The Hindu Business Line : Network quality is key to selecting operator: Study

New Delhi, Nov. 16 Network quality is the most important consideration for Indians when it comes to selecting a mobile operator according to a study by the Nielsen Company.

But most Indians do not really know which operator has the best network in their circle, since mobile companies focus more on how much lower their prices are when compared to the competition.

The Nielsen Company, which has launched a network benchmarking programme in India called Nielsen Consumer Experience Mobile Test Programme, measures wireless network performance for all national and select regional service providers in markets covering a population of nearly 100 million people across the country.

“Nielsen Consumer Experience Mobile Test Programme in India shows that there is a huge disconnect between what is important to consumers versus what is being focused on by service providers. It shows that even though network quality is a more important criterion than price, price war between service providers has become the customer acquisition tool. The result is market shares in India do not follow network superiority because leading service providers have failed to advertise this information to the Indian consumer,” said a press release.

According to the study Reliance Communication’s CDMA network has superior quality than the other players.

“In markets such as North America, a network leader emerges due to clear network superiority. The lead in market share follows the lead in network performance. Both Verizon and AT&T have spent about $360 million last year advertising on network claims,” Nielson Company said.

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