A recent study seems to think so. Current research with foundations in monitoring and examining mobile phone reception, appears to show that despite your handset indicating a 5G signal, it actually only has a 4G connection.
Samples taken from UK testing showed 38% of connections were 4G, even though the 5G icon was being shown. 11,000 tests were carried out over a period of 2 months at the start of this year.
Why would a handset indicate it’s connected to 5G, if it’s actually using a 4G connection?
It can differ from phone to phone, but for many if the phone is connected to a base station that has 5G equipment potentially available, then it will show the 5G icon. However, in real usage terms the connection may be using 4G or 5G.
Some phones will change the distinction of the icon depending on whether an actual 5G connection is made. Others will show the same 5G icon whether the 5G connection is only available or actually connected.
The above image shows an area map of Central London where testing was carried out. The red shows actual 5G connections, and the blue indicates where a 5G icon is displayed but a 4G connection is made.
As you can see for yourself, a 4G connection being used under the guise of a 5G connection is a common one.
This issue isn’t anything new, but what is new is the research looking at how this is impacting our connections in the UK.
With an average speed of 49 Mbps, this recent study found when testing that mobile broadband via actual 5G is approximately twice as fast as where it’s a 5G icon only (27 Mbps).
Is 4G masquerading as 5G happening across all UK mobile networks?
The results from this study were taken from a sample across all the UK mobile networks. However, it did find that it was more common with some operators than others to display the 5G icon despite being connected to 4G.
Let’s have a little look at each mobile network. According to study tests, when the 5G icon is displayed, what percentage of the time are you actually getting a genuine 5G connection?
These findings are surprising, as other surveys and studies have found EE to do well in 5G performance in terms of data and coverage.
It’s important to bear in mind that getting a 5G connection everywhere is likely not possible, and people would largely accept a 4G connection in its place where 5G isn’t a possibility. The important bit, perhaps, is the visibility to consumers in terms of what they are actually getting moment to moment. Customers should know whether they are connected 4G or 5G and not just shown a blanket 5G icon where there is merely potential.
We’re all for using 4G in places where that connection is going to be stronger and more reliable than a 5G connection. But let’s make sure customers are aware when this is happening.
A recent network benchmarking study looking at 4G and 5G performance (for broadband and calls) across London has named Vodafone UK as the top performing network.
Based in Berlin, NET CHECK completed their London study of mobile network performance and found that Vodafone achieved the highest number of ranking points – Scoring 932.83 out of 1,000 points.
Who is NET CHECK?
NET CHECK was founded in 1999 to improve the quality of communication networks. Since then, NET CHECK has become one of the leading partners of network operators and infrastructure providers in the operation and optimisation of mobile and fixed communication networks of all technologies.
When and where was the network study conducted?
Between the 30th October and 7th November, a team from NET CHECK carried out a mix of performance based tests across all 32 London boroughs plus the City of London using Samsung S23+ smartphones.
Covering 23 routes, the measurement technicians covered a distance of 1018km across Greater London whilst driving. The measuring equipment (SwissQual Benchmarker II (Rohde & Schwarz) and Samsung S23+) was placed in the roof boxes of two passenger cars collecting data on the performance of voice and data services during the tests. This approach allowed performance measurement for all the operators simultaneously and at the same locations.
How did the network study allocate points?
As we said above, the maximum number of points a network provider can rank is 1,000. This is earned by a max of 350 points for voice services and a max of 650 points for data services.
The testing involved a range of both voice and data services, with categories including:
Accessibility
Reliability
Speech quality
Mobile broadband speed-tests using customer applications such as the browsing of popular web pages, video streaming and more.
Sample wise, they collected approximately 15,700 data samples per operator to enable them to accurately analyse data services. For voice services, they made approximately 1,390 test calls. For each test call, they collected 12 speech samples which resulted in approximately 16,600 speech samples in total.
Which networks were close behind frontrunners Vodafone?
As we stated above, Vodafone ranked the highest in terms of points with 932.83 out of 1,000.
Not far behind them was EE with 923.45 – Only about 9 points less than highest ranking Vodafone.
In 3rd place it was O2 Virgin Media with 834.16 points, with Three UK trailing behind its competitors with 757.82 points.
You can see a summary of results from the study below. To have a read of the full report, head here.
With thanks to NET CHECK for all the tables and imagery, directly from their report.
Are you trying to enhance and improve your connectivity indoors? If so, you might be weighing up whether it’s best to go for Wi-Fi 7 or 5G. Both of these technologies offer their own unique strengths. Perhaps you’re leaning towards the increased bandwidth and efficiency that comes with Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. Or maybe you’re more interested in the low latency and reliability that 5G can offer you. Which is the one for you?
We live in a world where we are extremely reliant on a continuous, reliable and secure connection – Whether that’s using a device for work or relaxing at the end of a long day. We need online video conference calls that don’t drop out and Netflix binges that don’t buffer.
So how do we meet this demand? The tech world increasingly offers us solutions that evolve alongside our digital needs. We’ve gone from 4G/LTE to 5G when it comes to mobile connectivity, and from Wi-Fi 5 to 6 to 6E and now the emerging Wi-Fi 7 in the wireless networking world.
Everyone wants to know which is best! Which tech development will offer the better improvements on previous issues and limitations – 5G or Wi-Fi 7? Unfortunately, it’s not a straightforward answer.
Focus on Outdoor Mobile Coverage
Both the tech industry and government have predominantly focused their improvement efforts on outdoor mobile coverage.
Whilst undoubtedly worthwhile schemes like the Shared Rural Network have helped to improve outdoor 4G mobile coverage in hard to reach areas, they still have a way to go when it comes to poor indoor mobile coverage.
Interestingly, this is despite knowing that the average person spends 90% of their time indoors, with 80% of all mobile data traffic being generated or terminated indoors.
Meeting the Growing Demand for Indoor Coverage with Emerging Wireless Technology
Back in 2020, both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G entered the commercial wireless market. The connectivity requirements of most domestic indoor environments can be met by Wi-Fi 6. However, in terms of reliability and quality of service with increasing service demands, 5G steps up to the plate and outperforms Wi-Fi 6.
But now that Wi-Fi 7 is arriving on the scene, the tech world needs to have another look at the growing demands for indoor coverage for both public and private places, and what the role of Wi-Fi and 5G is within that space.
Performance Capabilities of Wi-Fi 7 and 5G
As you can see in the graph above, there is a significant jump in theoretical bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, from 9.6 Gbps (Wi-Fi 6) rising to speeds of 46 Gbps. The speed of 5G sits at 10 Gbps.
When it comes to latency, 5G can offer a latency as little as 1 ms (with a range of between 1 and 10). Wi-Fi 6 sees latency of approximately 20 ms, with Wi-Fi 7 showing an improvement here with a latency of under 5 ms, rivalling that of 5G.
However, we must remember that the speed and latency rates shown here are theoretical only and unlikely to be experienced by users.
When it comes to range, Wi-Fi 7 and 5G have faster speeds due to sacrificing smaller cell coverage range. Wi-Fi 7 can reach 50-100 metres on the 2.4 GHz band, whereas 5G can reach between 500 metres and a few square kilometres depending on the frequency band and transmission power.
Is 5G Most Likely to be Adopted by the Manufacturing and Logistics Sectors?
5G has particularly appealed to the manufacturing and logistics sectors, but many industries are showing interest.
Integrating smart technologies indoors has become a big part of many private businesses, leading to them choosing to deploy 5G networks with access to licensed and unlicensed spectrum.
5G offers much when it comes to speed, capability and low latency, lending itself well to real-time applications for example, tracking lone-workers in industrial and potentially hazardous environments, and tracking last-mile logistics in the manufacturing sector.
Businesses, homes and venues can also make use of mobile broadband with 5G for the likes of high-quality streaming, VR/AR and other broadcasting services being used indoors.
What Stands Out About Wi-Fi 7?
In what ways can Wi-Fi 7 help to improve indoor connectivity? The following features are expected to help indoor activities for domestic, industrial and public sector use within the UK economy and wider society in a significant way, offering a valuable addition to indoor connectivity infrastructures.
It operates across 3 frequency bands, 4K QAM and increased channel width (320 MHz)
More reliable wireless connection
Greater transmission rates
Increased efficiency
Can handle large amounts of devices and large volumes of traffic
Will maintain high speeds with low latency
Let’s remember that whilst almost all devices can run on Wi-Fi 7, to be able to fully harness the available efficiencies with speed and latency consumers will need to be using devices made in 2024.
For this reason, it’s tricky to measure the overall impact and benefit of Wi-Fi 7, however it’s likely to become much clearer over the next few as we see the prevalence of Wi-Fi 7 capable devices increase.
As the adoption of Wi-Fi 7 technology is most prevalent in the industrial sector, we’re most likely to see the biggest impact of Wi-Fi 7 in that arena.
Could 5G Be Deployed Alongside Wi-Fi 7?
A deployment of 5G alongside Wi-Fi 7 is likely.
We’re expecting to see this combination in public and private spaces that switch between indoors and outdoors where reliability and low latency are important considerations for both spaces.
From public 5G networks in shopping centres to private 5G networks in manufacturing factories, we already see how mobile connectivity plays a big role and we would expect that to continue alongside Wi-Fi 7.
What are the Challenges for the Deployment of 5G and Wi-Fi 7?
To meet sustainability targets and reduce energy consumption, there has been an increase in the use of foil-backed insulation and energy-efficient glass within building construction. As well as the concrete, metal and brick already in use within buildings, these additional sustainability-meeting measure can significantly impact signal strength, especially when it comes to 5G networks.
Ways to tackle this issue include:
Small cell deployment
Signal boosters
Antennas designed for 5G
In order to enable the best use of the spectrum, the hybrid sharing model of the 6GHz band between licensed mobile and Wi-Fi was designed. This ensures:
Greater capacity
Faster speeds
Innovative services
Ofcom has supported and pushed this hybrid use method for 5G and Wi-Fi 7, but there does need to be more understanding of the practicalities, costs and complexities.
Hybrid solutions could however solve the issue of signal-reducing building materials, for example, LiFi, which concerts 5G signal to Wi-Fi.
There also needs to be policy and guidance from the UK government in terms of improving indoor connectivity. Last year in 2023, we saw stakeholders across the telecommunications sector get help for improving mobile connectivity with the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy setting out a clear plan.
We now need a similar strategy to address indoor connectivity specifically so that the industry can be challenged to improve indoor coverage and have targets similar to those of outdoor coverage targets.
Wi-Fi 7 vs 5G – Or Should They Go Hand in Hand?
Wi-Fi 7 and 5G will play a vital role in addressing the issue of poor indoor connectivity.
Here at Geekabit, we’re experts in all things wireless and deploying the best network for a specific property and use. We see how important it is to recognise that 5G and Wi-Fi 7 don’t need to be competitors pitched against each other, but as complementary technologies that could transform indoor connectivity for businesses both large and small.
We’re excited to see how both these technologies continue to develop. As the number of use cases develop, it will help us and others in the wireless networking industry to build bespoke solutions for those facing indoor connectivity issues.
We fully believe in maximising the potential benefits of both these technologies by joining them together rather than having to choose just one.
If you’re eager to see what connectivity improvements we can deliver for your business, get in touch with our Wi-Fi experts here at Geekabit today.
Independent British political public policy think-tank the Social Market Foundation has released a new report ‘Growing Connections’ highlighting how the UK still has a while to go before achieving prevalent 5G mobile connectivity.
What’s the reason for this? The report claims that this is partly due to investment being unintentionally hindered by previous mobile telecoms policies. Solving this isn’t likely to be easy or straightforward.
Data from Ofcom earlier in the year (January 2024) revealed that 85-92% of UK premises can now get outdoor 5G coverage from at least one operator. When combining all operators, this figure for outdoor coverage drops to just 16-28%.
Ofcom doesn’t currently offer a figure for 5G geographic coverage, but we’d imagine that it would be quite a bit lower than the aforementioned 85-92%.
The new labour government has reiterated a previous pledge by the last in power where “all populated areas to be covered by ‘standalone’ 5G (5G-plus) by 2030.” Labour plan to follow through with a renewed push to achieve the ambition of full gigabit and national 5G coverage by 2030.
UK Trailing Many Countries When It Comes to Active 5G Connections
‘Growing Connections’, this new report from SMF, looks at crowdsourced data from Opensignal in 2023, which showed that 5G availability and the amount of time users spent with an active 5G connection, found that the UK was trailing behind many other countries.
Did you know that UK mobile users have access to 5G around only 10% of the time? In comparison, other countries show figures of:
India (43%)
South Korea (38%)
France (20.6%)
Italy (17.9%)
Further data from Opensignal was used in the report, looking at the analysis of international 5G download speeds. The UK, again, is amongst the slowest, with a score of 111Mbps. That might not sound too awful, but when compared to some other countries (like 133Mbps in Italy and a whopping 437Mbps in South Korea) it finds the UK lacking.
The UK was one of the first countries to start rolling 5G technology out, so it is rather disappointing to see that we are considerably behind other countries.
Furthermore, the SMF report also highlights how findings from another study had shown that, by 2035, “widespread availability and use of 5G could add £159 billion to the UK economy“. That’s a big thing to potentially miss out on.
But let’s remember that the world doesn’t yet revolve around 5G. Predictions such as this should be taken carefully, especially as we have good 4G services that do deliver many of the benefits we’ll get from 5G.
So What Went Wrong for the UK When Starting the Deployment of 5G?
Previous Mobile Telecom Policies
As we touched on earlier, the report mentions investment being hindered unintentionally by some policies in the mobile telecoms sector. We found it surprising that the report didn’t specifically mention the decision to ban Huawei after the beginning of the rollout, which set the deployment plans back with a pretty significant blow to mobile operators.
Mobile Spectrum and Investment
The report does instead discuss the approach to spectrum by the Government and Ofcom, looking at the associated high costs involved with accessing and using mobile spectrum alongside the shortness of spectrum licences that are awarded. This in turn then deters the ‘very long-term investment’ and makes it ‘less useful as an asset.’
Slow Release of Spectrum Bands by Ofcom
Ofcom has also been slow to release more spectrum bands for 5G. Other countries around the world have had access to mmWave bands for years, yet here we are in the UK still waiting for mobile operators to have this same access.
Cost Cutting Exercises Result in Less Land for Infrastructure
The SMF report mentions how making it cheaper for Mobile Operators to operate mobile masts (ie. cutting the costs of building infrastructure) has actually resulted more land disputes between landowners and builders, less land being supplied for said infrastructure and an increase in expensive litigation.
Planning System Delays
Delays in the planning system have been well documented, with objections to new masts from the public and the reluctance to resolve these causing complex situations.
The roll-out of better broadband and mobile networks – especially those in remote, rural, hard to reach areas – Must be supported by those in powerful positions. There needs to be a balance.
Mobile Operator Mergers
Another limiting factor to investment is the low level of profitability for mobile networks. The SMF report looks at the encouragement of consolidation and mergers (such as that of Vodafone and Three UK), but the evidence of the success of this is a mixed bag.
The CMA (competition watchdog) have noted that whilst mergers will reduce competition between operators, it could also cause a hike in prices for consumers. Apparently there are negotiations taking place to try and address this potential issue.
Report Supporters
It’s important to note that the SMF report was supported by APWireless – A company viewed by operators as being a land aggregator. They seem to adopt a lease premium model that would involve buying out the expiring leases from landowners and then charging a higher cost to mobile operators for that same land lease.
A company with a business model such as this would perhaps not welcome the possible plans from the government looking to reform the Electronic Communications Code. This code governs land and property access.
What’s the conclusion for UK 5G deployment weaknesses?
Whilst the report is a high level summary of the current problems facing the UK rollout of 5G, it doesn’t go as far as making suggestions or recommendations of what to do about it.
It is also potentially influenced by the perception of a company with a vested interest in the areas being discussed. It certainly makes an interesting read, with the added opportunity to flex your critical thinking skills.
Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator, has recently published their latest Mobile Matters report for 2024. The report, using crowdsourced data from Opensignal collected between October 2023 and March 2024, has been used to benchmark how UK mobile broadband networks are performing. It includes data for Three UK, O2, Vodafone and EE.
You might be a bit surprised by some of the results – The study was full of interesting details and revelations.
Prevalence of 4G Connections Over 5G
Interestingly, over this 6 month period, 78% of cellular network connections were to 4G networks. Just 19.6% of connections were on 5G.
Where a 5G network was available from their mobile network operator, mobile users were able to access data services on that 5G network on 98.4% of occasions. This is compared to 97.2% on 4G and 85% on 3G.
More 5G Mobile Connections in Urban Areas than Rural
Mobile Connections via 5G in urban areas were double that of rural areas (20.9% compared to 10.4% respectively).
Generally, 4G was more prevalent in rural areas than urban.
Rural – 4G (85.6%), 3G (3.8%)
Urban – 4G (76.9%), 3G (2.1%)
You may also be interested to see how this differs across the nations.
And by mobile network operator (MNO).
As you would expect, 5G networks were found to offer faster downstream connectivity than 4G and 3G.
The percentages of an average download speed of 100 Mbit/s (or higher) were
5G: 47%
4G: 11%
3G: 3%
The percentages of an average download speed of under 2Mbit/s were
5G: 1%
4G: 5%
3G: 22%
Which mobile network had the best download speeds over 5G?
The highest share of those higher download speeds on 5G (100Mbit/s and above) went to Three UK with 60%. O2 had the least connections with that download speed over both 5G (32%) and 4G (3%).
Which Mobile Network Has The Fastest Response Time? (Lowest Latency)
For 5G connections, Three UK had the fastest average response time (16.3 milliseconds). In comparison, the fastest average response time over 4G was EE (18.3ms). O2 again lagged behind, with customers revealing the slowest average response time on 5G (21.4ms) and over on 4G it was Vodafone with the slowest response time (23.7ms).
A Wealth of Mobile Data
This report is packed full of interesting data – Far too much for us to be able to share in one article unfortunately! We’d be here all day.
We’d certainly recommend perusing the data tables and reading through the results of what Ofcom and Opensignal have to report from consumers over this latest study’s 6 month period.
You can read the full report here. What stood out most to you?
On the 4th July we saw the Labour party secure a landslide victory in the election, with Sir Keir Starmer becoming our new Prime Minister.
With the recent Microsoft problems that saw the UK digital world crash rather spectacularly, we thought we’d take a little look at the top 5 tech policies promised by the Labour Party in its manifesto, including Digital Infrastructure, Broadband & 5G, AI Regulation & Investment, Cyber Security and Tech Innovation.
Labour Manifesto and Digital Infrastructure
Digital Infrastructure will be given a boost by developing a 10-year infrastructure strategy. This will benefit mobile and broadband networks, AI, and data centres.
Approval processes will be streamlined for nationally important designated projects and data centres by easing planning restrictions.
Restarting the economy with a new industrial strategy, designed to supercharge the tech and digital sectors.
Overcome previous planning blocks by supporting the construction of data centres on brownfield sites.
Plans for Broadband and 5G in the Labour Manifesto
Target ambition of having national 5G coverage and full gigabit accessibility by 2030 to have a renewed push.
Encourage cooperative building between networks and greater infrastructure sharing by working alongside Ofcom.
Continue to support the last governments Project Gigabit broadband roll-out program.
In addition to the above, address the slow roll-out of gigabit broadband under the Conservative government.
Regulation and Investment for AI
Labour plans to introduce binding regulations on companies developing powerful AI models and give the AI Safety Institute statutory footing.
The creation of sexually explicit deep fakes will be banned and safe AI development will be ensured through comprehensive legislation.
They will use the industrial strategy to support the development of the AI sector.
New laws will be introduced to regulate AI companies, ensuring ethical AI practices.
What Has Labour Got Planned for Cyber Security
Labour will address cyber attacks and misinformation campaigns by conducting a Strategic Defence Review within the first year.
Policing techniques will be modernised by integrating new technologies into law enforcement to keep pace with modern threats
Critical infrastructure will be protected by developing a comprehensive cyber defence strategy.
Labour is committed to ensuring the UK is fully prepared to deal with hybrid warfare, including cyber-attacks.
Tech Innovation and Regulation with the Labour Party in Power
In order to help regulators update regulations and speed up approval timelines for new technologies, a new Regulatory Innovation Office will be created.
In order to help harness new technologies and advise businesses, an Industrial Strategy Council will be set up.
The construction of laboratories, digital infrastructure, and giga-factories will be facilitated by modernising national planning policy.
Barriers to growth will be removed and opportunities seized by working in partnership with industry.
What’s Next?
We’ve seen first hand over the past few days how important digital infrastructure is and how much we all rely on it to go about our daily lives – From paying for groceries, to travelling, to simply trying to log on to be able to start a days work. It’s likely you’ve been affected some way or another by the most recent Microsoft outage. And whilst that was supposedly down to an operating system crash, it’s clear Labour need to follow the tech pledges they have made in their manifesto and commit to following through with those promises.
Here at Geekabit we’re most interested in connectivity and keeping up to date with how we can help businesses and large private residences stay reliably connected – Whether they’re based in the city or in a more rural, remote location. Will we see national 5G coverage and full gigabit accessibility by 2030? We’ll have to wait and see.
Exciting news if you commute into and around London – The roll-out of 4G mobile coverage has recently been completed at Paddington, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf and Woolwich stations as well as the central tunnelled section of the Elizabeth line.
The Elizabeth line is the UK’s busiest train line – It accounts for approximately 240 million passenger journeys per year. Last Christmas the first four stations to receive 4G connectivity on this line were Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street.
This latest set of stations in Central London got 4G connectivity back in May, meaning that all 8 stations on the Elizabethan line now offer super-fast 4G connectivity for smartphones. The addition of 4G and 5G connectivity in the central tunnelled section means that passengers can also stay connected while on the train.
4G Connectivity At Various London Underground Stations
The roll-out of 4G mobile coverage at the final four stations on the Elizabethan line (Paddington, White Chapel, Canary Wharf and Woolwich) was completed as planned as set out by Transport for London.
The Piccadilly Line also saw its first station become 4G compatible when Covent Garden was connected to the network. 4G connectivity is also available on the Victoria line, with the first location being between Warren Street and Euston.
This means that there are now approximately a quarter of the Underground tube stations with 4G connectivity for passengers to utilise during their commute. And we’re expecting to see even more become connected during the summer months.
4G and 5G Connectivity on Trains as well as at Underground Stations
In many areas, station platforms and tunnels between stations are already connected with 4G, with some parts of the Underground enjoying better 4G connections than Londoners above ground!
Commuters travelling in the central tunnelled section of the Elizabeth line can now enjoy 4G and 5G connectivity on their smartphones whilst on the train as well as at the stations.
The coverage within the tunnels covers a distance of approximately 5 miles, extending from the Royal Oak portal to the west of Paddington to Liverpool Street station.
Over the coming weeks, TfL and partner Boldyn Networks aim to deliver high-speed mobile connectivity in more tunnelled sections of the Elizabeth line towards Whitechapel, with the entire line expected to have mobile coverage by the end of the summer.
Vision of 4G/5G Connectivity Across London Underground Network Becoming a Reality
The 4G network rollout across the London Underground is being installed at no cost to TfL by Boldyn Networks is due to be completed by the end of 2025, as promised by Mayor Sadiq Khan. This will also include the London Overground and DLR.
All 4 UK mobile network operators (Three UK, EE, Vodafone and Virgin MEdia O2 VMO2) are taking part in the rollout. The introduction of high-speed 4G and 5G mobile coverage is being gradually deployed by TfL and Boldyn Networks, to cover the whole Tube, DLR and Elizabeth line network, as well as central parts of the London Overground.
Not only will this provide an important service to passengers, enabling them to keep in touch with friends and family, liaise with colleagues, surf the internet and scroll social media during their journey, but will also provide better coverage to rail and Tube staff. It will enable staff to pass on vital information to other agencies and host the new Emergency Services Network (ESN).
In 2021, TfL awarded Boldyn Networks with a 20-year concession to deliver high-speed, 5G-ready mobile connectivity across the entire London Underground network. The company is meeting this by installing a fibre backbone across the capital to improve connectivity both above and below ground.
Throughout the nights, a team of approximately 500 people are working across the Tube network, installing mobile equipment outside of operational hours that will eventually comprise more than 2,000 kilometres of cabling plus thousands of radios within tunnels and stations..
This project is certainly gathering pace, with all parties working hard to ensure passengers will be able to stay connected whilst travelling throughout the capital.
Which Underground Stations Have Mobile Coverage?
You can find 4G/5G connectivity on your smartphone at the following London Underground stations:
Central line: Holland Park, Notting Hill Gate, Queensway, Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Chancery Lane, St Paul’s.
Northern line: Belsize Park, Chalk Farm, Archway, Tufnell Park, Kentish Town, Camden Town, Mornington Crescent, Euston, Warren Street, Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road.
Elizabeth line: Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf, Woolwich.
Jubilee line: Westminster, Waterloo, Southwark, London Bridge, Bermondsey, Canada Water, Canary Wharf, North Greenwich.
Piccadilly line: Covent Garden.
With thanks to TfL for the above map, indicating the 4G and 5G coverage that can be found below ground at various locations.
Why Use 4G/5G for Connected Railway Networks?
4G/5G networks offer an ideal model for railway networks as they offer super-fast speed, low latency and reliability.
It’s important to ensure that the 4G/5G connection available will be stable and of good quality. This is where 4G/5G testing comes in.
Here at Geekabit we can provide 4G/5G mobile signal testing to check coverage and performance both in static locations and on the move. We can also determine which Mobile Network Operator would offer the best coverage for your user location(s).
Geekabit can carry out a 5G survey for transport networks across the UK and Europe, for transport bodies, local councils and Government departments.
In today’s world, we don’t just stay in one place – Even while we’re working. We take our need for connection wherever we go, and it needs to be strong and reliable. Gone are the days where we are tethered to a desk! We need 4G/5G mobile coverage to be available on the go.
Geekabit’s 5G survey can tell you how strong the cellular coverage is in certain areas of the UK and Europe, and which networks would work best for those locations. This information is invaluable. To find out more about this service, please contact us.
How did UK mobile networks perform in the second half of 2023 when it comes to 4G, 5G and mobile broadband?
RootMetrics (now an Ookla company), a mobile analyst firm, has not long published their latest benchmark study of UK mobile networks (4G and 5G) and mobile broadband performance for H2 2023.
RootMetrics offers scientifically collected and crowdsourced mobile network performance information to consumers and the industry. The firm captures user information by testing network performance when consumers are using their mobile phone for voice or data communications.
Results of the latest biannual benchmarking report which once again see EE (BT) come out on top against their UK network rivals at Vodafone, Three UK and O2 (VMO2).
Which UK mobile network is the best for 4G/5G?
When it comes to 5G performance, the picture painted by this recent report isn’t so clear-cut.
This latest study used data from a 5G-enabled, latest model of Samsung smartphone (the actual model was not disclosed in the report). It was purchased from operator stores and tested for both 4G and 5G performance across all 4 primary UK operators within 16 of the most populated UK cities.
In summary, the study consisted of:
1 latest model Samsung smartphone
4 primary UK mobile operators
16 UK cities
634,942 tests across hundreds of locations
788 locations were indoor
24,179 miles driven during both the day and night
Results were divided into the following categories:
Network reliability
Speed
Data
Call and text quality
Scores were given out of 100 (100 being the highest score). As you can see from the data representation from RootMetrics below, EE came out on top across all categories, while VMO2 were found at the bottom of most.
Interestingly, every one of the 4 primary UK operators saw a decrease in their overall scores when compared to the last RootMetrics report 6 months prior.
The Overall Scores for H2 2023 (vs H1 2023), in order of best to worst, are:
1. EE – 94.2 (down from 95.9) 2. Vodafone – 90.1 (down from 92) 3. Three UK – 89.3 (down from 90.2) 4. O2 – 86.4 (down from 86.7)
So which is the best UK mobile network? When we look at the average (median) UK download speeds for both 4G and 5G networks, then the strongest data speeds were delivered by EE (68.6Mbps, which was up from 65.1Mbps in the last report).
Vodafone also saw an increase in data speeds, increasing to 34.5Mbps (from 29.4Mbps). Despite O2 improving their data speed score from 15.5Mbps to 19.9Mbps, they still scored the bottom of the 4 providers. Just behind Vodafone to take 3rd place, Three UK fell slightly to 32.3Mbps (down from 34.7Mbps).
How is 5G performing on UK networks so far?
However, when we look purely at 5G networks, we see a bit of a different picture emerge when compared to the previous report for the first half of 2023.
Whereas H1 2023 saw Three UK as the fastest median 5G download performance, that award now goes to EE. O2 were unfortunately at the bottom with a score well below the other 3 primary UK networks. The scores for median download speeds for 5G from the H2 2023 report were:
EE – 174.1 Mbps
Three – 165.7 Mbps
Vodafone – 158.3 Mbps
O2 – 68.7 Mbps
What is the availability of 5G on UK mobile network providers?
As well as 5G speeds, the availability of 5G across UK networks was also tested.
All 4 of the UK mobile network providers had 5G availability of over 52% during this latest UK wide testing.
The UK providers in order of 5G availability are:
Three – 57.6%
O2 – 54.5%
EE – 52.3%
Vodafone – 41.9%
You can find more data below for particular regions as well as the most improved cities.
What can we take away from this report on 5G speed and availability on UK mobile network operators?
So it would seem that even though EE has the fastest 5G speeds, that 5G connection is less available than that of its competitors Three and O2.
Despite coming second place in terms of speed, Three weren’t too far behind EE and are also slightly more available.
O2 might have decent 5G availability, but the speed of that connection is pretty dire according to this latest report.
In terms of 5G speed, Vodafone aren’t too far behind rivals EE and Three, however they are at the bottom of the pile with the lowest 5G availability.
What more would we like to know about 4G/5G connections across the UK mobile networks?
If you’d like to read more on this and see further data, head to the full report from RootMetrics UK Mobile Performance Review 2H 2023 here.
Whilst this review does shine a light on 5G speeds across the UK and how UK mobile networks are performing, it does only give select information.
It would be interesting to also see how the networks perform when it comes to upload speeds and latency using 4G/5G connections.
As you can see from the review, there seems to be a strong focus on urban areas across the bigger cities in the UK. Here at Geekabit we talk a lot about the struggles of rural businesses and more remote locations that still need strong 4G/5G mobile broadband connections. Some more data on the performance of UK mobile networks in these areas would be beneficial and would give a clearer picture of 4G/5G availability and speed across the UK as a whole.
Here at Geekabit we talk a lot about the problems that rural areas face when it comes to connectivity – Whether it’s mobile or broadband.
Mostly we’re talking about businesses and homes that struggle with more traditional forms of broadband internet connectivity as well as mobile broadband options.
But what about organisations that rely on connectivity outside the normal 4 walls of business premises?
For Search and Rescue teams, staying connected couldn’t be more vital. Yet, they’re often plunged into rural and remote locations trying to find someone missing and potentially hurt.
So how can we make sure that these Search and Rescue teams stay connected with their base and are able to utilise location data?
Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has come up with just the solution. They’ve recently developed a 5G-connected drone that is specifically designed to bolster the communication that is so vital to Search and Rescue teams.
Who is trialling this 5G drone for Search and Rescue teams?
As we said above, communication in remote and vast terrains is absolutely vital but can be a challenge for Search and Rescue teams. As the work of these teams is so time critical, it’s essential that their effectiveness is unhindered by communication and connectivity problems.
As a Lowland Rescue Unit, the Warwickshire Search and Rescue team play a vital role in locating vulnerable missing persons alongside the police.
With a 45% increase in callouts between 2020 and 2022, the demand for their services continues to surge with 65 callouts in 2023 – That’s more than 1 per week.
How does VMO2’s 5G drone work?
The 5G Technical Trials Team over at VMO2 saw this need for critical connectivity and devised a portable solution that uses a network of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The portability and compactness of the tech means that it’s small enough to be integrated into a drone. Ideal for vast, remote spaces.
This easy-to-deploy drone acts like a flying mobile phone mast, enabling Search and Rescue teams to stay connected via seamless 5G connectivity regardless of their location.
What do VMO2 have to say?
Here at Geekabit we love to see how innovative thinking and technological advancements combine to create fresh ideas and impactful solutions to a whole range of problems.
Head of Technical Trials for Virgin Media O2, David Owens, says:
“This project is a further example of how fresh-thinking and 5G technologies can be combined to provide real societal benefits.
“The solution has the potential to transform how search and rescue teams operate and respond to life-threatening situations, enabling them to make faster and more decisive decisions. We’re enormously proud that our connectivity will be able to help these teams to save lives.”
What do Warwickshire Search and Rescue make of the 5G drone?
Trustee and Search Technician at Warwickshire Search and Rescue, Steve Brown says:
“With more and more callouts each year, this drone with mobile connectivity is a powerful tool for our team to understand and assess a situation immediately, saving crucial time in life-threatening situations.
“It means we will always be connected, ensuring seamless communication and efficient coordination throughout our missions. As a result of this, we will connect the unreachable, save lives, and inspire a new era of technological possibilities.”
There’s no doubt that this innovative use of 5G mobile connectivity is a fantastic example of how technology can be used in even the most hard-to-reach places.
In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds. The more swiftly that person can be located, the better the outcome. For those that have gone missing in a remote area, a Search and Rescue team that can stay reliably connected will be a huge advantage.
As Portfolio Holder for Fire & Rescue and Community Safety at Warwickshire County Council, Councillor Andy Crump said:
“The Warwickshire Search and Rescue team do such vital work for our local community by assisting the police in searching for missing people.
“This new solution from Virgin Media O2 will help the team on these missions and ultimately save many lives. It is further evidence of the positive impact improved connectivity can have upon our society.”
We’re looking forward to seeing how 5G drones and satellite broadband technology can be accessed in more remote areas and rural locations.
Is it even a new year if we’re not looking back over the previous one analysing every little thing? What was done well? What could be improved upon? What do we hope the new yera will bring?
The tech world is really no different. We were interested to look back on how the UK performed in comparison with the rest of the world when it came to fixed broadband and mobile broadband (4G and 5G) speeds during 2023 and how that compared to the previous year.
How does the UK compare to the rest of the world when it comes to fixed line and mobile broadband?
If you’re here for the fast answer: In a ranking of the top fastest countries, the UK was 51st (a fall from 44th during 2022) for mobile broadband and came 56th for fixed lines.
You can see the full report over at www.Speedtest.net from Ookla. This service benchmarks internet connections from around the world by publicly tracking the data available.
Whilst it remains true that mobile and fixed line broadband can of course be affected by other factors within each individual connection (like slow Wi-Fi between the router and user device, local network congestion, package choice by individual consumers, the server performance of speedtest.net itself) this is also true for all the countries included so it shouldn’t be enough to affect the results significantly.
FAQ’s on the Data
When is the speedtest.net data collected?
The data is collected in November each year.
What average is used for the data speeds?
The figures are all ‘median‘ averages.
What is the main differentiator for speeds between countries?
The main differentiator for speeds between countries tends to stem from the balance between network availability and the take-up of faster connection types.
Countries will rank highest in the table when they have a high coverage of gigabit-capable broadband networks and/ or strong 5G mobile services (with plenty of radio spectrum to harness).
How are the UK doing when it comes to mobile and fixed line broadband?
Over the past year we’ve seen a consistently strong improvement in terms of the availability of faster fixed and mobile networks here in the UK.
It was recently revealed by Ofcom that 1Gbps capable fixed gigabit broadband networks had reached 78% (up from 70% in 2022), and full fibre / FTTP lines were at 57% (up from 42%).
5G mobile is now available from at least one mobile network operator in approximately 85-93% of UK premises (which is up from 67-78% in 2022).
What Were the Top 50 Fastest Countries for Broadband in 2023?
During 2023, across the world we have seen a continued improvement in fixed and mobile broadband speeds.
Unfortunately, despite big improvements in the UK in terms of full fibre and 5G coverage, we are still quite low down on the rankings compared with other countries who are seemingly able to improve their real-world performance at a faster (or at least similar) pace.
What’s the issue we’re facing in the UK? It could be partly down to the take-up of full fibre and gigabit-capable broadband lines in the UK. We are still in quite an early phase of adoption – Typically it takes 2-3 year for growth and adoption to stabilise for new networks.
You might be interested in what country came top for fastest download speeds for fixed line and mobile broadband. The tables and charts below illustrate the ranking of the top 50 fastest countries in the world for fixed and mobile broadband.
Fastest 50 Countries for Fixed Broadband Speed (DL) in 2023
