Press Releases

Next round in network testing procedure between ONE and Mobilkom

- Court rejects motion for injunction
- ONE appeals instantly

ONE took legal action filing for an injunction order against the current Mobilkom advertising campaign according to which the A1 network offers the best voice quality proven by an "independent long-term network test", "examined" and "certified"by the Technical University of Vienna. From the point of view of ONE neither the choice of criteria nor the way the tests were conducted are as objective as stated, the advertising campaign is both immoral and anti-competitive. The Commercial Court of Vienna turned down the injunction motion arguing that from its point of view, there was insufficient doubt regarding the objectivity of the institution and the expert opinion. According to ONE, it will appeal against the decision straight away.

ONE believes the results stated in the A1 advertising campaign to be distorted and thus not credible. The quarterly study conducted by the Institute for Communication Networks of the Technical University of Vienna for Mobilkom certifying the best voice quality of all Austrian mobile networks to A1 turned out to be a commissioned expert opinion under closer scrutiny.

Mobilkom carries out measurements itself

In a letter to ONE, the head of the institute confirmed that the measurements were conducted by a Mobilkom measuring team. The number of successfully attempted calls and calls, dropped calls as well as the quality of calls once a connection has been established is measured. The Technical University of Vienna evaluates the measurements and certifies their accuracy in its quarterly reports. The criterion for the measurement series, which is being used for advertising purposes by Mobilkom, is nothing other than the voice quality, which was measured by means of instruments calibrated especially for the Mobilkom network.

Mobilkom determines routes, time and contents

The test routes, the time of testing as well as contents are selected in co-operation with Mobilkom. This leaves plenty of room for rather exemplary samples, is, however, hardly representative. Bang-Jensen: "Nonetheless, standards generally agreed upon should form the basis of such a study. Experts have confirmed to us that it is not scientifically justifiable to deduct general quality statements on a mobile network from biased results.” The data on establishing connections have not been published according to professor Harmen van As from the Technical University, which would result in a different ranking.

Call for a joint quality test

ONE still pleads for a joint measurement monitoring of mobile telephony operators according to standardised criteria. Chief Technical Officer Jürgen Peetz: ”We demand a non-biased third party to commission the study, an independent testing institute and a method jointly agreed upon. Unfortunately, Mobilkom is not willing to talk about this subject.” To date Mobilkom has refused to publish the complete expert opinion.

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