Telekom, Vodafone or O2: Consumers face a wide range of mobile plans, often with substantial price differences. But do expensive contracts really deliver better performance? SWR’s consumer programme “buy better” investigates, with Professor Sörries explaining the technical and economic factors behind the market.
According to Sörries, the many brands reflect a deliberate strategy: network operators offer different products to reach different customer groups, from price-conscious users to those who prefer established providers.
Advertised speeds also deserve scrutiny. Premium plans may promise up to 300 megabits per second, while cheaper options often offer 50. Yet everyday applications need far less. Streaming a film in Full HD, for example, requires only around three to six megabits per second. Higher speeds are therefore often more of a marketing argument.
An SWR field test at a major event in Berlin also showed that low-cost plans can work reliably even when networks are busy. Sörries stresses, however, that coverage depends on location: every mobile network has strengths and weaknesses.
His advice: Check network quality where you live and work, and choose a plan that suits your needs. A costly premium contract is often unnecessary.
