UK mobile operators are delivering improved mobile performance, with growing investment in 5G standalone (SA) technology, although differences remain across networks.
EE leads in 5G reach with 31.9 percent of its users connecting via 5G, while Vodafone has the highest reliance on 4G with 75.7 percent of connections. Three stands out for having the fastest average download speeds over 5G, while EE performs best over 4G. Upload performance also favors EE, which had the highest share of tests at 20 Mbit/s or more over both 5G and 4G, while O2 trailed behind in nearly all speed metrics, Ofcom report indicated.
Three had the lowest latency on 5G at around 15 milliseconds, and EE led on 4G with 18 milliseconds. Latency across all networks remained within a range suitable for most applications, under 25 milliseconds. Vodafone offered the best 4G data connection success rate, while Three led in 5G. Overall, 97.6 percent of 5G connection attempts succeeded, slightly outperforming 4G at 95.7 percent. O2 had the lowest connection success rates among the operators. For video streaming, EE had the highest completion rates across both 5G and 4G, with over 98 percent of 5G streams uninterrupted.
The average time to download files over 5G was consistently faster than on 4G, with Three users experiencing the fastest download times for 2MB, 5MB, and 10MB files. EE delivered the fastest download times on 4G, while O2 was the slowest on both technologies. Uploading a 1MB file was fastest on Three over 5G and on EE over 4G. Across all metrics, O2 consistently showed the weakest performance in both download and upload scenarios.
Crowdsourced data from Opensignal, covering October 2024 to March 2025, showed that 71 percent of all network connections were on 4G, down 7 percentage points year-on-year, while 5G connections rose to 28 percent. Only 0.7 percent of users connected via 3G and 0.2 percent via 2G. In urban areas, 29 percent of connections were on 5G compared to 19 percent in rural zones. A typical 2MB file took 0.3 seconds to download on 5G, compared to 0.7 seconds on 4G and 4.9 seconds on 3G, demonstrating the advantage of newer networks.
Only 2 percent of 5G connections were over standalone 5G as of early 2025, despite Vodafone, EE, and O2 having launched 5G SA services. EE’s standalone network reportedly covers more than 40 percent of the UK population. 5G SA outperformed 5G NSA in download speeds, with file download times 45 percent faster on average. Upload speeds were more evenly matched between the two. 5G SA also had lower latency than NSA but a slightly lower connection success rate (96 percent vs. 98 percent).
EE had the highest proportion of network connections on 5G at 32 percent. Vodafone had the lowest at 24 percent, though it retained the highest share of 4G users. O2 had the smallest 4G share at 68 percent and the highest use of 3G at 3 percent. Three had the best download times over 5G, followed by Vodafone, while EE led on 4G. O2 had the fewest connections achieving 100 Mbit/s or higher on both 5G (33 percent) and 4G (4 percent).
The merger of Vodafone and Three into VodafoneThree in May 2025 sets the stage for larger-scale 5G rollout and network integration. Investment focus across operators remains on 5G expansion and retiring legacy 3G and 2G networks. EE and Vodafone completed their 3G switch-off in early 2024, Three followed by the end of the year, and O2 began the process in April 2025.
Performance disparities persist between urban and rural areas, with urban users more likely to access 5G and experience higher download and upload speeds. Urban 5G connection share reached 29.5 percent compared to 18.8 percent in rural areas. Across UK nations, Northern Ireland and Wales lag slightly behind England and Scotland in download and upload speeds. Overall, while UK mobile network performance has improved and investments in 5G SA are ramping up, significant differences remain among operators in speed, latency, and success rates.
To help consumers better understand their mobile network experience, Ofcom has launched ‘Map Your Mobile,’ a postcode-based tool that allows users to compare mobile coverage and performance data in their local area. The tool uses the same Opensignal data behind the Mobile Matters report and offers insight into which operators provide the best connectivity by location.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
