In Switzerland, people complain about dead spots at a high level. A test once again confirms that there are no longer any bad cell phone networks in this country.
Swiss mobile phone customers are spoiled. This is shown by the results of what is probably the most renowned network test in the German-speaking region. With the fifth win in a row at the annual «Connect»-test, Swisscom once again lived up to its reputation as the industry leader. If it works as desired, nobody can hold a candle to your network at the moment.
This is not because the competition is sleeping. Sunrise and Salt, the other two telecom companies with their own mobile network, have caught up significantly in recent years. In 2016, Sunrise even caused a small tremor by winning the “Connect” test. Swisscom’s self-image as the industry’s technology leader was shattered.
In the meantime, the pecking order is back to what it should be from the perspective of the semi-state-owned company. Swisscom can advertise with the “best network in Switzerland” without a guilty conscience. Although Sunrise follows her close on her heels, she no longer comes dangerously close. As the smallest network operator, Salt has to make do with third and last place, as in previous years.
This ranking is not a surprise. Above all, the test shows: In Switzerland, people complain about dead spots at a high level. According to the testers, the quality of the networks ranges from “very good” (Salt) to “outstanding” (Swisscom, Sunrise).
Minor differences
Vehicles covered a 6,700-kilometer route for the measurements. In addition, teams were on foot and on trains. The result: In larger towns, the differences between the providers are hardly noticeable.
When it comes to classic phone calls, Sunrise even performs slightly better than Swisscom. Salt can also keep up well with the top duo here. The picture looks a little different when it comes to data transmission. When it comes to streaming or gaming on smartphones, Swisscom is clearly ahead. The differences are small here too; however, Swisscom performed best in all data sub-disciplines.
Only the best is good enough
Salt’s race to catch up is remarkable. The company has the image of a low-cost provider. In Germany or Austria, however, their network was now one of the best. In Switzerland, however, the standards are not just high, they are very high. Swisscom benefits from this. It achieves a market share of around 60 percent for mobile phone subscriptions. Sunrise brings it to 24 percent, Salt to 16 percent.
After the liberalization of the telecoms market, Swisscom was able to defend its position better than most of the other ex-monopolists in Europe. The fact that switching to a somewhat less perfect network for a hefty reduction in subscription fees is apparently not an option for many consumers may have contributed to this.