Vodafone’s big coverage win in OpenSignal report

Vodafone network coverage has improved to the point that it is on par with Telstra’s network according to new data released by OpenSignal. 

In its report, OpenSignal concluded that Vodafone matched Telstra for 4G availability, finding that customers could connect to the 4G networks 77-percent of the time. Meanwhile Optus customers connect 73-percent of the time.

This comes just a few years after the dramatic Vodafail incident which tarnished the mobile networks reputation and has left many consumers with the impression that the Vodafone is significantly inferior, especially compared with Telstra.

The OpenSignal tests tell a very different story. Out of six testing categories, Vodafone and Telstra tie with 4 first place results, while Optus achieved two,

Telstra has the fastest network, according to OpenSignal, winning both the 4G speed and Overall Average Speed categories. All 3 networks tied in the fastest 3G speed category.

Vodafone achieved the best result in network latency on both its 3G and 4G networks, suggesting that customers connect to data quicker when requesting webpages. Optus also scored top makes for 4G latency.

How the tests work

OpenSignal uses data crowdsourced from users who download their app and having it running in the background while they use their phones each day. It’s basically crowdsourcing the data from everyday users across a wide range of different devices.

For the Australian test, OpenSignal relied on data from 7,904 individual users, and collected nearly 16 million points of data over the past 3 months.

This is a significant sample size for a test like this, but it doesn't take the geographic spread of the sampled users into account. So while Vodafone customers in sample group could connect to 4G services 77-percent of the time, it doesn't indicate where these tests were conducted.

It is a strong case for people in the metro areas to consider a switch to a Vodafone plan, though, considering you're more likely to get a 4G signal and you'll connect to webpages faster when you do. 

Joseph Hanlon

Editorial Director | X | LinkedIn

Joe Hanlon has been immersed in mobile phones, plans and the internet for over a decade, having written for publications like CNET, Techradar, Gizmodo and Lifehacker. He steers the editorial ship and makes sure that we are always serving up the most useful guides and recommendations. If you ever bump into Joe on the street, don't be afraid to ask for a phone recommendation. It's embarrassing how much he enjoys talking about this stuff. He also loves listening to podcasts, so feel free to email Joe with recommendations.

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