Mobile internet coverage in UK worse than any EU or G7 country, Which? says

Mobile internet coverage in the United Kingdom is worse than in any European Union country or fellow G7 member, according to analysis published by the consumer group Which? [1] The analysis, drawn from Opensignal data, places the UK 57th globally for network performance, 70th for download speeds, and 55th for consistent quality needed for video calls and streaming [1]. More than a third of customers reported at least one problem with their mobile service in the past 12 months, including connection drop-outs and slow speeds [1]. Natalie Hitchins, head of home products and services at Which?, said: “Getting a good-value mobile deal counts for very little if you’re constantly battling poor signal, slow data speeds or dropped connections. Customers deserve a service that delivers reliable performance as well as value for money.” [1] The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, was established by the Office of Communications Act 2002 and given full authority by the Communications Act 2003 [6]. It has a statutory duty to represent the interests of citizens and consumers by promoting competition [6]. Ofcom data shows 4G coverage across all operators reached 84% in the year to May, while 5G coverage from all operators stood at only 64%, leaving large rural areas without faster speeds [1]. Hitchins stated: “Our investigation shows the UK’s mobile infrastructure is no longer keeping pace with people’s needs. The government, Ofcom and industry must work together to improve investment, ensure coverage targets reflect real-world performance and remove barriers that are holding back network upgrades.” [1] Which? highlighted poor mobile signal on Britain’s railways, comparing it unfavourably with Germany, which has introduced minimum download speeds of 100Mbps along main railway lines and 50Mbps along other railway routes [1]. The G7 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US [1]. The UK market now has three main networks following the merger of Vodafone and Three, alongside a host of virtual operators [1]. Barriers to investment cited include inflexible planning rules and disputes between landowners and operators over land used for mobile towers [1].