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The survey is based on six months of data collection from an opt-in consumer panel of more than 100,000 people on Android devices that allow GWS to collect mobile information and conduct thousands of tests in the background on their received network performance, as well as enabling the users to be surveyed. CEO Paul Carter said that sas why GWS focused on the awards as a function of “experience” rather than strict network metrics, and was able to differentiate between achievable network speeds and delivered experience.

“It’s definitely clear that network achievable throughputs are quite high these days but still, what delivered throughputs are people experiencing. [Those] are much, much lower. There’s more similarity across operators from a delivered-throughputs perspective,” Carter said.

A few interesting tidbits: Based on the customer feedback, GWS concluded that “it appears that more US consumers than not are seeing a tangible impact from advanced network connectivity.” Carter explained that when consumers were asked for their thoughts on 5G, around 40% said that it was important to them that they be able to access 5G wherever they were—in other words, they recognized the value of 5G availability. Another 37% said they didn’t really pay attention to which network they were on unless the network was slow, and only 19% of consumers said that they couldn’t really tell if their performance was better while on 5G.

“Let’s not think 5G has become white noise to consumers,” Carter said. “Our polling shows that consumers are keenly aware of 5G and its intended benefits.”

GWS’ analysis found that users spend around five fours a way on their mobile devices, with about 72% of their time spent on Wi-Fi versus the mobile network. How were they using those devices? Users spent more than 50% of their time with just 10 mobile apps: Facebook, YouTube, the Chrome browser, TikTok, Google Maps, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Google Messages, Snapchat and Gmail.

Carter said that GWS also asked mobile device users about their perspective on artificial intelligence, particularly on their devices. Nearly 40% responded with enthusiasm for AI if it improved their productivity or made their lives easier, but the responses with reservations covered a pretty broad range of reasons: they didn’t want it, worried about data privacy, thought it wasn’t sophisticated enough to be useful, or thought it was inevitable and didn’t really care.

Carter interpreted those responses on AI as: “It’s there, but it’s not really there yet. I think it’s still early days for people to understand what it’s going to do for them.”

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The results follow six months of data collection from GWS’s opt-in consumer panel of 104,000+ adult participants where the company collected data points and conducted tests related to throughput, reliability, packet loss, and latency involving the U.S.’s major mobile operators and ISPs.

In addition to the awards, GWS also collected and analyzed app engagement and consumer sentiment data from mobile users, providing further insights into the overall user experience.

Mobile Experience and 5G

In terms of what people are doing on their phones, GWS data showed that people spend most of their time on mobile devices accessing social media, communications, and navigation apps. People spend over 50% of their time on just 10 mobile apps, with Facebook at the top, followed by YouTube, Chrome Browser, TikTok, Google Maps, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Google Messages, Snapchat, and Gmail.

Despite the prominence of online search and social media, when U.S. consumers were surveyed and asked to choose one activity as the sole function of their phone, texting/messaging came out as the most popular choice.

T-Mobile

When looking at only 5G, T-Mobile also showed the best 5G mobile experience because it had the highest throughput speeds, lowest latency, and lowest packet loss.

T-Mobile consumers were also more likely than the average American to say that it was important to have a 5G signal wherever they are – 47% versus 40% for the national average.

GWS also reported that it appears that more U.S. consumers than not are seeing a tangible impact from advanced network connectivity – when asked about their thoughts on 5G, just 19% of consumers felt they were unable to tell if their performance was better or not when on 5G.

Verizon

Based on performance test results of the U.S.’s major nationwide ISPs, GWS found that Verizon has the Best Broadband Experience out of all ISPs tested.

Performance metrics measured were reliability, latency, upload and download network available throughputs, FCC broadband benchmark, delivered throughputs, and packet loss.

Verizon, Xfinity, Cox, and Spectrum all had mean download throughputs above 150Mbps. On the flip side, Cox and Spectrum had much slower upload speeds (both below 40Mbps) when compared to Verizon and AT&T (both above 90Mbps).

All ISPs tested were similar when it came to task reliability, with each scoring near or just over 99%.

Xfinity came out on top for the percentage of time that their consumers experienced speeds over the FCC broadband benchmark (an updated baseline throughput standard announced by the FCC in March 2024 of 100Mbps for downloads and 20 Mbps for uploads).

The data shows that Xfinity consumers exceed this benchmark 41% of the time (average across all ISPs was 33%). When looking at the inverse of this statistic, it suggests that reaching this benchmark on a consistent basis may prove challenging for the broadband industry as two-thirds of the time study participants did not experience throughputs above the benchmark when tested.

AT&T

GWS analyzed the performance of partner network bundles across ISP and mobile and found AT&T to have the Best Combined Connectivity Experience. The award is the U.S.’s only performance measure that brings together results from across both mobile operators and ISP partners in one score.

Performance metrics measured were reliability, latency, upload and download network available throughputs, delivered throughputs, and packet loss.

GWS tests found that the AT&T bundle performed the best when factoring in the combination of metrics tested. In terms of mean download throughputs, AT&T, Spectrum, and Xfinity easily topped 125Mbps.

However, for upload AT&T had the fastest average combined speed (100Mpbs), doubling the average speeds provided by the nearest competitor (Verizon at around 50Mbps). When it came to reliability, AT&T and Verizon scored the highest; both were above 99% with T-Mobile, Spectrum, and Xfinity at or below 99%.

Bundling

GWS consumer polling found that the desire to switch to a bundle deal is a key factor for consumers when assessing their mobile operator or broadband provider.

Over half (52%) of U.S. consumers are considering bundle packages and their associated perks when deciding a service plan.

This article is a summary. For more from GWS report, as well as details about the methodology and data collection, you can view the whole report here.

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Wireless network benchmarking specialist Global Wireless Solutions (GWS) has announced the results of its Nationwide Connectivity Experience Awards. Based on GWS’s OneScore ranking methodology, T-Mobile picked up the award for Best Mobile Experience, and Verizon has won Best Broadband Experience. AT&T has also been awarded the Best Combined Connectivity Experience for overall performance of its combined mobile and broadband offering.

The results, revealed in full in GWS’s 2024 US Mobile and Broadband Nationwide Connectivity Experience Report, follow six months of extensive data collection from GWS’s opt-in consumer panel of over 104,000 participants (18+), where the company collected nearly 4 billion data points and conducted over 3.4 million tests related to throughput, reliability, packet loss, and latency involving the US’s major mobile operators and ISPs. In addition to the awards, GWS also collected and analyzed app engagement and consumer sentiment data from real-life mobile users, providing further insights into the overall user experience.

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London, 16 July – Wireless network benchmarking specialist GWS has announced the results of its connectivity experience awards, seeing Virgin Media O2 winning two awards for Best Broadband Experience and Best Combined Connectivity Experience, and EE coming top for Best Mobile Experience.

The results, revealed in full in GWS’ 2024 Nationwide Connectivity Experience Report, follow six months of extensive data collection from GWS’ opt-in consumer panel of 6,000 participants (18+), where the company collected over half a billion data points and conducted over 1.5 million tests related to throughput, video streaming, reliability, packet loss, and latency involving the UK’s major mobile operators and ISPs. In addition to determining the awards, GWS also wanted to provide deeper insights into the overall user experience. This was done by collecting app engagement data via the consumer’s device and attitudinal data via polling.

Commenting on the results, Dr Paul Carter, CEO, Global Wireless Solutions, said: “We’ve released this report to provide a holistic look at the state of the UK’s wireless connectivity – which includes whether you’re connecting via an ISP or mobile network. What we need from our networks varies depending on where we are – if you’re going to be using your phone at home while sharing a network with other people or devices, most of the time it will require higher speeds than if you’re on the go using your mobile network. Our life isn’t one-dimensional running on one network, so nor should our testing be. That’s why we’ve tested the different types of networks people are accessing on their phones, to provide a more meaningful overview of the UK’s connectivity experience today.”

1^st Award: Virgin Media wins Best Broadband Experience

Figure 1: 2024 Best Broadband Experience Award

Broadband Performance Test Results and Award Ranking:

• Test winner: Based on performance test results of the UK’s major nationwide ISPs, GWS found that Virgin Media has the Best Broadband Experience out of all ISPs tested (see Figure 1).
• Performance metrics measured: reliability, latency, upload and download network available throughputs, delivered throughputs, packet loss, and video streaming (resolution, freezing, and loading).
• Test highlights: Virgin Media led the pack when looking at mean download throughputs (across all panellists), offering over 170Mbps. The next closest rival was Vodafone broadband providing less than half the throughput (over 75Mbps), illustrating a significant divide in performance when it came to download throughput. VMO2 also performed best in video streaming finishing tops with best resolution and quickest time to load.

User Insights on Broadband Experience:

• App engagement data collected by GWS shows that UK consumers spend nearly one-third of their waking day on their smartphones, and most of that time (78%) is spent on WiFi networks.
• GWS polling also found that a typical household has between 13 and 14 different connected devices, with examples including smartphones, tablets, laptops, game consoles, smart TVs, smart appliances, and security cameras. Looking at mobile devices specifically (smartphones and tablets), households typically have at least four connected. What’s more, over half of all households say that the majority of the members in their house are using the internet simultaneously for more than 5 hours a day, showing the importance of stable and fast broadband connections for work and play.

2^nd Award: EE wins Best Mobile Experience

Figure 2: 2024 Best Mobile Experience Award

Performance Test Results and Award Ranking:

• Test winner: GWS testing found that EE provides the Best Mobile Experience by a major operator in the UK (see Figure 2).
• Performance metrics measured: reliability, latency, upload and download network available throughputs, delivered throughputs, packet loss, and video streaming (resolution, freezing, and loading).
• Test highlights: EE performed top in most of the test categories including reliability, video streaming, and latency. In terms of throughputs, Three had the highest download throughput at 63 Mbps and was tied with EE for the highest upload throughput at 17Mbps

User Insights on Mobile Experience:

• In terms of what people are doing on their phones, GWS data shows that people spend most of their time on mobile devices accessing social media, communications, and navigation apps. In fact, people spend over 50% of their time on just 10 connectivity and social media apps, with Facebook at the top, followed by Chrome Browser, WhatsApp, Google Maps, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Gmail, and Snapchat.
• GWS’ test results for mobile show that operators are all managing the everyday throughput requirements for consumers. This is because the apps that consumers use require far less throughput from the mobile network than what the network is capable of providing. Put another way, GWS measured the throughputs that are delivered to consumers while using their apps and found that throughputs are generally much lower than the maximum throughputs the networks are capable of providing. In contrast, broadband requires much higher throughputs due to the number of devices accessing the network at any one point in time from the same household.

3^rd Award: Virgin Media O2 wins Best Combined Connectivity Experience

Figure 3: 2024 Best Combined Connectivity Experience Award

Performance Test Results and Award Rankings:

• Test winner: In the final award, GWS analysed the performance of partner network bundles across ISP and mobile and found Virgin Media O2 to have the Best Combined Connectivity Experience (Figure 3). The award is the UK’s only performance measure that brings together results from across both mobile operators and ISP partners in one score.
• Performance metrics measured: reliability, latency, upload and download network available throughputs, delivered throughputs, packet loss, and video streaming (resolution, freezing, and loading).
• Test highlights: GWS tests determined that Virgin Media O2 performed at or near the top in a majority of the metrics with Sky also performing well in video streaming and reliability. Interestingly, reliability across all combined providers remained constant when compared to last year’s results. Of note, when looking at throughputs, the fastest average download throughput by a combined provider was offered by Virgin Media O2 at over 150Mbps – well over double the average of its closest rival (EE/BT with an average download throughput of over 65Mbps). When looking at uploads, Virgin Media O2 was also top with an average throughput of 34Mbps

User Insights: How important have bundled packages become?

• GWS consumer polling found that the desire to switch to a bundle deal is one of the top three reasons why consumers are currently interested in changing their mobile operator.
• For those consumers who aren’t currently looking to change, when asked what would make them change operators, getting a good bundled deal from another operator was one of their top three choices.

For more information please download the full 2024 Nationwide Connectivity Experience Report.                                                                               

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Most customers of UK mobile operators are satisfied with the speeds they are getting for their everyday mobile activities and are not looking to change operator , according to a study from mobile network benchmarking specialist GWS.

For its research, GWS principally sourced data during a six-month test period from 1 July to 31 December 2023 using its Magnify mobile intelligence data platform to collect key insights from consumers participating in its market research programme, with data anonymously collected from Android smartphones 24/7.

In addition to collecting network performance and app engagement data, GWS surveyed participating consumers to understand sentiment and perception. This survey was conducted during the month of January 2024, with a total response size of 2,951.

By combining real-life mobile usage analytics data with consumer polling, GWS said that the network sweet spot, or the point at which consumer demands for network mobile speeds match what operators deliver, sits between 1-5 Mbps. Speeds in this “everyday” range allowed the majority of UK mobile users to perform most of their mobile activity in ways they find satisfactory without the need for higher throughputs.

UK mobile users were spending nearly five hours a day (293 minutes) on their phones, with over a quarter of their day spent ‘mobile’ (26%, or 77 minutes on mobile networks) and the remaining 74% (216 minutes) on Wi-Fi networks. This means nearly a third of a consumer’s waking day (31%) is spent on their phones.

Users were found to be spending 43% of their daily mobile screen time on social media and browsing apps alone. People spend half of their daily mobile time on just 10 apps, accounting for 41 minutes (54%) of all mobile use per day in the UK, with Facebook at the top, followed by Chrome Browser, WhatsApp, Google Maps, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Gmail and Snapchat.

Over half of users (56%) said they did not mind whether they are receiving 4G or 5G coverage, so long as they could complete the task at hand. Even for the 44% that find 5G important, the survey revealed that “life still goes on” for a majority of this group when they don’t get a 5G signal, meaning that they continue on with their tasks using whatever connection they have rather than wait until they are in 5G coverage. This was despite the UK having some of the lowest download speeds among G7 companies.

Just over two-thirds of UK mobile users (69%) were loyal to their network, staying with their current operator for more than two years. Some 29% were on long-term contracts, 31% on SIM-only contracts, 20% on rolling plans, and 17% on pay-as-you-go. 

Yet despite general satisfaction, 24% of users are considering changing providers this year. Topping the list of reasons why they were contemplating a change is cost, with 38% feeling that their current plan was too expensive. After cost, 31% said they were looking to change network due to poor signal and blackspots, and another 29% were looking for better bundle deals.  Far fewer (21%) said they wanted to change due to slow network speeds.

Although operators were hitting the sweet spot when it comes to speed, coverage reliability continues to be the primary network-related pain point, with a majority of UK mobile customers (64%) reporting that they are still experiencing several reliability issues a week. Looking at the performance of individual operators, Three UK registered the highest number of customers reporting frequent issues with their network coverage, followed by EE. Vodafone customers reported the fewest issues with their network coverage across the course of a week, followed by VMO2.

When consumers experienced some coverage issues with mobile networks, 40% will only use public Wi-Fi as a last resort. Only 22% will use a public Wi-Fi because they are concerned about their mobile data usage, and only 13% would use public Wi-Fi because they think it’s faster.

“Our network testing data shows that operators are capable of providing throughputs broadly averaging 45Mbps, which is more than 10 times higher than the ‘everyday’ range required. The sweet spot we’ve found is much lower, but still enables people to do what they need to while mobile,” said GWS CEO Paul Carter.

“When it comes to how we use our phones, consumer demands are clear – they just want their phones to work when they want and for whatever activity they are doing. This doesn’t mean they need super high speeds all the time.

“Of course, delivering higher network speeds drives could drive a better experience and is important for certain activities, which will be increasingly critical in the future when 5G will have a very important role to play in everything from autonomous cars to telehealth. But the reality is that, right now, we don’t need blazing-fast mobile speeds all the time for the ways that most people are currently using their phones throughout the day,” he added.

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According to mobile insights consulting firm GWS, the network “sweet spot,” the point at which consumer demands for network mobile speeds match what the operators deliver, sits between 1 and 5 Mbps.

This seems a little low to us, especially as the average download speed for UK mobile broadband is about 30 Mbps, according to some estimates.

GWS claims that speeds in this “sweet spot” range allow the majority of UK mobile users to perform most of their activities in ways they find satisfactory, without the need for higher throughput.

It finds the majority of users are ok with the speeds they’re getting, and aren’t looking to change operator as a result. Just don’t tell the mobile operators, please.

The research also claims that usage trends tracked by its app analytics platform, GWS Magnify, indicate that Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) is not even in the top 10 of the most used apps.

The number one app, based on mobile minutes of use, is Facebook. Next comes the Chrome browser, WhatsApp, Google Maps, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Gmail, and Snapchat. Users spend 43 percent of their daily mobile screen time on social media and browsing apps alone, according to GWS.

We find it surprising that Twitter isn’t included in the top 10, although it was noted last year that the Musk-owned platform had suffered a substantial fall in its total audience.

Brits now spend nearly five hours a day on their phones, or nearly a third of their time awake. Most of this is actually using a Wi-Fi connection, according to GWS, which suggests home or office use. Over a quarter of online time a day (26 percent, or 77 minutes) is access via a cellular network, while the remaining 74 percent (216 minutes) is access via Wi-Fi.

This is backed up by figures that indicate 40 percent of users will only access a public Wi-Fi hotspot as a last resort if cellular access is not available.

According to the research by GWS, 69 percent of users in the country have been with their current operator for more than two years. It estimates that about 29 percent are sticking because they are locked into contracts, but notes that 31 percent are on SIM-only contracts, 20 percent on rolling plans, and 17 percent on pay-as-you-go, which indicates the majority could change operators if they wished to.

When it comes to changing operators, 24 percent of UK users are looking to switch this year. The top reason for this, at 38 percent of respondents, is that charges are too high. Poor signal and network blackspots are the reason for 31 percent of switchers, and network speed is a factor for some 21 percent.

Coverage and reliability continue to be the primary network-related pain points, according to GWS. The majority of UK mobile customers (64 percent) report experiencing at least a few reliability issues each week.

Vodafone customers report the fewest issues with their network coverage across the course of a week, the research shows, followed by Virgin Media O2. Three has the highest number of customers reporting frequent issues with their network coverage, followed by EE. ®

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Personally speaking, any time my own Smartphone or Laptop connects at a speed of 1-5Mbps, I end up finding the internet to be a fairly miserable and slow experience. But such experiences can easily be coloured by subjective personal needs and demands. In the case of GWS’ study, they claim that consumer needs are being met when it comes to mobile speeds. But this, they say, is mainly down to how mobile users in the UK are using their devices.

NOTE: Ofcom currently considers 10Mbps (1Mbps upload) to be the minimum required for “decent broadband” on fixed lines under their USO, although this is now fairly out of date.

For example, 43% of screen time is spent accessing social media and browsing apps, while they also spend over half (54%) of all daily mobile use on just 10 apps (e.g. Facebook, Web Browsing, WhatsApp, Google Maps etc.), which they suggest tend not be as bandwidth heavy on mobile devices. This is a fair point.

Social media and web browsing currently account for over two-fifths (43%) of the total mobile screen time amongst UK adults (Brits spend nearly 5 hours a day on their phones). Suffice to say, it’s easier to understand how GWS can conclude that “speeds in this “everyday” [1-5Mbps] range allow the majority of UK mobile users to perform most of their mobile activity in ways they find satisfactory without the need for higher throughputs.” But we’ll come back to this point later.

The findings also claim that mobile data “speed is not a key driver for people to move networks“, with price, poor signal and blackspots ranking much higher than speed as a reason to change.

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Nevertheless, we’re sceptical of the 1-5Mbps claim. For example, trying to scroll through a page on the Facebook app – filled as it is with a plethora of high-res pictures, ads and videos – is not always particularly pleasant in the 1-5Mbps speed range and many web pages these days are a few tens of MegaBytes per page load (some exceeding 100-200MB). A 100MB web page at 1Mbps takes c.13 minutes to download, while at 5Mbps it’s almost 3 minutes (dynamic loading, compression and other optimisations can help this).

The report also notes that, even if consumers experience some coverage issues with mobile networks, 40% will only use public Wi-Fi as a last resort. In fact, only 22% will use a public WiFi because they are concerned about their mobile data usage and, just as significant, only 13% will use public Wi-Fi because they think it’s faster.

The data for this study was sourced from Magnify, GWS’s mobile intelligence data platform. Magnify is comprised of key insights collected nationwide from consumers participating in their market research program. These are real-life consumers who use their mobile devices as normal throughout the day so that the analytics data GWS gathers provides the most accurate picture of the nation’s mobile connectivity experience. The data is anonymously collected from Android smartphones 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whenever and wherever the consumers use their devices.

In addition to collecting network performance and app engagement data, GWS also surveyed participating consumers to understand sentiment and perception via GWS Magnify. This survey was conducted during the month of January 2024, with a total response size of 2,951.

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• Mobile network benchmarking specialist GWS has revealed that all of the UK’s major operators are hitting the ‘sweet spot’ with consumers satisfied with their everyday mobile network speeds ranging between 1-5Mbps
• The findings reveal that speed is not a key driver for people to move networks, with poor signal and blackspots ranking much higher than speed as a reason to change
• Brits are now spending nearly 5 hours a day (293 minutes) on their phones
• Social media and browsing currently account for over two-fifths (43%) of the total mobile screen time amongst UK adults. UK consumers spend over half (54%) of all daily mobile use on just 10 apps

London, 19 March – Mobile network benchmarking specialist GWS has revealed that the UK’s major operators are hitting the ‘sweet spot’ for customer network needs, with the majority satisfied with the speeds they are getting for their everyday mobile activities and not looking to change operator as a result.¹

By combining real-life mobile usage analytics data with consumer polling, GWS has found that the network sweet spot, or the point at which consumer demands for network mobile speeds match what operators deliver, sits between 1-5Mbps. The data reveals that speeds in this “everyday” range allow the majority of UK mobile users to perform most of their mobile activity in ways they find satisfactory without the need for higher throughputs.

The results map mobile usage analytics trends tracked by GWS’ app analytics platform, GWS Magnify, which show that people are spending a large amount of time on social media, video, and browsing apps that can manage the everyday speeds provided by the operators. In fact, Brits are spending 43% of their daily mobile screen time on social media and browsing apps alone. The GWS Magnify data also highlights that people spend half of their daily mobile time on just 10 apps, accounting for 41 minutes (54%) of all mobile use per day in the UK, with Facebook at the top, followed by Chrome Browser, WhatsApp, Google Maps, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Gmail, and Snapchat.

Dr Paul Carter, CEO of GWS commented: “Even though our network testing data shows that operators are capable of providing throughputs broadly averaging 45Mbps, which is more than ten times higher than the ‘everyday’ range required, the sweet spot we’ve found is much lower but still enables people to do what they need to while mobile. When it comes to how we use our phones, consumer demands are clear – they just want their phones to work when they want and for whatever activity they are doing. This doesn’t mean they need super high speeds all the time – in fact, the most popular activities require lower throughputs than you’d expect.”

Staying Connected – It’s a Big Deal

Can’t put the phone down: GWS’ real-life usage data reveals that Brits are now spending nearly 5 hours a day (293 minutes) on their phones – with over a quarter of their day spent ‘mobile’ (26%, or 77 minutes on mobile networks) and the remaining 74% (216 minutes) on WiFi networks. To put this into perspective, nearly a third of a consumer’s waking day (31%) is spent on their phones.

Are consumers focused on the task at hand or the tech at hand? When polling users on mobile network performance², GWS found that over half of Brits (56%) said they did not mind whether they are receiving 4G or 5G coverage, so long as they could complete the task at hand. Even for the 44% that find 5G important, life still goes on for a majority of this group when they don’t get a 5G signal; meaning that they continue on with their tasks using whatever connection they have rather than wait until they are in 5G coverage.

A Loyal Nation of Mobile Network Users

Sticking with the plan: The study also highlights that most Brits (69%) are loyal to their network having been with their current operator for more than 2 years. While 29% are perhaps sticking to plan as they are locked into ‘long term contracts’, many are on more flexible deals: 31% are on ‘SIM only’ contracts, 20% on ‘rolling plans’, and 17% on ‘pay-as-you-go’. This means that the majority could change operators if they wanted to, but are choosing to stick. 

If I had to change operators, this is why: Whilst most people are happy with their current network, 24% of Brits are considering changing providers this year. Topping the list of reasons why they are contemplating a change is cost, as 38% feel their current plan is too expensive. After price, 31% say they are looking to change network due to poor signal and blackspots, and another 29% are looking for better bundle deals.  Comparatively much fewer (21%) said they wanted to change due to slow network speeds.

Reliable coverage matters: The data shows that whilst operators are hitting the sweet spot when it comes to speeds, coverage reliability continues to be the primary network-related pain point for many with a majority of UK mobile customers (64%) reporting that they are still experiencing at least a few reliability issues a week. The importance of reliability has also been documented in previous GWS studies, noting that a reliable connection typically tops speed as the network factor most important to users.

Looking at the performance of the operators, Three registered the highest number of customers reporting frequent issues with their network coverage, followed by EE. Vodafone customers reported the fewest issues with their network coverage across the course of a week, followed by VMO2.

When out and about, mobile networks are a better option for consumers than public WiFi: Even if consumers experience some coverage issues with mobile networks, 40% will only use public WiFi as a last resort. In fact, only 22% will use a public WiFi because they are concerned about their mobile data usage and, just as significant, only 13% will use public WiFi because they think it’s faster.

Putting It All Together

Mobile operators have the ability to provide high throughputs to their customers (ten times higher than what they usually receive), but most of the time it doesn’t appear necessary as the apps people are using the most don’t require hyper-fast speeds to run. This is reinforced by the fact that consumers appear generally satisfied with their network service levels while receiving lower, everyday throughputs. In addition, they tend to be loyal to their operator switching primarily when the price is right not because the speed is too low. Furthermore, it is reliability, not speed, that is more important to British mobile network users. When people spend as much time as they do on their phones (1/3^rd of their waking day), it’s about connecting with friends and family and doing whatever else is needed online without issue, and then moving on with their day.

Dr Paul Carter, CEO of GWS concludes: “Of course, delivering higher network speeds drives could drive a better experience and is important for certain activities, which will be increasingly critical in the future when 5G will have a very important role to play in everything from autonomous cars to telehealth. But the reality is that right now, we don’t need blazing-fast mobile speeds all the time for the ways that most people are currently using their phones throughout the day. Though there are areas for improvement, the fact that Brits are satisfied with networks is a testament to the innovation and investment in our mobile networks that operators are delivering to consumers for much of their daily mobile activities.” 

Methodology

Data presented in this release is collected from a combination of the following sources:

¹ Data sourced from Magnify, GWS’s mobile intelligence data platform. Magnify is comprised of key insights collected nationwide from consumers participating in our market research program. These are real-life consumers who use their mobile devices as normal throughout the day so that the analytics data GWS gathers provides the most accurate picture of the nation’s mobile connectivity experience. In particular, data is anonymously collected from Android smartphones 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whenever and wherever the consumers use their devices. Data is reported in aggregate for market research purposes only. All information collected is weighted to a user’s demographic representation of the U.K. adult population. Analytical data related to network performance and app engagement was collected during a six-month test period (7/1/23 – 12/31/23).

² In addition to collecting network performance and app engagement data, GWS surveyed participating consumers to understand sentiment and perception via GWS Magnify. This survey was conducted during the month of January 2024, with a total response size of 2,951.   

About GWS 

For most consumers today, their mobile device is their life’s remote control. As an independent mobile insights consulting firm, GWS measures every aspect of how people live, work and play via their mobile devices – as well as how mobile network performance affects them. 

Combining our market-leading network benchmarking technology and methodology with deep behavioural data, we help businesses and organizations to drive innovation and deliver better customer experiences through mobile insights, anywhere in the world. Championing the needs of mobile users by understanding and testing the things that matter to them, we’ve evolved our technology and services in step with the needs of industry and consumers for over 27 years. 

GWS Media Contact   

Adam Hudson  
0207 291 0255   
[email protected]   

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DULLES, VA – January 26, 2024 – Global Wireless Solutions (GWS) has conducted a nationwide performance evaluation of Canada’s 5G national networks and is announcing its OneScore rankings. GWS’s extensive review and assessment has determined that Bell has the nation’s Best 5G Network followed by Rogers and then Telus.  The top ranking for the nation’s Fastest 5G Network goes to Bell followed by Telus and then Rogers.

GWS’ OneScore evaluation and ranking process results in the industry’s most exhaustive review of mobile networks as it combines controlled, scientific testing of the major networks with consumer research (i.e., research that explores sentiment, and pinpoints performance factors and features most important to consumers).

GWS’s testing and evaluation also revealed that 5G networks are generally improving across all three operators. This is most likely due, in part, to the continuous deployment of available spectrum such as that acquired in the 3500MHz band. In this instance, GWS testing found that the 3500MHz band was included in approximately 50% of the tasks performed for all three operators in various cities across the country.  When looking specifically at those tasks that included the 3500MHz band, GWS also found that Bell demonstrated the best performance and fastest speeds.

“5G has matured and is no longer a nascent technology. It now plays a significant and integral role in Canada’s mobile networks.” Said Dr. Paul Carter, CEO of Global Wireless Solutions. “As operators continue to invest in 5G spectrum and build out their networks, consumers will continue to benefit from new and improved services thanks to enhanced and faster network performance. While all of the major operators are making appreciable advances in their networks, Bell is leading the pack with the best and fastest 5G network.”

5G evaluation criteria:

GWS’s evaluation of 5G performance factors in speed, network reliability, video performance, and latency. In addition, the importance of each metric is weighted based on feedback from consumers across Canada; feedback that focuses on those elements of network performance that matter most to everyday people.  By taking into consideration both controlled, scientific testing (conducted with test equipment and smartphones in each market across Canada) along with in-depth nationwide consumer polling, GWS is able to understand if the networks are providing measurable benefits that are vital to consumers.

More about the nationwide evaluation – size, scope, and how it was done:

GWS conducted competitive benchmark testing of Canada’s national mobile networks between April and October 2023. In particular, 633,000 tests were conducted across Canada to evaluate the mobile network performance of Bell, Rogers, and Telus. All major metropolitan cities as well as less populated towns and cities were included in the testing; in total, representing 60% of Canada’s population.  Testing was conducted using Rohde & Schwarz SmartBenchmarker test equipment, Samsung Galaxy mobile devices, and GWS MobiStat data evaluation and reporting platform.

In addition, GWS’s performance evaluation of Canada’s 5G networks takes into account nationwide consumer survey results.  Independent polling firm, Toluna, was commissioned by GWS to survey consumer behavior and expectations.  Total sample size was 2,000 adults (ages 18 and older) with fieldwork undertaken during December 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of adult Canadians.

About Global Wireless Solutions, Inc.:

For most consumers today, their mobile device is their life’s remote control. As an independent mobile insights consulting firm, GWS measures every aspect of how people live, work, and play via their mobile devices – as well as how mobile network performance affects them. 

 Combining our market-leading network benchmarking technology and methodology with deep behavioral data, we help businesses and organizations to drive innovation and deliver better customer experiences through mobile insights, anywhere in the world. Championing the needs of mobile users by understanding and testing the things that matter to them, we’ve evolved our technology and services in step with the needs of industry and consumers for over 27 years. 

Public Relations Contact:

Global Wireless Solutions, Inc.
[email protected]
703-661-7000

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Do billionaires buy dresses for $9.99 (€9.25)? Or smartwatches for $15?

When Temu made its Super Bowl ad debut in early 2023, many American Football fans may have wondered since the shopping app promised “shopping like a billionaire.”

At the time, nearly 11 million Americans already knew what Temu was and had downloaded the app. Many had already used the online marketplace to buy discounted clothing or household goods from China-based vendors that ship directly from the manufacturers.

Available in the US since September 2022, the e-commerce platform has made quick strides. In its first month online, Temu had 4.5 million monthly active users in America. By July, it racked up 77.3 million monthly active users, more than double the number it had at the start of the year, according to consulting firm GWS Magnify.

What’s more, the app is reveling in significant engagement. “Users [in America] are currently spending nearly 10 minutes longer on the Temu app each day than Amazon and Shein,” said GWS Magnify CEO Paul Carter. That may not seem like a lot, but added together such engagement levels show the company’s potential to become a serious competitor.

Prices too good to be true?

In the past few months, Temu has launched in a number of other places besides the US. Today it is available in 39 countries around the globe — from Europe to Japan and Australia.

The platform lures shoppers with rock-bottom prices since it cuts out the middlemen with a factory-to-consumer business model. Temu is a new option just as consumers are being hit with post-pandemic inflation and other higher costs, says Bruce Winder, a Toronto-based retail analyst and author.

“Temu offers new low price points that are traditionally not found in Western retail and access to an enormous assortment,” Winder told DW. “It offers a factory direct model and on the surface screams value at a time when significant inflation on food, housing and gas take much of what consumers earn.”

Still, the app depends heavily on timed sales, discounts and giveaways to push impulse purchases. Since launching they also invested in online advertising and encouraging influencers to post “haul videos” that show what they bought and make recommendations.

Lots of packages and CO2

Temu’s success has led to criticism from environmental activists because of a flood of cheap goods and wasteful fast fashion. Shipping individual packages around the world adds to global CO2 emissions.

Lax American regulations, in particular, make this possible. Most packages sent to the US with a value under $800 are not subject to tariffs. That means if a company bought a box with 10,000 shirts it would pay an import tax. If all those 10,000 shirts were sent separately, no tax would be due. Other countries are not nearly as generous with duty-free packages.

US customs data shows that more than 10% of Chinese imports by value are now sent directly to customers, up from under 1% a decade ago.

In 2021, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York estimated that the US loses as much as $10 billion a year in tariffs this way, according to a report issued in April by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

The report highlighted other concerns with Temu like copyright infringement accusations and poor quality.

Chinese influence and national security

But it is not mini prices, environmental concerns or counterfeits that worry government hawks the most. It is cybersecurity and user data.

US-China relations are at a low point and American officials are unhappy about consumer data being hoovered up by companies like Temu, Shein and TikTok. Over the past year, there have been numerous calls to ban or restrict TikTok over national security concerns. And Chinese technology has been blocked from many infrastructure projects in the West like 5G networks.

Temu is owned by PDD Holdings, which also owns Pinduoduo, a Chinese online retailer. In its 2022 “Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy” report, the Office of the United States Trade Representative gave Pinduoduo its own section. In March, the Pinduoduo app was removed from the Google Play Store because of suspected malware.

This scrutiny has led Temu to distance itself from its parent company and from China. For US customers, it moved operations to Boston. For the rest of the world, it registered in Ireland. Whether this really keeps user data out of China is not clear.

It’s nearly impossible to guarantee data won’t end up in China, says Lindsay Gorman, head of the German Marshall Fund’s technology and geopolitics team. For her, the key question is what kind of data.

“All technology platforms to one extent or another recognize data as a strategic asset,” she told DW. “Chinese platforms have just been more brazen about snooping on users.”

How much are hackers making?

16:14

When price rivals privacy

Though Temu’s website notes that “all data will be encrypted,” experts like Gorman call for more transparency, particularly when it comes to the way it tracks users.

“The Chinese Communist Party’s quest for global technology leadership is fueled by data and cyber-enabled espionage. E-commerce platforms are no exception,” said the Washington, D.C.-based expert who recently served as a senior adviser in the White House.

Though Gorman sees purchasing patterns on Temu as less sensitive than videos or messages on TikTok, the biggest data security risk here is mission creep. “Why does an e-commerce platform need access to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi network information? That is the real privacy concern,” she said.

Yet as countries worry about reliance on Chinese technology, customers are flocking to it. In most cases abstract ideas of privacy, poor labor standards and environmental protection are overruled by low prices, says Bruce Winder.

“I think many consumers are willing to take a chance on privacy risk and turn a blind eye to other potential societal risks because they are desperate financially.”

Edited by: Uwe Hessler

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The merger of Vodafone Group PLC’s (LSE:VOD) UK mobile telecoms arm with Three UK will be tough to get past regulators on competition grounds, according to analysts, though the current third and fourth largest networks in the country argue the deal will “level the competitive playing field”.

A deal was unveiled late on Wednesday morning, with Vodafone owning 51% of the proposed merged business, into which it will offload £4.3bn of debt with a “broadly neutral impact” on its ratio of debt to earnings but expected benefits to cash flow from four years onwards.

Merging two of the UK’s four largest mobile networks will create a new market leader.

Hard regulator

Based on the precedent set following 2016’s failed merger between Three and O2, analyst Paolo Pescatore at PP Foresight said the merger “will be a hard sale”.

Vodafone’s statement gives a clear indication that it is already concerned about the competition issue, said analyst Dan Ridsdale at Edison, as it “reads like an overt pitch to convince a broader set of interest groups”.

“Management will have a good level of insight into the opinions of key investors regarding the deal, whereas regulators play their cards much closer to their chest,” Ridsdale said.

Recent actions by the UK’s Competition & Markets Authority have shown how tough it can be to push through big deals, said Matt Britzman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Indeed, the CMA recently blocked Microsoft’s takeover of Activision Blizzard, not to mention deciding that Broadcom’s swoop for VMWare would also hurt competition.

“But there might be some hope,” he said, “given how challenging and expensive the 5G rollout is, and there’s a good argument that the economics of the industry need to improve for the benefit of both providers and consumers.”

Hurting or helping competition?

The statement from Vodafone, which has also created a new website especially to promote the benefits of the deal, argues the merger “will level the competitive playing field, increasing competition to the two largest converged operators,” referring to BT‘s EE and the newly merged Virgin Media O2.

Taking the number of nationwide mobile operators to three might be acceptable, said Dr Paul Carter of mobile benchmarking and intelligence provider GWS.

“As we have seen in the US, [this] appears to be about what the market can handle when providers compete for customers.”

According to industry figures from GSMA, Vodafone UK and Three UK respectively have market shares of 20% and 10% of mobile market subscribers, which the statement called “sub-scale”.

Regulator Ofcom’s future approach to mobile markets and spectrum review last year found that Vodafone and Three’s returns are lower than EE and O2’s, meaning they have not been able to recover their cost of capital and, the statement added, “limits their ability to continue to invest”.

Merging, said Vodafone and Three, will give the combined company “the necessary scale and a great platform to invest, grow and compete”.

Marriage of convenience

We will have to wait and see, Pescatotre said. “Let’s see if the authorities have a change of heart. Both parties need to demonstrate that this is genuinely in the interest of UK PLC, the economy, and consumers for it to have a chance of getting over the line.”

A “marriage of convenience” makes some sense for the wider market, he added, as having sufficient scale is “key” to helping lower costs and improve margins, as the Ofcom report suggested.

For the CMA, the equation is likely to come down to how much they take into account the consumer benefits from the promised acceleration to the roll-out of 5G, said Ridsdale, versus the competitive risks from concentrating market power.

“They will almost certainly consult Ofcom as part of the process who have already highlighted that Vodafone and Three’s poor return on capital under the current market structure presented a risk to future investment in the UK’s networks,” he said.

Alex Tofts, at comparison site Broadband Genie, said while the deal would “create a power couple and a real force to be reckoned with in the mobiles market”, the combined group would “still be at a disadvantage” with the likes of BT and VMO2, where mergers combined fixed-line broadband with mobile specialists, and the CMA “tend to be wary of mobile-only mergers”.

On national security, with Three’s owner CK Hutchison based in Hong Kong, Vodafone’s majority ownership of the merged business should allay concerns, says Pescatore.

“I expect the Hutchison share to reduce over time,” he adds.

“Hutchison already has an extensive presence in the UK, but this should be seen as a gradual exit from the telco market. Having the current Vodafone UK CEO heading up the new operation is a testament to this belief. His considered approach will resonate with key stakeholders and improve any chance of getting the deal over the line.”

The post Vodafone’s UK mobile merger with Three a ‘hard’ sell on competition basis appeared first on GWS.

The long-time rivals joined forces today as they announced plans to become Britain’s biggest mobile operator from next year, serving 28 million customers combined.

While the new firm’s name is still under wraps, bosses have already outlined some ambitious goals for the future.

Ultrafast 5G internet may reach more than 99 per cent of the UK under its wing, increasing average data speeds by ‘up to a six-fold’ towards 2034.

But experts told MailOnline they fear this could come at a cost for Brits too, who are already grappling with the rocketing cost-of-living.

Many phone users saw punishing rises this February, with some Virgin Media customers facing 25 per cent hikes on phone bills.

Ernest Doku, a telecoms expert at Uswitch.com told MailOnline: ‘At a time when millions across the UK are facing the highest mid-contract prices we’ve ever seen, consumers need assurances that this merger will not result in even higher household bills.

‘The pledge of a significant investment in 5G over the next decade is some solace that they will be building for a better future of connectivity, so long as it is adhered to. What we don’t want to see is customers footing the bill with further increases to pricing.’

If approved by regulators, the 2024 deal will hand Vodafone a 51 per cent stake in the new firm, while Three takes a 49 per cent stake.

Talks have been ongoing since at least October, as both firms have pledged to invest £11billion in the UK over ten years.

Its goal is to create one of ‘Europe’s most advanced standalone 5G networks’ with fast data speeds in every school and hospital.

Currently, there are just four mobile operators in the UK that own the mobile network infrastructure.

These are Vodafone, EE, O2 and Three, which exist alongside smaller networks such as GiffGaff and Sky.

As the game-changing merger brings this down to just three, Mr Doku fears that reduced competition will also contribute to a price hike.

‘There are potential pros and cons for consumers with any merger like this,’ he added.

‘At Uswitch, we’re all about providing customers with greater choice, however with consolidation in the UK market – from four Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) down to three – there’s always the risk of reduced competition and subsequent increased prices.

‘They should also commit to ensuring smaller virtual networks (MVNOs) who rely on Three and Vodafone’s infrastructure can continue to offer competitive value and service.’

 

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A long-awaited merger of Vodafone and Three will bring “the biggest shake-up in the UK mobile market for over a decade,” experts say – with significant consequences for all anyone in Britain using a device.

The £15bn deal will see the two firms combine to make one of Europe’s biggest operators, with about 27 million customers and more than 11,500 staff.

Margherita Della Valle, chief executive of Vodafone, called the deal a “game-changer” that will create a more sustainable business that supports the cost of rolling out upgrades to 5G.

But will it benefit customers or harm them? Here’s everything you need to know about how the deal might shake up the mobile market.

Vodafone and Three – both relatively small phone networks in the UK – will merge, with Vodafone owning 51 per cent of the combined business. It’s not clear yet what the new company will be called.

Regulators still have to approve the deal, so the merger is not guaranteed.

If it goes ahead, it will be completed before the end of 2024, the companies said.

“This long-awaited megamerger represents the biggest shake-up in the UK mobile market for over a decade,” said Kester Mann, director of consumer and connectivity at CCS Insight.

Trade union Unite said the government “must step in and stop this reckless merger”, arguing it will lead to job losses and push up bills.

The companies are looking to position the deal as great for their customers. They say that it will immediately lead to a “better network experience with greater coverage and reliability at no extra cost, including through certain flexible, contract-free offers with no annual price increases, and social tariffs”.

Over the long term, it is not clear how the new company intends to bring those customers together. When EE and T-Mobile merged into EE, for instance, the two customer groups initially stayed separate and then gradually became integrated.

Paul Carter, CEO of mobile intelligence provider GWS, said Vodafone and Three are “both lagging in terms of internet performance between broadband and mobile services,” while “Virgin Media O2 are currently leading the way in terms of the overall combined connectivity consumers’ experience.”

He added: “On paper, this merger makes sense for two companies looking to close the gap on competitors. However, it remains to be seen whether it will bring success.”

Those behind the merger argue that it will help everyone else, too. Della Valle insisted the merger is “great for the country and great for competition”, thanks to the £11bn investment the new company has promised for the UK, to help “create one of Europe’s most advanced standalone 5G networks”.

It is argued that the mobile market will become more competitive with the presence of another large operator. In theory, that could lead to better prices and deals for everyone – though there is, of course, no guarantee of that.

It’s difficult to know this far out. Bigger companies have more power, which they can use to try and drive prices higher – but they also have more scale, which they can use to be more efficient and reduce prices.

Both companies have recently increased prices significantly, above inflation, which might be a clue to how they intend to behave in the future. But they may argue that the deal would allow them to avoid similar rises in the future.

This will be the question that regulators grapple with as they decide whether the deal should go ahead. If they cannot be convinced that the merger will lead to better conditions for customers, then they will look to stop it.

Rocio Concha, director of policy and advocacy at Which?, said: “Reducing the number of network providers from four to three risks reducing the choices available to consumers, raising prices and lowering the quality of services available.

“The Competition and Markets Authority needs to conduct a thorough assessment to determine whether this merger will be harmful to consumers.”

There is still a good chance that regulators will stop the deal from going ahead. They did the same when Three attempted to take over O2 in 2016, citing the risk that the deal would lead to higher prices.

“This will be a hard sale, given that both companies have been outperforming the market for the last year or so,” said Paolo Pescatore, from PP Foresight.

“Let’s see if the authorities have a change of heart. Both parties need to demonstrate that this is genuinely in the interest of UK plc, the economy, and consumers for it to have a chance of getting over the line.”

The post Vodafone and Three merger: What the huge deal actually means for you appeared first on GWS.

As heavily anticipated, Vodafone Group and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings (CKHGT) have entered into binding agreements in relation to a combination of their UK telecommunication businesses, respectively Vodafone UK and Three UK. Vodafone will own 51 per cent of the combined business (MergeCo) and CKHGT 49 per cent.

From day one, the pair say that millions of customers of Vodafone UK and Three UK will enjoy a better network experience with greater coverage and reliability at no extra cost, including through certain flexible, contract-free offers with no annual price increases, and social tariffs.

The new operation will reach more than 99 per cent of the UK population with its 5G standalone network, delivering to customers up to a six-fold increase in average data speeds by 2034.

The combined business will invest £11 billion in the UK over ten years to create one of Europe’s most advanced standalone 5G networks, in full support of UK Government targets.

By having a best-in-class 5G network in place sooner, the merger will deliver up to £5 billion per year in economic benefit by 20304, create jobs and support digital transformation of the UK’s businesses. Every school and hospital in the UK will have access to standalone 5G by 2030.

The merger will create a third operator with scale, levelling the competitive playing field, increasing competition to the UK’s two leading converged operators and will also provide more choice in wholesale partners for the UK’s already competitive MVNOs.

The combined business will offer fixed wireless access (mobile home broadband) to 82% of households by 2030, complementing MergeCo’s access to the UK’s biggest full fibre footprint.

No cash consideration will be paid, with the Vodafone UK and Three UK businesses contributed with differential debt amounts at completion to achieve MergeCo ownership of 51:49 between Vodafone and CKHGT.

Comprehensive joint governance framework in place between Vodafone and CKHGT, with Vodafone fully consolidating MergeCo. Vodafone and CKHGT having call and put options, respectively, which if exercised, would result in Vodafone acquiring CKHGT’s 49 per cent shareholding.

The Transaction is expected to result in substantial efficiencies. These are expected to amount to more than £700 million of annual cost and capex synergies by the fifth full year post-completion, with an implied NPV of over £7 billion.

Current Vodafone UK CEO Ahmed Essam will become MergeCo CEO, and current Three UK CFO Darren Purkis will take the role of MergeCo CFO.

The Transaction is expected to close before the end of 2024, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group Chief Executive, said: “The merger is great for customers, great for the country and great for competition. It’s transformative as it will create a best-in-class – indeed best in Europe – 5G network, offering customers a superior experience. As a country, the UK will benefit from the creation of a sustainable, strongly competitive third scaled operator – with a clear £11 billion network investment plan – driving growth, employment and innovation. For Vodafone, this transaction is a game changer in our home market. This is a vote of confidence in the UK and its ambitions to be a centre for future technology.”

Canning Fok, Group Co-Managing Director of CK Hutchison, added: “Today’s announcement is a major milestone for CK Hutchison and for the UK. Three UK and Vodafone UK currently lack the necessary scale on their own to earn their cost of capital. This has long been a challenge for Three UK’s ability to invest and compete. Together, we will have the scale needed to deliver a best-in-class 5G network for the UK, transforming mobile services for our customers and opening up new opportunities for businesses across the length and breadth of the UK. This will unlock significant value for CK Hutchison and its shareholders, realise material synergies, reduce net financial indebtedness and further strengthen its financial profile.”

Ahmed Essam, Vodafone UK Chief Executive, commented: “The combination of Vodafone UK and Three UK will bring more choice and better value to customers nationwide. With scale to invest, we will create a best-in-class 5G network, supporting the Government’s 5G ambitions, drive digital transformation and create jobs. Through converged offers we will really challenge the two largest operators and, of course, we will continue to support the most vulnerable in society with our social tariffs and our commitment to help 6 million people cross the digital divide by 2025.”

Robert Finnegan, CEO of Three UK, said: “Today’s news marks a significant step in our efforts to create a business that will build the biggest and fastest 5G mobile network in the country. The combination of Three UK and Vodafone UK will bring the advantages of 5G to every business and household in the UK, enabling the UK to deliver its ambitions for digital and economic growth and fully supporting the UK Government’s objectives for a world-leading digital economy.”

In terms of regulatory approval, Paolo Pescatore, TMT Analyst at PP Foresight, notes that a precedent has already been set following the failed 3/O2 deal. “This will be a hard sale given that both companies have been outperforming the market for the last year or so,” he suggests. “Let’s see if the authorities have a change of heart. Both parties need to demonstrate that this is genuinely in the interest of UK plc, the economy, and consumers for it to have a chance of getting over the line.”

As for the potential impact on UK telco market, Pescatore says that a marriage of convenience makes sense. “Scale is key to help lower costs and improve margins. It will take years before we see the real fruits of this deal come to fruition. The question is, can the UK wait that long? However, convergence still remains the Achilles Heel if this does get over the line. It would create a mobile champion that could increase competition in the wholesale segment of the market and become a partner of choice for MVNOs. Having said this, Ofcom recognises the challenges of the UK mobile market and the need for scale. Convincing the CMA will be the real test. Current investment levels are not sustainable in the longer term,” he warns.

“The UK telco market is now polarised with two vertically integrated telcos at one end and two subscale mobile operators at the other.”

“Concessions on spectrum will have to be made and the entity will have to provide solutions on areas like network sharing, rather than create another problem.”

In terms of national security, he feels that there should not be any security concerns as the joint venture should be majority owned by Vodafone. “I expect the Hutchison share to reduce over time.”

“Hutchison already has an extensive presence in the UK, but this should be seen as a gradual exit from the telco market. Having the current Vodafone UK CEO heading up the new operation is a testament to this belief. His considered approach will resonate with key stakeholders and improve any chance of getting the deal over the line,” he concludes.

“Today marks a significant moment in the UK telecoms landscape, as two major players come together to enhance their offering,” declares Dr Paul Carter, CEO of mobile benchmarking and intelligence provider GWS. “Such mergers have proven successful in the past, particularly in providing consumers with expanded access to both 5G and broadband services. This also brings the number of nationwide mobile operators to three, which as we have seen in the US, appears to be about what the market can handle when providers compete for customers.”

“In terms of what’s in it for consumers, our latest test results show Vodafone and Three were both lagging in terms internet performance between broadband and mobile services. Virgin Media O2 are currently leading the way in terms of the overall combined connectivity consumers experience, with EE/BT just behind. On paper this merger makes sense for two companies looking to close the gap on competitors who have themselves benefited from combining their connectivity offerings.”

“However, it remains to be seen whether it will bring success. Three and Vodafone bring together a set of competing mobile assets to bring down costs. Yet, previous mergers in this area were more complementary in terms of filling technological gaps in wireless services, mobile and broadband. Combined providers, as our recent test data shows, benefit because they offer a complete connectivity experience, offering reliable internet services to consumers whether on Wi-Fi or mobile Internet connections.”

The post Vodafone, Three merge UK businesses appeared first on GWS.

The post Vodafone and Three UK Strike a Deal to Merge appeared first on GWS.

The long-awaited merger between Vodafone and the owner of Three, CK Hutchinson, has been announced today, in a deal that will see it become the UK’s largest mobile operator. But what might it mean for consumers?

In this analysis, Dr Paul Carter, CEO of mobile benchmarking and intelligence provider GWS, gives us his assessment on whether the merger between Vodafone and Three could benefit consumers and improve the overall service provided by the new operator.

A newly published study from GWS has shown that combined connectivity providers (broadband and mobile) offer the best performance for consumers, with Virgin/O2 leading the way, BT/EE just behind and Three and Vodafone lagging. The merger can be seen as an effort to rectify this.

As Dr. Carter comments: “Today marks a significant moment in the UK telecoms landscape, as two major players come together to enhance their offering. Such mergers have proven successful in the past, particularly in providing consumers with expanded access to both 5G and broadband services. This also brings the number of nationwide mobile operators to three, which as we have seen in the US, appears to be about what the market can handle when providers compete for customers.

“In terms of what’s in it for consumers, our latest test results show Vodafone and Three were both lagging in terms internet performance between broadband and mobile services. Virgin Media O2 are currently leading the way in terms of the overall combined connectivity consumers experience, with EE/BT just behind. On paper this merger makes sense for two companies looking to close the gap on competitors who have themselves benefited from combining their connectivity offerings.

“However, it remains to be seen whether it will bring success. Three and Vodafone bring together a set of competing mobile assets to bring down costs. Yet, previous mergers in this area were more complementary in terms of filling technological gaps in wireless services, mobile and broadband. Combined providers, as our recent test data shows, benefit because they offer a complete connectivity experience, offering reliable internet services to consumers whether on Wi-Fi or mobile internet connections.”

The post Vodafone to merge with Three, but will it create benefits for consumers? Reaction appeared first on GWS.

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The post VMO2 Tops UK Connectivity Rankings: Bundled Mobile and Fixed Performance Insights appeared first on GWS.

A report from GWS says VMO2 provides the ‘best combined connectivity’ in the UK when measuring bundled mobile and fixed connections together.

The report is described as a ‘first of its kind look into digital connectivity as consumers experience it’ and by that it means its methodology is to combine results from mobile and fixed packages into one score, the idea being to see what bundles offer the best performance overall.

The research was put together over a six month period of data collection from GWS, during which it performed over 143,000 speed and reliability tests from UK firms offering such bundles. The tests were done at random times and measured reliability and performance across uploads, downloads, and video streaming on both the mobile network and wifi from a panel of 5,200 participants.

The fastest download speeds clocked by a combined provider were seen by VMO2, coming in 138Mbps average, followed by BT/EE at 64Mbps. Average download speeds across all major combined providers were registered at 82Mbps.

In terms of uploads, VMO2 topped the list again with a 26 Mbps average, while BT/EE was second at 21Mbps, and third was Sky/Sky Mobile at 17Mbps.

“In today’s world, we want a reliable and fast mobile internet connection at all times,” said Dr Paul Carter, CEO, GWS. “It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing, you just need your data connection to work. Consumers want the full package – more people are taking out bundled services for mobile and broadband, and data usage is up.

“But despite big market consolidation, it’s hard to know which is the best overall provider if you’re using both ISP and mobile operator services. That’s why we decided to shed the light on real-life performance of mobile and WiFi bundle offerings, giving the most informed view of the connectivity experience people are getting on their phones, wherever they are.”

It should be noted in other more straightforward rankings EE has tended to come out on top for 5G, so while this focus on combined bundles from GWS is quite a specific metric by which to go by it will no doubt be held as a win for VMO2 all the same.

The post VMO2 tops combined mobile and fixed speed ranking appeared first on GWS.

Virgin Media O2 has been named the best network in the UK for combined connectivity experience, according to mobile network benchmarking specialist GWS.

GWS collects data from 17,500 local markets in 25 countries and collects more than 54 million data points collected daily from mobile consumers  For thee statistics it collected data over six months from a panel of 5,200 UK users to represent of the nation’s mobile connectivity.

The order of best connectivity experience were Virgin Media O2 (1), EE/BT (2), Sky Mobile (3), Vodafone (4) and Three (5). According to GWS Virgin Media O2s fastest download speed was more than double than double every other combined providers (138mbps)

The average speed across all combined providers is 82 mbps, with only Virgin Media O2 offering speeds above this said GWS.Three’s placing is interesting as it was voted UK’s fastest network by Ookla while EE is consistently voted best network by Root Metrics

Tests were conducted on Android devices, capturing indoor and outdoor connectivity data. analysing over 143,000 tests for speed and reliability from mobile operators and their MVNO partners. The tests were conducted randomly throughout the week. They measured performance for uploads, downloads, and video streaming on both mobile networks and WiFi.

Paul Carter, CEO of GWS, emphasised the significance of a reliable internet connection for mobile users in today’s world. He highlighted the increasing importance of mobile devices in various aspects of people’s lives, such as work, socializing, and managing daily tasks.

Carter said mobile operators and ISPs must offer top-quality networks and he advises them to understand how individuals are using their phones.

“We see clear trends around how stressed people get when they don’t have a reliable internet connection. Having good connectivity is so important where we just need our phones to work well,. Mobile operators and ISPs need to provide the best networks and need to understand how people are using their phones – or risk getting left behind” he said.

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Mobile network benchmarking specialist GWS has revealed that Virgin Media O2 has the UK’S Best Combined Connectivity Experience, in a performance measure combining results from across both mobile operator and ISP partners in one score.

The result follows six months of extensive data collection from GWS, where the company analysed over 143,000 speed and reliability tests from across the UK’s major mobile operators and their associated ISP partners with bundled partnerships in place. The tests, which were run at random times, seven days a week, measured reliability and performance across uploads, downloads, and video streaming on both the mobile network and WiFi. The tests were conducted on the devices of real-life users from GWS’ proprietary opt-in consumer panel of 5,200 participants (18+). In addition to network performance data, GWS also collected insights into app usage and other mobile trends.

UK’s Best Combined Connectivity Experience

Dr Paul Carter, CEO, GWS, commented: “In today’s world, we want a reliable and fast mobile internet connection at all times. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing, you just need your data connection to work. Consumers want the full package – more people are taking out bundled services for mobile and broadband, and data usage is up. But despite big market consolidation, it’s hard to know which is the best overall provider if you’re using both ISP and mobile operator services. That’s why we decided to shed the light on real-life performance of mobile and WiFi bundle offerings, giving the most informed view of the connectivity experience people are getting on their phones, wherever they are.”

Network Performance Results

UK’s Best Combined Connectivity Experience – Test Score Breakdown

Over the six months tested, the fastest download speeds by a combined provider were seen by Virgin Media O2 at a 138Mbps average, followed by BT/EE at 64Mbps. With average download speeds across all major combined providers currently sitting at 82Mbps, Virgin Media O2 was the only provider to offer above average speeds.

When looking at uploads, Virgin Media O2 offered impressive performance again, leading the way at 26 Mbps. BT/EE was just behind at 21Mbps, with Sky/Sky Mobile (17Mbps), Vodafone (16Mbps), and Three (15 Mbps) trailing much further behind.

GWS’ testing also looked into the consumer impact of these results, testing one of the most internet reliant consumer activities – video. Virgin Media O2 not only had the fastest download speeds, but when watching videos the provider also tied with Sky/Sky Mobile for the highest combined resolution and lowest buffering times.

When looking at reliability, GWS measured whether or not simulated tasks were completed or not, and found over 96 per cent success rate across all providers (operator and ISP) tested.

Connectivity is Key

As mobile services continue to grow in popularity, GWS found that the average consumer now spends over a quarter (27 per cent) of their waking day on their phones, with productivity and social media apps leading the way. UK consumer use of video-led apps, such as Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok, was also consistent at all times of the day, regardless of whether a person was connected to WiFi or using mobile data.

Carter concluded: “Consumers are facing a cost-of-living crisis, but mobile usage is thriving. Even in a post covid world, we’re seeing record breaking stats on mobile as people spend more time working, socialising, and managing their lives from their devices. When we poll mobile users through our panel, we see clear trends around how stressed they get when they don’t have a reliable internet connection. Having a good connectivity experience is so important in today’s world where we just need our phones to work well, whether we’re on 4G, 5G, or WiFi. In a society that is increasingly wireless, mobile operators and ISPs need to make sure they are providing the best networks for their customers, and brands need to understand how people are using their phones – or risk getting left behind.”

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The result follows six months of extensive data collection from GWS, where the company analysed over 143,000 speed and reliability tests from across the UK’s major mobile operators and their associated ISP partners with bundled partnerships in place. The tests, which were run at random times, seven days a week, measured reliability and performance across uploads, downloads, and video streaming on both the mobile network and WiFi. The tests were conducted on the devices of real-life users from GWS’ proprietary opt-in consumer panel of 5,200 participants (18+). In addition to network performance data, GWS also collected insights into app usage and other mobile trends.

Fig 1: Final Results: UK’s Best Combined Connectivity Experience

Dr. Paul Carter, CEO, Global Wireless Solutions, commented: “In today’s world, we want a reliable and fast mobile internet connection at all times. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing, you just need your data connection to work. Consumers want the full package – more people are taking out bundled services for mobile and broadband, and data usage is up. But despite big market consolidation, it’s hard to know which is the best overall provider if you’re using both ISP and mobile operator services. That’s why we decided to shed the light on real-life performance of mobile and WiFi bundle offerings, giving the most informed view of the connectivity experience people are getting on their phones, wherever they are.”

 Network Performance Results

 Fig 2: UK’s Best Combined Connectivity Experience – Test Score Breakdown

Over the six months tested, the fastest download speeds by a combined provider were seen by Virgin Media O2 at a staggering 138Mbps average, followed by BT/EE at 64Mbps. With average download speeds across all major combined providers currently sitting at 82Mbps, Virgin Media O2 was the only provider to offer above average speeds.

When looking at uploads, Virgin Media O2 offered impressive performance again, leading the way at 26 Mbps. BT/EE was just behind at 21Mbps, with Sky/Sky Mobile (17Mbps), Vodafone (16Mbps), and Three (15 Mbps) trailing much further behind.

GWS’ testing also looked into the consumer impact of these results, testing one of the most internet reliant consumer activities – video. Virgin Media O2 not only had the fastest download speeds, but when watching videos, the provider also tied with Sky/Sky Mobile for the highest combined resolution and lowest buffering times.

When looking at reliability, GWS measured whether or not simulated tasks were completed or not, and found over 96% success rate across all providers (operator and ISP) tested.

Connectivity is Key

As mobile services continue to grow in popularity, GWS found that the average consumer now spends over a quarter (27%) of their waking day on their phones, with productivity and social media apps leading the way. UK consumer use of video-led apps, such as Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok, was also consistent at all times of the day, regardless of whether a person was connected to WiFi or using mobile data.  

Paul Carter, CEO, Global Wireless Solutions, concludes: “Consumers are facing a cost-of-living crisis, but mobile usage is thriving. Even in a post covid world, we’re seeing record breaking stats on mobile as people spend more time working, socialising, and managing their lives from their devices. When we poll mobile users through our panel, we see clear trends around how stressed they get when they don’t have a reliable internet connection. Having a good connectivity experience is so important in today’s world where we just need our phones to work well, whether we’re on 4G, 5G, or WiFi. In a society that is increasingly wireless, mobile operators and ISPs need to make sure they are providing the best networks for their customers, and brands need to understand how people are using their phones – or risk getting left behind.”

Methodology

All data was collected from GWS’ opt-in consumer panel of 5,200 participants (18+) from around the UK. This is a panel of real-life users who use their phones and tablet devices as normal throughout the day; as a result, the data GWS gathered provided the most accurate picture of the nation’s mobile connectivity experience. From this nationally representative sample of people, GWS conducted a series of tests in the background, measuring and analyzing network reliability and performance.

GWS conducted over 143,000 speed and reliability tests during a six-month test period (October 24, 2022 through April 24, 2023) to determine the results. Tests were run at random times, seven days a week, and looked at reliability and performance across uploads, downloads, and video streaming on the mobile network and WiFi. Only combined connectivity tests were included, meaning that only tests from a mobile network and that operator’s broadband partner were factored into reliability/performance scoring. For example, EE test results from an EE panelist were paired with BT test results from that panelist. Data was anonymously collected and reported in aggregate for market research purposes only. As well as benchmarking connectivity performance, GWS also conducts regular surveys polling panelists about how their network is performing. All information collected was weighted to a user’s demographic representation of the U.K. population (aged 18+). Tests were conducted on Android smartphones/tablets, collecting both indoor and outdoor connectivity data.

About GWS

For most consumers today, their mobile device is their life’s remote control. As an independent mobile insights consulting firm, GWS measures every aspect of how people live, work, and play via their mobile devices – as well as how mobile network performance affects them.

Combining our market-leading network benchmarking technology and methodology with deep behavioural data, we help businesses and organizations to drive innovation and deliver better customer experiences through mobile insights, anywhere in the world. Championing the needs of mobile users by understanding and testing the things that matter to them, we’ve evolved our technology and services in step with the needs of industry and consumers for over 25 years.

For more details download The Best Combined Connectivity Experience Report

For more information about GWS visit https://www.gwsolutions.com/

Media Contact
Adam Hudson
Diffusion PR
[email protected]

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Fans in attendance at State Farm Stadium had already seen replays of the cornerback’s jersey tug of JuJu Smith-Schuster for nearly a minute before Hulu subscribers were able to decipher what the Twitter outrage was all about.

The millions who made in-game wagers on mobile sports betting apps were already caught up in trying to catch up. These real-time wagers that have become such a distinct taste nationally and a focus on the American sports betting industry remain throttled back as not even a 4K and 5G world was able to provide the instant information they needed, according to data gathered by Phenix.

The company, which purports to have developed technology to reduce lag to as little as a half second could eventually solve the problem by working with networks or sportsbooks. But so far, neither has felt sufficiently motivated to pay for the solution.

Maybe most viewers don’t care that they see an event so long after it really happened. Whether those who definitely care — bettors or second-screeners — provide enough pressure remains to be seen.

“There’s no question that the handle would have been exponentially more had they been able to keep the betting window, conceivably, open that much longer to take bets on every play,” Phenix chief marketing officer Jed Corenthal told Gaming Today. “I guess for the real hardcore whale-type bettor, it probably doesn’t matter. They’ll bet on anything and everywhere, and that’s just what it is.

“But if these books are trying to get more and more casual bettors and acquire more users, then all the research suggests if you watch, you’ll bet more.”

The customers are there. According to data provided by Global Wireless Solutions:

• The amount of sportsbook app users during the Super Bowl increased by 43% vs. last year’s game.
• They opened up their sportsbooks apps 53% more times than in the 2022 Super Bowl (34 million vs. 22 million sessions)
• Their usage time increased by 47%.
• Nearly 42% of the Sunday sportsbook app sessions occurred between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. EST, up from 32% in 2022.

Fox fared best with its over-the-air broadcast, cable, and streaming app.

Traditional broadcasts can’t be instantaneous because of built-in five-to-10-second network delays to better comply with Federal Communication Commission standards in the aftermath of the Justin Timberlake-Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction” of Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.

Some networks, Corenthal said, also manipulate latency through “time-shifting” to increase the audience size viewing something at the same time.

“It’s not getting better every year. In fact, it’s pretty much the same year over year,” Corenthal said. “We haven’t seen a whole lot of variation. This year the Fox app had a pretty good number comparatively speaking to everybody else. But you’re still looking at, at least from the field of play, which is what we measure, 20-some odd seconds.

“The streaming situation for them was at least better. Some of these other providers I think are still banking or relying on what we would call legacy technology that’s just not up to snuff.”

Corenthal said Fox’s over-the-air broadcast averaged 18 seconds behind from the field of play, cable 28 seconds.

Expensive Fix: Live Sports on Sportsbook Betting Apps

Data-provider Genius Sport gained the right to provide select “watch and bet” NFL streams through the Caesars Sportsbook app this season. But that was a handful of games, not a full-season package.

The NFL is about to begin an 11-year, $110 billion media rights deal with Amazon, CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBC. A gambling corporation must be very bullish on sports betting return on investment to bid into that company. And in this era of more frugal customer-acquisition campaigns, that doesn’t seem frugal at all.

But Corenthal said Phenix will soon meet with data providers like Genius, Sportradar, and national sportsbook companies to show them how its product married with live streaming sports could be worth an investment.

“The books themselves are not at this point, at least, going to outlay that kind of money to get the rights directly from the leagues,” Corenthal said. “They get those video rights from [Sportradar], Genius, IMG ARENA, etc. So it’s beholden upon them to deliver the streams in real-time to the books if they want a watch-and-bet experience.

“The other thing that we’re working on is a financial model that would show them that if they were willing to switch their tech to real-time, how much more revenue would be generated by that.”

Philadelphia, Kansas Bettors Were at Mercy of Slow Signal

For now, lag.

During the Super Bowl, this lag likely affected millions of active or attempted sports bettors. According to GeoComply, 100 million geolocation checks were made on Saturday and Sunday, a 25% increase from last year’s Super Bowl weekend. Not all geolocation checks proceed into the placement of a bet, but it’s understood within the industry that the percentage of follow-through is very high.

Super Bowl Data from GeoComply

• GeoComply conducted 100 million geolocation checks on Saturday and Sunday, a 25% increase from last year’s Super Bowl weekend.
• GeoComply registered 7.4 million accounts over the weekend. This is a 32% increase from last year.
• GeoComply’s data shows more than 100,000 geolocation checks in and around State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, from more than 8,000 fan sportsbook accounts.
• New York topped all states with 13.9 million GeoComply geolocation checks over Super Bowl weekend.

More than 11.8 million checks were made in Philadelphia and 2.1 million in Kansas (250,000 were blocked in Missouri) during the same span. The amount of bet attempts lost in those home markets of the Super Bowl participants figures to be sizeable, as would have been the losses to sportsbooks, taxing agencies, and the frustration level of new bettors learning about latency for the first time.

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Twitter CEO Elon Musk predicted Twitter will have more than one billion monthly active users (MAUs) by as early as December 2024.

But, a third-party analysis may tell a different story.

What Happened: Musk, who is referring to his vision of the social media platform as “Twitter 2.0,” posted internal Twitter slides from a company talk over the weekend that showed features he hoped to include in the product.

“I think I see a path to Twitter exceeding a billion monthly users in 12 to 18 months,” Musk responded to clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson, who was recently welcomed back to the micro-blogging site.

Of the graphics the new CEO showed, highlighted was that new sign-ups to Twitter were at record highs and “active minutes” on the app were also at record highs — though some Musk fans and Twitter users responded that the dates on the graphics were incorrect.

In comes consulting firm, Global Wireless Solutions.

Why It Matters: Global Wireless examined the data from 200,000 American smartphone users and discovered that between Oct. 28 and Nov. 19, there were 3% fewer daily sessions on Twitter than there were between Oct. 2 and Oct. 27, the day Musk took over.

Benzinga previously reported Twitter’s top 10% users — who account for 90% of Twitter’s earnings — have been in “absolute decline” since the COVID-19 pandemic started approximately 2 1/2 years ago, citing a Reuters report that claimed to have seen key internal Twitter research.

Twitter’s top 10% users log into Twitter six to seven times a day and tweeted three to four times a week, Reuters said.

More than that, Musk took aim at Apple — which has drastically reduced its ad spending on Twitter — and accused the company in a series of tweets that it censored users and opposed free speech.

The new CEO also said that Apple threatened to withhold Twitter from its App Store, which has over 1.2 billion users — if enacted, that would be a crushing blow to Musk’s 1 billion Twitter MAU prediction.

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In the second quarter of this year, Twitter had 238 million users, a company spokesman told Reuters. At the same time, a record number of registrations in the social network was recently observed.

Additionally, Musk said that in the week leading up to November 16, registrations increased by 66% compared to the same period in 2021, and “activity minutes” hit an all-time high of about 8 billion minutes per day. At the same time, however, the number of xenophobic statements fell.

According to Global Wireless Solutions, which tracks Twitter usage by 200,000 Americans, the number of sessions on the network decreased by 3% from Oct. 28 to Nov. 19 compared to the Oct. 2-27 period — the last day Musk came into the possession of the company.

According to one of the Reuters materials, the social network is now losing its most active users. Despite accounting for just 10% of the total, they account for 90% of all tweets and half of the company’s global revenue. The document states that each of these users, known as heavy chirpinglogs into the network 6-7 times a day and posts 3-4 times a week.

On Sunday, Musk shared information about hiring new employees after mass layoffs of employees and resignations of top executives – many of whom decided to leave themselves when the billionaire promised “long hours of intense work”and in India, the company has laid off almost all employees.

Musk says Twitter 2.0 The Everything app will get a variety of additional features, including end-to-end message encryption, support for long text posts, and payments.

Meanwhile, activists of all stripes are trying to harass the billionaire while he unblocks the accounts of controversial figures like former US President Donald Trump and a number of large companies including General Motors, Mondelez International, Volkswagen AG and others are “frozen”. ” their local advertising. The billionaire himself admitted to a significant drop in the site’s revenue.

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Multibillionaire Elon Musk, who recently bought Twitter, predicts that after his acquisition, the updated social network Twitter, which will continue to undergo reforms, will increase the number of users. According to him, in the multifunctional social service he called Twitter 2.0, the number of monthly users should grow to 1 billion people in the next 12-18 months.

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With $100 billion invested in 5G networks from the major carriers, recent data reveals that 2022 is the year that the advanced technology has finally arrived for much of the country, with consumer access numbers surging and coverage reaching previously uncovered areas. As well as 5G coverage levels increasing, the data also reveals that throughputs on 5G capable devices have almost doubled since 2020.

The research found the number of consumers who accessed 5G networks in the US grew from just 43% in 2021 to 61% in 2022. This means that 42% more consumers accessed 5G networks in 2022 than in 2021, a significant increase compared to the single digit rise in 5G access of just 7% the year before (2020-2021).

“5G is reaching new areas and demographics like never before, with rural area network coverage more than doubling between 2020-2022 from 29% to 65%. Equally interesting is those with 5G capable devices spend over a third of the waking day (312 minutes) on their devices—nine days more a year than those without 5G capable handsets.”

The US study into 5G access habits combines data from independent consumer polling as well as insights based on over 50 million daily data points gathered and weighted from the Global Wireless Solutions’ opt-in OneMeasure Consumer Panel (OMCP) of US adult smartphone users: capable of providing a 360-degree view of consumer behavior, choices, and satisfaction. (Sourcing information at end of article.)

The data illustrates that 5G coverage has grown over the last two years and now reaches 83% of consumers across urban areas, an increase of more than 35% from 2020–2022. While impressive, this growth has been dwarfed by the explosion in coverage outside of urban areas, which has grown to 76% in suburban areas (nearly double 2020 coverage rates) and 65% in rural areas (more than doubling the coverage in 2020). This reflects a closing digital divide as more areas gain access to the technology around the country.

 

As the network is more readily available across the country, research also reveals that every age group is now accessing 5G networks at higher rates, with sharp jumps in 2022 and access among older generations now nearing the 50% mark. Gen Z, those aged between 18-24 years old, saw their access rates rise from 50% in 2021 to 68% in 2022, while those aged over 55 saw an almost twofold increase from 25% to 46% over the same time period.

The widespread expansion of both 5G coverage and access has also been coupled with increased excitement for the technology and its rollout. Sixty-one percent (61%) of consumers who had bought a new phone since 2021 knowingly purchased one with 5G access, and nearly a third purchased a phone because of its ability to access 5G networks.

“…5G coverage outside of urban areas, which has grown to 76% in suburban areas (nearly double 2020 coverage rates) and 65% in rural areas (more than doubling the coverage in 2020).”

5G consumers are also spending more time on those devices—perhaps due to improvements in throughputs and access to apps and services that 5G brings. The OMCP panel test data shows that consumers with 5G smartphones saw their average minutes of daily use reach 312 per day, which means people are spending 33% of their waking day on devices. This is 37 minutes higher than those using older devices and equates to a whopping nine days more of mobile usage a year for those with 5G devices than those without. Of those consumers with 5G devices, most time is being spent on social media, gaming, and lifestyle apps.

While there is still work to be done to ensure every inch of the country can access the network, it is encouraging to see significant improvements in previously uncovered areas and among various age groups.

For complete survey methodology, please visit: http://davidf238.sg-host.com/2022/10/18/2022-sees-tipping-point-with-more-than-half-of-u-s-consumers-now-accessing-5g-networks/

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• Elon Musk said the number of users signing up to Twitter was at a record high.
• By 2024, he predicted that the social media platform would have a billion users a month.
• A leaked document showed Twitter was losing its most active “heavy tweeters,” Reuters has reported.

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