2022. The provider of FTTH fiber-optic connections immediately secured the highest score. With 939 points, the company even surpasses Deutsche Telekom, but it is not available everywhere in Germany. Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen are missing from the list of states. Additionally, the number of customers is still quite low. According to its own statements, Deutsche Glasfaser had about 1.3 installed FTTH connections in 2022. By 2025, the number is expected to rise to 4 million households served. For comparison, Deutsche Telekom claims about 26 million fixed-line and 22 million broadband connections. Thus, Deutsche Glasfaser plays a much smaller role in the broadband internet market than its Bonn-based competitor, which is one of the largest internet providers worldwide.
Compared to Telekom, Deutsche Glasfaser performs worse in voice. Connect praises the very good voice quality during calls but finds the connection setup times too long–especially for mobile connections. In data, web service, and web TV, Deutsche Glasfaser is roughly on par with Telekom or even slightly better. The crowdsourcing results are significantly better, with the fiber-optic company leading and achieving 17 more points in the 2022 network test.
NetCologne, a regional provider in the Cologne area, also scores one point better than Telekom. It achieved 932 points in the test, mainly due to very good data and web TV results. Compared to the previous year, NetCologne improved by 10 points overall. Competitors M-net in the Munich area (2022: 929 points, 2021: 921 points) and EWE (2022: 913 points, 2021: 901 points) also achieved better results this year.
Aside from the other regional providers, the cable network operator Pyur, which operates in Berlin, among other places, scored 819 points, achieving a “Good” rating but still trailing 94 points behind EWE, though 11 points ahead of Vodafone. Pyur showed significant weaknesses in data, voice, and crowdsourcing.
All Results at a Glance
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How Connect Tests
The network test by Connect and zafaco is considered one of the most important comparisons of internet providers on the market. The testing procedure is standardized, the measurements automated, and conducted with connections that customers can book exactly as they are. For the 2022 network test, the two partners collected over 3.2 million measurement values from May 9 to June 5, including nighttime maintenance windows to minimize errors due to network work.