UK — A recent analysis by the consumer group Which?, based on data from Opensignal, indicates that the United Kingdom's mobile network coverage ranks below all 27 European Union member countries and every G7 nation. The analysis, current as of May 2024, positioned the UK 57th globally for overall network performance and 70th for download speeds.

The study also placed the UK 55th globally for consistent quality, a metric essential for activities such as video calls, streaming, and gaming. In the year leading up to May, 4G network coverage across all UK operators increased by three percentage points to reach 84%, according to Ofcom. However, 5G coverage from all operators in the UK stood at 64% during the same period.

Polling conducted by Which? revealed that more than a third of customers experienced at least one problem with their mobile service within the past 12 months. These reported issues included connection drop-outs and slow speeds. Natalie Hitchins, head of home products and services at Which?, stated, "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."

Hitchins said, "Our investigation shows the UK's mobile infrastructure is no longer keeping pace with people's needs." She added, "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." Barriers to investment in mobile infrastructure include inflexible planning rules and disputes between landowners and operators regarding the value of land for mobile towers.

Which? specifically noted poor mobile signal coverage on Britain's railways, which affects both mobile phones and onboard wifi connections. This contrasts with other nations; for instance, Germany has implemented minimum download speeds of 100Mbps along main railway lines and 50Mbps along other routes. The G7 members include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the U.S. The UK has some of the cheapest mobile internet costs among its peer countries.