Germany's mobile communications network put to the test: ICE remains a problem area

Anyone hoping for good mobile network coverage on ICE trains in 2025 will still need to have strong nerves. The latest measurements by CHIP and NET CHECK show that no other test scenario experiences connection errors, incomprehensible phone calls, and drops in data rates as frequently as long-distance trains. And this is regardless of the network operator.

Networks keep pace – with one clear winner

Away from long-distance trains, the picture is much more positive. This year's mobile communications test is based on billions of crowdsourced data sets and extensive driving and walking measurements, which took the measurement teams thousands of kilometers across Germany. The result: Telekom defends its top position and achieves an overall rating of “excellent” for the first time. Vodafone and O2 follow with strong performances. Mobile data consumption has been growing rapidly for years, and with it the demands on networks. Nevertheless, the test results bring good news: web surfing, telephony, and video streaming work reliably almost everywhere in everyday life.

New chapter: 1&1 enters the market as the fourth network operator

A special feature of the current network test is the ongoing market entry of 1&1. Its own network has not yet been evaluated, as major technical changes are imminent. Nevertheless, a noticeable change in the market is already apparent:

• O2 is benefiting from the elimination of roaming volume by 1&1 and is able to improve more significantly than its competitors. For the first time in the 16 years of the CHIP network test, the network operator has achieved an overall rating of “very good”!
• Although Vodafone is carrying additional load from over 11 million 1&1 customers who use the network via national roaming, it is able to compensate for this well and even shows a slight improvement, meaning that Vodafone remains clearly in second place.
• Telekom continues to extend its lead and achieves a grade of at least 1.2 in all test categories for the first time, thus fulfilling the criteria for the “excellent” rating. 

Despite cooperation: Mobile phone reception on trains remains problematic

Despite all the expansion efforts by Telekom, Vodafone, O2, and Deutsche Bahn, one clear weak point remains: mobile communications on long-distance trains. Measurements continue to show deficits in voice quality, data transmission, and download rates.

For four years, network operators have been working publicly with Deutsche Bahn – but mobile phone coverage on German trains remains significantly worse than in Austria or Switzerland. Progress along the routes is measurable, but hardly noticeable to passengers, which is often due to the trains themselves rather than the networks. The joint goal of Telekom and Deutsche Bahn to enable continuous phone calls and surfing on all routes by 2026 is still a long way off.“

City vs. Countryside: The Gap Remains

While high data rates have long been standard in cities, there is still a significant gap in rural areas. The success rates for fast downloads there are significantly below urban levels across all networks. High speeds above 100 Mbit/s remain the exception in rural areas. The challenges are considerable: the Federal Network Agency's specifications require minimum coverage levels by 2029 and 2030 that are significantly higher than today's levels.

  

All results in detail
All measurement results, regional evaluations, and detailed analyses can be found here at 
CHIP.de: chip.de/netztest