The United Kingdom has the worst mobile phone signal among all major economies, according to new analysis. Industry data from Opensignal’s Global Network Excellence Index shows the UK ranks bottom among G7 countries—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States—in mobile network performance. It also trails all 23 additional EU nations included in the comparison.
Global Rankings Highlight UK's Poor Performance
Globally, the UK is 57th overall for network performance, 70th for download speeds, and 55th for consistent quality needed for activities such as video calls, streaming, and gaming. The findings were highlighted by consumer group Which? as it released its own survey of customer satisfaction.
Customer Survey Reveals Widespread Frustration
Which?’s poll of more than 5,000 mobile customers found that poor signal and unreliable mobile data connection are among the biggest frustrations facing consumers. Price remains the biggest factor when choosing a mobile provider, with half saying value for money was their main reason for selecting their network. However, poor signal was the most common complaint, with more than a third (38%) of customers reporting at least one problem with their service in the past 12 months.
Of those who experienced an issue, almost two in five (39%) said coverage routinely dropped out, 37% suffered from slow or poor data speeds, and a third (32%) experienced dropouts while traveling by car or public transport. One in 10 endured major network outages lasting longer than a full day.
Which? Blames Focus on Coverage Over Reliability
Which? says the heart of the problem is too much focus on coverage rather than ensuring people get a reliable service. It cited industry giant VodafoneThree, which says more than half of its planned network upgrades require planning permission despite 96% being upgrades to existing sites. Rivals EE and Mobile UK say notices from landlords mean that, at times, up to 7% of mobile mast sites across London have been forced offline.
Which? has submitted recommendations to the government’s Mobile Market Review, calling for greater investment in mobile infrastructure, 5G targets that ensure customers on all networks can access high-quality services, and coverage standards that measure real-world performance, including download and upload speeds, rather than simply whether a signal is available.
Expert Calls for Industry and Government Action
Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, 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.
“Our investigation shows the UK’s mobile infrastructure is no longer keeping pace with peoples’ 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.
“If you are fed up with poor signal, don’t assume you have to settle. Use Which?’s mobile network coverage and quality map to check how networks perform where you live and consider switching to a provider that offers better value and a more reliable connection.”
