Turkey
Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumer mobile experience. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding the true experience consumers receive on wireless networks.
Turkey
Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumer mobile experience. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding the true experience consumers receive on wireless networks.
Key Findings
Our users enjoyed the fastest average download and upload speeds on Turkcell’s network
Turkcell wins the Download Speed Experience award outright, with an average overall download speed of 32 Mbps — 7.8 Mbps (32.3%) faster than second-placed Türk Telekom. Vodafone comes third, with a score of 15.1 Mbps — less than a half of what we observed on the winner’s network. Turkcell also secures the other speed award, Upload Speed Experience, with a speed of 10.8 Mbps. Türk Telekom comes close behind, just 0.4 Mbps behind Turkcell, narrowly missing the winners’ podium.
Türk Telekom takes home both Consistency awards
Türk Telekom secures both of its outright wins in the Consistency section, as it is the sole winner of the Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality awards. Türk Telekom triumphs in Excellent Consistent Quality, with a score of 76.7%, which reflects the percentage of users’ tests on operator networks meeting the minimum recommended performance thresholds to watch HD video, complete group video conference calls and play games. For the other Consistency award, Türk Telekom scored 90.4% — which is the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds for lower performance applications including SD video, voice calls and web browsing.
Turkcell wins Video Experience, but Türk Telekom and Vodafone share both Games Experience and Voice App Experience
Turkcell triumphs in Video Experience, with a score of 56.4 points on a 100-point scale. However, its competitors Türk Telekom and Vodafone jointly win the remaining experiential awards — Games Experience and Voice App Experience. In Voice App Experience, both Türk Telekom and Vodafone rated as Acceptable (74-80), meaning some users were satisfied, but some experienced perceptible call quality impairments.
Turkcell triumphs in 4G Coverage Experience
Our users on Tukcell’s network connected to 4G locations in seven out of 10 locations they visited. This was the best result in Turkey and consequently, Turkcell claims the 4G Coverage Experience award outright with a score of 7 points on a 10-point scale, 0.5 points ahead of second-placed Vodafone. Turkcell comes on top of the other award in the Coverage section, as it jointly wins Availability with Türk Telekom, with statistically tied scores of 98.3-98.5%.
Turkcell dominates the regional awards table
Turkcell wins the most Overall Experience awards across the regions: 15 awards outright — including Download Speed Experience across all seven Turkey’s regions — and five jointly out of 35 awards available. Our users in Turkey enjoyed the fastest average download speeds on Turkcell’s network in Marmara and Aegean, exceeding 35 Mbps. Speaking of Marmara, our users on Turkcell and Türk Telekom’s networks in the region saw the fastest average overall upload speeds in Turkey, clocking in at over 12 Mbps. Also in this region, Vodafone wins its only regional award outright for Games Experience, with the highest score in Turkey, of 66.2 points — the only result in the country that placed in the Fair (65-75) category.
Mobile Experience Awards
Market Overview
In Opensignal's latest Turkey Mobile Network Experience report we analyze the overall experience of our users — and for the first time, we add two awards that quantify the consistency of the experience on the country’s three national operators.
We saw mixed fortunes in the awards table — both Türk Telekom and Turkcell win five awards each, either outright or jointly. Turkcell secures four awards outright, including both speed categories, Video Experience and 4G Coverage Experience — and completes its haul by sharing Availability with Türk Telekom.
Türk Telekom is the sole winner in both Consistency awards — Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality. On top of its joint victory with Turkcell for Availability, Türk Telekom also shares Games Experience and Voice App Experience with Vodafone.
The telecommunications market has seen some changes since our last report as Turkey Wealth Fund acquired a 55% controlling stake in Türk Telekom from LYY Telekomunikasyon for USD1.65 billion in April 2022. Notably, the state fund already owns a controlling stake in Türk Telekom mobile competitor, Turkcell.
Our results in this report are based on measurements collected across all major mobile operators in Turkey – Türk Telekom, Turkcell and Vodafone – over the period of 90 days between February 1, 2022 and May 1, 2022, to see how they fared.
Overall Experience
National Analysis
Turkcell wins the Video Experience award, with a score of 56.4 points on a 100-point scale — 2.5 points ahead of Türk Telekom. Vodafone comes third, with a score of 46.7 points.
Definitions
Opensignal’s Video Experience quantifies the quality of video streamed to mobile devices by measuring real-world video streams over an operator's networks. The metric is based on an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach, built upon detailed studies which have derived a relationship between technical parameters, including picture quality, video loading time and stall rate, with the perceived video experience as reported by real people. To calculate video experience, we are directly measuring video streams from end-user devices and using this ITU approach to quantify the overall video experience for each operator on a scale from 0 to 100. The videos tested include a mixture of resolutions — including Full HD (FHD) and 4K / Ultra HD (UHD) — and are streamed directly from the world’s largest video content providers.
In addition to Video Experience, we report on the following metrics related to video experience:
- 5G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
- Video Experience – 5G Users: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G video experience along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
- 3G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users on an operator’s 3G network.
National Analysis
Türk Telekom and Vodafone share Games Experience, with statistically tied scores in the 61.7-61.8 points range — beating third-placed Turkcell by 10.4-10.6 points.
However, despite a significant disparity between the joint winners and Turkcell, all three Turkish operators placed in the Poor (40-65) category. This means the majority of users reported seeing a delay in the gameplay experience. They did not receive immediate feedback on their actions and felt a lack of controllability.
Definitions
Opensignal’s Games Experience measures how mobile users experience real-time multiplayer mobile gaming on an operator’s network. Measured on a scale of 0-100, it analyzes how our users’ multiplayer mobile gaming experience is affected by mobile network conditions including latency, packet loss and jitter.
Games Experience quantifies the experience when playing real-time multiplayer mobile games on mobile devices connected to servers located around the world. The approach is built on several years of research quantifying the relationship between technical network parameters and the gaming experience as reported by real mobile users. These parameters include latency (round trip time), jitter (variability of latency) and packet loss (the proportion of data packets that never reach their destination). Additionally, it considers multiple genres of multiplayer mobile games to measure the average sensitivity to network conditions. The games tested include some of the most popular real-time multiplayer mobile games (such as Fortnite, Pro Evolution Soccer and Arena of Valor) played around the world.
Calculating Games Experience starts with measuring the end-to-end experience from users’ devices to internet end-points that host real games. The score is then measured on a scale from 0 to 100.
In addition to Games Experience, we report on the following metrics related to games experience:
- 5G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
- Games Experience – 5G Users: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G games experience along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
- 3G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO) network.
National Analysis
We saw a joint victory between Türk Telekom and Vodafone for the Voice App Experience award. Both operators rated as Acceptable (74-80), meaning some users were satisfied, but some experienced perceptible call quality impairments. Meanwhile, Turkcell placed in the Poor (66-74) category, but with its score of 73.9 points, it missed placing the Acceptable category by just 0.1 points.
Definitions
Opensignal's Voice App Experience measures the quality of experience for over-the-top (OTT) voice services — mobile voice apps such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook Messenger — using a model derived from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach for quantifying overall voice call quality and a series of calibrated technical parameters. This model characterizes the exact relationship between the technical measurements and perceived call quality. Voice App Experience for each operator is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100.
In addition to Voice App Experience, we report on the following metrics related to voice app experience:
- 5G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
- Voice App Experience – 5G Users: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G voice app experience along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
- 3G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO) network.
National Analysis
Turkcell claims Download Speed Experience outright, with an average overall download speed of 32 Mbps. It commanded a sizable lead of 7.8 Mbps (32.3%) over the runner-up Türk Telekom. Looking at Vodafone’s score of 15.1 Mbps, its measured average overall download speed was less than half of that observed by our Turkcell users.
Definitions
Measured in Mbps, Download Speed Experience represents the typical everyday speeds a user experiences across an operator’s mobile data networks.
In addition to Download Speed Experience, we report on the following metrics related to download speeds:
- 5G Download Speed: The average download speed observed by Opensignal users with active 5G connections.
- Download Speed Experience – 5G Users: The average download speeds experienced by Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator’s networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G download speeds along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Download Speed: The average downlink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 4G.
- 3G Download Speed: The average downlink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO).
National Analysis
Turkcell adds Upload Speed Experience to its haul, thus claiming both speed awards outright. Our users on this network enjoyed average upload speeds of 10.8 Mbps — 0.4 Mbps (4.2%) faster than what our users on Türk Telekom experienced. Meanwhile, Vodafone comes third, with a score of 7.3 Mbps — 3 Mbps behind the runner-up Türk Telekom.
Definitions
Upload Speed Experience measures the average upload speeds for each operator observed by our users across their mobile data networks. Typically upload speeds are slower than download speeds, as current mobile broadband technologies focus resources on providing the best possible download speed for users consuming content on their devices. As mobile internet trends move away from downloading content to creating content and supporting real-time communications services, upload speeds are becoming more vital and new technologies are emerging that boost upstream capacity.
In addition to Upload Speed Experience, we report on five supporting metrics related to upload speeds:
- 5G Upload Speed: The average upload speed observed by Opensignal users with active 5G connections.
- Upload Speed Experience – 5G Users: The average upload speeds experienced by Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator’s networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G upload speeds along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Upload Speed: The average uplink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 4G.
- 3G Upload Speed: The average uplink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO).
Coverage
Turkcell
Türk Telekom
Vodafone
National Analysis
Turkcell and Türk Telekom share the top spot for Availability with Türk Telekom, with statistically tied scores of 98.3-98.5%. Vodafone follows closely behind, with a score of 98% — which means, our users across all Turkish networks connected to 3G or better services for at least 98% of the time on average.
Definitions
Our availability metrics are not a measure of a network’s geographical extent. They won’t tell you whether you are likely to get a signal if you plan to visit a remote rural or nearly uninhabited region. Instead, they measure what proportion of time people have a network connection, in the places they most commonly frequent — something often missed by traditional coverage metrics. Looking at when users have a connection rather than where, provides us with a more precise reflection of the true user experience.
We also keep track of the instances that leave mobile users most frustrated: when there is no signal to connect to at all. The most common dead zones users struggle with occur indoors. As most of our availability data is collected indoors (as that’s where users spend most of their time), we’re particularly astute at detecting areas of zero signal.
Our availability metrics take a user-centric, time-based approach that complements the user-centric and geographical-based methodology used by our reach metrics.
Availability shows the proportion of time all Opensignal users on an operator’s network had either a 3G, 4G or 5G connection.
The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.
National Analysis
Turkcell claims the 4G Coverage Experience award outright with a score of seven points on a 10-point scale, 0.5 points ahead of second-placed Vodafone. Turkcell’s result means our users on this network connected to 4G locations in seven out of 10 locations they visited. Türk Telekom trailed behind, with a score of 5.4 points.
Definitions
4G Coverage Experience measures how mobile subscribers experience 4G coverage on an operator’s network. Measured on a scale of 0-10, it analyzes the locations where customers of a network operator received a 4G signal relative to the locations visited by users of all network operators.
In simple terms, 4G Coverage Experience measures the mobile coverage experience in all the locations that matter most to everyday users — i.e. all the places where they live, work and travel. It considers all the areas that Opensignal users visit, the portion of locations that 4G is available to them, and locations that more users visit have higher importance to them.
The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.
Consistency
National Analysis
Türk Telekom wins the Excellent Consistent Quality award outright, with a score of 76.7% — a winning margin of 2.7 percentage points ahead of second-placed Turkcell and 7.1 percentage points ahead of Vodafone. These scores reflect the percentage of users’ tests on operator networks meeting the minimum recommended performance thresholds to watch HD video, complete group video conference calls and play games.
Definitions
Consistent Quality measures how often users’ experience on a network was sufficient to support common applications’ requirements. It measures download speed, upload speed, latency, jitter, packet loss, time to first byte and the percentage of tests attempted which did not succeed due to a connectivity issue on either the download or server response component.
Full details on how the Consistent Quality metrics — Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality — are calculated can be found here.
Excellent Consistent Quality is the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds to watch HD video, complete group video conference calls and play games.
National Analysis
Türk Telekom is the sole winner of the Core Consistent Quality award, claiming it with a score of 90.4%. This is the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds for lower performance applications including SD video, voice calls and web browsing. Turkcell takes second place, 1.2 percentage points behind the winner, and is followed closely by Vodafone, which scored 88.2%.
Definitions
Consistent Quality measures how often users’ experience on a network was sufficient to support common applications’ requirements. It measures download speed, upload speed, latency, jitter, packet loss, time to first byte and the percentage of tests attempted which did not succeed due to a connectivity issue on either the download or server response component.
Full details on how the Consistent Quality metrics — Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality — are calculated can be found here.
Core Consistent Quality is the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds for lower performance applications including SD video, voice calls and web browsing.
Related Analysis
Our Methodology
Collecting billions of individual measurements daily from over 100 million devices globally, Opensignal independently analyzes mobile user experience on every major network operator around the globe.
About Opensignal
Opensignal is the mobile analytics company committed to improving mobile connectivity across the globe. We are the independent authority for understanding the true experience consumers receive on wireless networks.
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Confidence Intervals
For every metric we calculate statistical confidence intervals indicated on our graphs. When confidence intervals overlap, our measured results are too close to declare a winner. In those cases, we show a statistical draw. For this reason, some metrics have multiple operator winners.
In our bar graphs we represent confidence intervals as boundaries on either sides of graph bars.
In our supporting-metric charts we show confidence intervals as +/- numerical values.
Why confidence intervals are vital in analyzing mobile network experience