The ability to access reliable and high-quality mobile connectivity is vital for the vast majority of people in the UK, as outlined in Ofcom’s latest report titled ‘Mobile Matters’.
The report – based on crowdsourced data collected from mobile devices between October 2023 and March 2024 – provides an insightful look into the performance of mobile networks in the UK, covering key metrics such as connection success rates, file download/upload times, and response times across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks.
Growing dominance of 5G mobile connectivity in the UK
The report shows that 5G and 4G networks are dominating the UK’s cellular landscape, accounting for a combined 97.6% of mobile connections. A significant 78% of all connections were made on 4G, with 5G comprising 19.6%.
The use of older networks such as 3G (2.3%) and 2G (a mere 0.1%) has dwindled as operators prepare for their eventual phase-out. BT/EE and Vodafone have already begun switching off 3G, with Three following suit in April 2024, while Virgin Media O2 plans to complete its 3G shutdown by 2025.
Geographically, 5G connections were twice as common in urban areas (20.9%) than in rural regions (10.4%). In contrast, rural areas saw higher reliance on 4G and 3G, highlighting a gap in 5G adoption outside cities.
5G offers superior performance, but 4G is still reliable
Ofcom’s analysis confirms that 5G delivers superior performance across nearly every metric. The success rate for connecting to mobile data services was highest on 5G at 98.4%, closely followed by 4G at 97.2%. In contrast, 3G’s success rate lagged behind at 85%. As networks transition away from 3G, this gap highlights the growing necessity for upgrading to more advanced technologies.
The speed advantage of 5G is particularly noticeable when it comes to downloading and uploading files. The report found that it takes just 0.3 seconds on average to download a 2MB file using 5G, compared to 0.8 seconds on 4G and a much slower 4.3 seconds on 3G. When downloading larger files (5MB), the time savings of 5G become even more pronounced, with download times 65% faster than on 4G.
For uploads, 5G outpaces 4G and 3G by a wide margin. Uploading a 1MB file takes just 0.5 seconds on 5G, compared to 0.8 seconds on 4G and 3.8 seconds on 3G. Faster upload speeds are crucial for sharing content such as photos or videos on social media platforms.
EE and Three are standout UK mobile performers
Among the UK’s mobile network operators (MNOs), Three led the way in 5G adoption, with 21.4% of its connections occurring on 5G networks. Vodafone – despite having the largest share of 4G connections at 82.7% – lagged behind in 5G uptake, with just 15% of its connections using the new technology. O2 recorded the lowest share of 4G connections (73.9%) but had the highest proportion of 3G usage (4.7%).
When it comes to connection success rates, EE emerged as the top performer for both 4G and 5G, with the smallest margin between its competitors (less than 0.5 percentage points). However, download times varied by provider.
O2 consistently had longer download times for 2MB, 5MB, and 10MB files, while Three excelled with the fastest response times on 5G and EE on 4G. In terms of download speed, Three recorded the highest proportion of 5G connections achieving speeds of 100 Mbps or more (60%), whereas O2 lagged at just 32%.
Upload speeds followed a similar trend. EE had the highest proportion of 5G and 4G uploads at 20 Mbps or faster, while O2 customers endured the slowest speeds, with the highest percentage of uploads falling below 1 Mbps.
Divide in UK mobile connectivity
The report also highlights the disparity in connectivity between urban and rural areas in the UK.
In urban settings, 5G connections were nearly twice as common, accounting for 21.4% of all connections in England’s cities, compared to 15.5% in Wales. Meanwhile, rural areas were still predominantly reliant on 4G and even 3G in some regions. Northern Ireland had the lowest proportion of 5G connections in rural areas at just 8.1%, a stark contrast to England’s 10.5%.
Urban areas also saw faster speeds and shorter download times across all technologies. For instance, downloading a 2MB file on 5G took less than 0.3 seconds in cities but took significantly longer in rural regions. Upload speeds and response times followed similar patterns, with urban users consistently enjoying better performance than those in rural parts of the UK.
With 5G deployment accelerating and 3G networks winding down, Ofcom’s latest findings underscore the need for continued investment in mobile infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
The report demonstrates that while 5G is already delivering significant performance improvements, its adoption is still uneven across the country. Operators must address these discrepancies to ensure all users benefit from the latest technological advancements, regardless of location.
(Photo by Emiliano Vittoriosi)
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