Britain’s phone signal quality has been identified as the weakest among major economies, according to recent analysis. Industry data indicates that the UK ranks at the bottom among G7 nations in mobile network performance, trailing behind countries such as Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US. Additionally, the UK lags behind all 23 other EU countries assessed in Opensignal’s Global Network Excellence Index.
On a global scale, the UK ranks 57th for overall network performance, 70th for download speeds, and 55th for the consistent quality necessary for activities like video calls, streaming, and gaming. The subpar performance was emphasized by consumer group Which?, which published results from a survey of over 5,000 mobile customers. The survey revealed that poor signal and unreliable mobile data connections are major concerns for consumers.
Despite price being the primary consideration when selecting a mobile provider, with half of respondents citing value for money as the main factor, poor signal reception emerged as the top complaint. More than a third of customers reported encountering issues with their service in the past year.
Among those experiencing problems, nearly two in five mentioned frequent signal dropouts, while 37% faced slow or inadequate data speeds. A third reported signal interruptions during travel, and one in ten endured prolonged network outages lasting over a day. Which? highlighted the issue of excessive focus on coverage rather than ensuring reliable service quality.
The consumer group pointed out challenges faced by industry players like VodafoneThree, where obtaining planning permission for network upgrades remains a hurdle despite most upgrades being to existing sites. Competitors EE and Mobile UK cited landlord notices causing temporary shutdowns of up to seven percent of mobile mast sites in London.
Which? has submitted recommendations to the government’s Mobile Market Review, advocating for increased investment in mobile infrastructure, 5G targets guaranteeing high-quality services for all customers, and coverage standards based on real-world performance metrics like download and upload speeds, rather than mere signal availability.
Natalie Hitchins, Head of Home Products and Services at Which?, stressed the importance of a reliable mobile service alongside affordability. She called for collaborative efforts between the government, Ofcom, and industry stakeholders to enhance investment, align coverage targets with actual performance, and remove obstacles hindering network upgrades.
For individuals dissatisfied with their current signal quality, Which? encourages utilizing their mobile network coverage and quality map to assess network performance in their area and contemplate switching to a provider offering better value and more dependable connectivity.