During the pandemic, one in ten Brits have attended a wedding over livestream, 13 per cent have celebrated a birthday and 12 per cent have attended a funeral remotely. Some 6 per cent of Brits have even witnessed a birth over livestream – this jumps up to 12 per cent for 18–24-year-olds, and 14 per cent for Edinburgh residents. Of the quarter (24 per cent) of Brits who attended a gender reveal party, 30 per cent attended remotely.

The representative survey of 2,023 UK adult consumers, conducted by mobile network benchmarking company Global Wireless Solutions (GWS), demonstrates a clear resilience in the trend towards hybrid events. But there is a clear generational divide when it comes to attending milestone moments via livestream, with 18-24s most likely to say they have attended any kind of personal event via livestream, and over 55s the least likely to say so. The single exception to this trend is attendance of funerals: 13 per cent of over 55s attended a funeral virtually compared to 12 per cent of 18-24 year olds.

Men are significantly more likely than women to say they have attended milestone moments remotely during the pandemic. Of the Brits who attended a wedding during the pandemic, 31 per cent attended remotely and 68 per cent of those were men. Similarly, 36 per cent of those who attended an engagement party did so remotely and, once again, 71 per cent of them were men.

So what happens now restrictions are coming to an end? It looks as though, similar to the world of work, our personal lives are set to take on a hybrid mix of digital and in-person events. More than 1 in 10 people plan to attend birthdays and funerals remotely in the coming year; weddings are the most likely to be attended remotely, with just over two fifths of people (41 per cent) suggesting they would attend a wedding virtually if invited. Remote graduations also remain within the plans of many: over half (54 per cent) of those with a graduation on the horizon say that they plan to attend virtually.

Significant disparities appeared in the livestreaming experience depending on network that was being used. O2 customers appear to be best-served, with over half (51 per cent) encountering no issues at all when livestreaming from their mobile phone (only 37 per cent of Three Mobile customers and 42 per cent for both EE and Vodafone customers said the same). Of the eight specific livestreaming issues GWS asked about, Vodafone had the most complaints in four out of the eight issues, Three in three, EE in one and O2 in zero.

O2 customers in the nation’s capital also remain in good shape when it comes to reliability, with the network pipping its rivals to the post in the latest GWS network testing. O2 beat the UK’s other major phone operators – EE, Three and Vodafone – when testing in London for both voice and data reliability. Network reliability is consistently identified by consumers when asked about their priorities for mobile performance. This year was no exception with over half of consumers reporting that call connection, call quality as well as data reliability (enabling uninterrupted browsing) were crucial for network performance.

Fortunately for all UK consumers, network reliability is set to see a significant boost as the ongoing deployment of 5G powers on. Last year GWS devices connected to 5G between 40-56 per cent of the time across all major operators, compared to just 10-25 per cent the previous year, easily doubling the UK’s 5G connectivity. During testing, GWS also noticed new 5G channels in the network vs. last year’s drive. In particular, EE and O2 have launched a 2nd 5G channel in the 3500MHz band; also, O2, EE and Three were all showing a small amount of 5G presence in the 700MHz band. In addition, tests found a small amount of 5G coverage on a 15MHz channel in the 2100 band for EE.

This strong progress in the deployment process is fuelling consumer anticipation, with Brits increasingly excited by the prospect of 5G and the sense that it will further support the new ways we communicate and socialise online. ‘Keeping in touch with friends and family’ is the area of life where most people think 5G will have the biggest impact (22 per cent), followed by gaming (21 per cent) and work (16 per cent).

For all the negative publicity around potential negative health risks of 5G, only 3 per cent of Brits say this is a concern for them – but apathy remains a bigger issue. One fifth (20 per cent) of Brits don’t think 5G will have any impact on their lives, and just 35 per cent of those with 5G-enabled phones are completely satisfied with the 5G coverage provided by their mobile operator, suggesting the telecoms industry still has some work to do to demonstrate the benefits of 5G technology.

Paul Carter, CEO at Global Wireless Solutions, commented: “Consumers are increasingly recognising the extraordinary benefits of next generation, super reliable mobile networks. It is reassuring that even through the isolation so many of us felt through Covid lockdowns and restrictions, technology exists that could bring us back together. Virtual celebrations may not ever replace the feeling of connecting with loved ones in person, but it can provide many more people with the power to share in moments that they would otherwise miss. It is to the credit of strong mobile connectivity that we have reached this stage. The next step must be to cement the incredible gains 5G has made within the UK and scale the final few hurdles of the deployment process.”

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As the government declares its intention to remove all remaining Covid-19 restrictions in England tomorrow, new data reveals that Brits significantly increased their use of livestreaming and video calling apps to share important life events – or ‘milestone moments’ – during the countrywide lockdowns, and intend to keep doing so even now that restrictions are coming to an end.

During the pandemic, one in ten Brits attended a wedding over livestream, 13% have celebrated a birthday and 12% have attended a funeral remotely. 6% of Brits have even witnessed a birth over livestream – this jumps up to 12% for 18–24-year-olds, and 14% for Edinburgh residents. Of the quarter (24%) of Brits who attended a gender reveal party, 30% attended remotely.

The representative survey of 2,023 UK adult consumers, conducted by mobile network benchmarking company Global Wireless Solutions (GWS), demonstrates a clear resilience in the trend towards hybrid events.

However, there is a clear generational divide when it comes to attending milestone moments via livestream, with 18-24s most likely to say they have attended any kind of personal event via livestream, and over 55s the least likely to say so. The single exception to this trend is attendance of funerals: 13% of over 55s attended a funeral virtually compared to 12% of 18-24 year olds.

Men are significantly more likely than women to say they have attended milestone moments remotely during the pandemic. Of the Brits who attended a wedding during the pandemic, 31% attended remotely and 68% of those were men. Similarly, 36% of those who attended an engagement party did so remotely and, once again, 71% of them were men.

So what happens now restrictions are coming to an end? It looks as though, similar to the world of work, our personal lives are set to take on a hybrid mix of digital and in-person events. More than 1 in 10 people plan to attend birthdays and funerals remotely in the coming year; weddings are the most likely to be attended remotely, with just over two-fifths of people (41%) suggesting they would attend a wedding virtually if invited. Remote graduations also remain within the plans of many: over half (54%) of those with a graduation on the horizon say that they plan to attend virtually.

Significant disparities appeared in the livestreaming experience depending on network that was being used. O2 customers appear to be best-served, with over half (51%) encountering no issues at all when livestreaming from their mobile phone (only 37% of Three Mobile customers and 42% for both EE and Vodafone customers said the same). Of the eight specific livestreaming issues GWS asked about, Vodafone had the most complaints in four out of the eight issues, Three in three, EE in one and O2 in zero.

Says Paul Carter, CEO, Global Wireless Solutions:

“Consumers are increasingly recognising the extraordinary benefits of next-generation, super reliable mobile networks. It is reassuring that even through the isolation so many of us felt through Covid lockdowns and restrictions, technology exists that could bring us back together.

“Virtual celebrations may not ever replace the feeling of connecting with loved ones in person, but it can provide many more people with the power to share in moments that they would otherwise miss. It is to the credit of strong mobile connectivity that we have reached this stage. The next step must be to cement the incredible gains 5G has made within the UK and scale the final few hurdles of the deployment process.”

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The research shows that Brits significantly increased the use of video calling and livestreaming apps during the pandemic to share important life events such as birthdays and weddings; with many planning to continue doing so. It shows that 1 in 10 have attended a livestreamed wedding during the pandemic, 13 percent have celebrated a birthday and 12 percent have attended a funeral remotely. Over 1 in 10 Brits plan to attend funerals/birthdays remotely in the coming year. The research shows a generational divide in attending milestone events remotely via livestream, with 18-24 year olds more likely to have done so than over 55s. The only exception to this is funerals, with 13 percent of over 55s attending a funeral remotely during the pandemic, compared to 12 percent of 18-24 year olds.

The GWS study also shows significant differences in the livestreaming experience between mobile networks. O2 customers appear to have the best experience, with 51 percent having no problems at all when livestreaming from their mobile phone – compared to 42 percent of both EE and Vodafone customers, and 37 percent of 3 UK customers. GWS asked about eight specific livestreaming issues, with Vodafone seeing the most complaints in four of the issues, 3 UK in three, EE in one and O2 in none.

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Today, O2 has released new research¹ revealing an expected surge in mobile data traffic along the UK’s main motorways this bank holiday. Over a third of cars on the roads will have more than 3 mobile devices at any time and a quarter of drivers will rely on mobile phones and tablets to keep passengers entertained on staycation road trips by streaming video and music.

O2 was awarded most reliable network on major motorways by Global Wireless Solutions (GWS)² recently, thanks to its rigorous 4G testing and upgrades – meaning GPS apps will stay connected and families can stream content such as Disney+ uninterrupted from the back of the car. GWS rated O2 the most reliable network on the major UK motorways, including the M1, M6, M25 and M62.

Over the bank holiday weekend last August, an estimated 18 million trips were taken by car³ – and O2’s research reveals Brits are planning to spend on average more than 10 hours on motorways thanks to another staycation summer as lockdown restrictions ease. The most popular data-demanding activities O2 expects to support will be streaming films en route to holiday hotspots (25%), streaming music (62%), using GPS apps (30%), going on social media (30%) and sending emails (19%).

In the last 12 months O2 has carried record levels of data – with nearly 90% more data carried this year compared to the pre-pandemic average two years ago4. O2 has also seen new spikes at 3pm each day as young TikTok users log on after school. With more of us using our phones on the go again, it’s no wonder that two thirds of Brits think strong signal and data speeds make summer road trips better.

Omar Calvo, Director of Radio Network Engineering at O2 said: “As a champion for coverage and reliability, O2 is committed to providing our customers with reliable connectivity across the UK, wherever they are. That’s why we were delighted to be recognised by GWS for our work to improve the 4G signal on major UK motorways to maintain coverage. We are investing more than ever before in our network, and appreciate customers will rely on mobile devices to stay entertained – and keep the peace – on long road trips.”

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According to the RAC, an estimated 18 million trips were taken by car during the bank holiday weekend last August 2020. Meanwhile O2’s survey, which was conducted by Portland Polling (few details about their methodology were included in the release), found that Brits are planning to spend more than 10 hours (average) on motorways thus summer – due in part to the COVID-19 situation.

The “most popular” data-demanding activities that O2 expects to support will be “solo drivers, groups of friends and families” streaming films en route to holiday hotspots (25%), streaming music (62%), using GPS apps (30%), going on social media (30%) and sending emails (19%). Personally, we rather hope that solo drivers aren’t doing most of that while actually driving!

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O2 has today published research revealing an expected surge in mobile traffic along the UK’s main motorways this bank holiday.

According to the research, over a third of cars on the roads will have more than three mobile devices at any time.

A quarter of drivers will rely on mobile phones and tablets to keep passengers entertained on staycation road trips by streaming video and music. 

O2 was named Most Reliable Network on major motorways including the M1. M6, M25 and M62 by GWS earlier this year and the network says it is prepared for another surge in network demand on the UK motorways. 

Over the las bank holiday weekend in August, an estimated 18 million trips were taken by car. O2’s research also revealed Brits are planning to spend an average of more than 10 hours on motorways as lockdown restrictions ease.

O2 director of radio network engineering Omar Calvo said: “As a champion for coverage and reliability, O2 is committed to providing our customers with reliable connectivity across the UK, wherever they are.

“That’s why we were delighted to be recognised by GWS for our work to improve the 4G signal on major UK motorways to maintain coverage.

“We are investing more than ever before in our network, and appreciate customers will rely on mobile devices to stay entertained – and keep the peace – on long road trips.”

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Brighton Pier, York Minster, Swansea Bay and Sandbanks Beach are among 35 new locations served by the UK’s largest 5G network.

“75% of the top 20 towns and cities for domestic tourism now have 5G on EE, to support a better getaway for customers,” Marc Allera, chief executive of EE parent BT’s consumer business, said.

Other landmarks where you’ll be able to access EE’s lightning-fast data include Exeter Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral, Paignton Sands, Swansea Maritime Quarter and Swansea Bay, the V&A Museum in Dundee and York Museum Gardens.

The recent expansion, rolled out last Thursday, takes EE’s 5G network to 160 cities and towns, two years after it launched as the UK’s first next-generation mobile network.

The rollout has been unhampered by the pandemic, which saw conspiracy theorists (baselessly) link 5G to coronavirus and harass engineers. EE has added 89 new locations since last March and expanded coverage in many others.

Competitors O2, Three and Vodafone now have their own 5G networks, but EE is still ahead of the pack with the most widespread coverage.

And while rivals may claim to cover a town if they offer 5G from one cellular tower, EE only updates its 5G map when it delivers connectivity to a place with a minimum population of 10,000, with at least a third of that population able to connect and full coverage of the town or city centre.

EE’s progress is all the more impressive given the small size of 5G-friendly radio spectrum band it holds. While Three holds 140MHz of spectrum across several 5G-suitable bands, including a 100MHz continuous slice seen as necessary to true 5G, EE has had just 40Mhz.

But an auction of more bands held by telecoms regulator Ofcom last month saw EE consulate its holdings. EE parent company BT snapped up 80MHz of spectrum for £452 million, an investment that will help the network deliver faster speeds and more widespread coverage.

However, a recent test-drive of the UK’s 5G networks by Global Wireless Solutions (GWS) found that the emerging next-generation networks aren’t yet living up to their promise. GWS found that 5G signal is so weak in many areas that 5G-enabled devices can only connect to it around 20% of the time.

GWS found that 40% coverage in an area is necessary to achieve baseline speeds of 100Mbps, on average. However, that coverage was attained in just seven of the 32 towns and cities it sampled. Vodafone delivered the coverage in four of those areas, while EE managed it in three.

EE 5G’s 35 newest locations

Aldridge

Alexandria

Aylesbury

Ayr

Barnsley

Biggleswade

Blackburn

Bolton

Brighton

Chester

Colchester

Dundee

Exeter

Grantham

Gravesend

Harrogate

Lincoln

Milton Keynes

Norwich

Paignton

Poole

Portsmouth

Rickmansworth

Runcorn

Southport

Stockton-on-Tees

Stoke-on-Trent

Stratford-upon-Avon

Sunbury-on-Thames

Swansea

Swindon

Widnes

Wigan

Worcester

York

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Nearly two fifths of Britain now has 5G coverage typically producing average speeds almost five times faster in areas where it is available.

Where 5G is provided, average speeds were recorded at 150 Mbps across all networks compared with 33 Mbps in areas without it, according to research by Global Wireless Solutions.

GWS assessed the 5G network performance of the UK’s four main operators – O2, Vodafone, EE and Three.

How fast? A new report suggests 37% of Britain now has 5G coverage with speeds that are ultra-quick

The research found that a 5G signal is available across 37 per cent of the UK marketplace – on average, it is available 40 per cent of the time in UK cities, 16 per cent of the time in towns, and 11 per cent on motorways.

However, the study also found, where 5G is available, it is only being delivered to 5G enabled phones a fifth of the time.

This is because 5G tends only to work in areas with a strong 5G signal, with mobile phone users having to rely instead on 4G connections most of the time.

Where there is 5G availability, it is only being delivered to 5G enabled phones just 23 per cent of the time in cities, 8 per cent in towns, and only 5 per cent of the time along motorways.

The four main network operators are focusing on deploying 5G in different locations and with varying levels of coverage according to GWS.

Cities and towns appear to be the primary focus for network providers at present.

EE for example, says it is only announcing 5G in places with a minimum population of 10,000 people.

 

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The arrival of 5G in the the UK is already having a marked impact on average mobile network speeds but connections are frequently falling back to 4G, according to new data from Global Wireless Solutions (GWS).

Connections are being completed on 5G only in areas where there is strong signal, dropping back to 4G in areas with a weaker 5G signal, according to the results of GWS’s latest nationwide drive test designed to measure network performance from the UK’s big four MNOs.

5G signal is available across 37% of the markets tested by GWS, but its drive test showed that connections are only being completed on 5G 20% of the time. Vodafone recorded the highest proportion of 5G usage, completing tasks on 5G around three quarters of the time, while the other three – EE, O2 and Three – used 5G about half of the time.

A deeper dive into GWS’s data shows that operators are prioritising coverage in cities, as you might expect, but are to a certain extent neglecting motorways. While the latter might not be an issue right now –  “today’s network needs on motorways are more limited and can be facilitated by existing network technologies,” GWS noted – full 5G will be required to enable more advanced applications in future, including autonomous driving, the firm said.

On average, 5G is available 40% of the time in UK cities, 16% in towns and 11% on motorways, GWS’s tests showed, while 5G networks are completing tasks just 23% of the time in cities, 8% in towns, and 5% along motorways.

The data also showed that the operators have different priorities when it comes to 5G rollout, but the firm surmised that all are making good progress. Network scanner testing showed that 5G is available in 37% of the markets drive-tested, while throughput testing showed that average speeds were boosted by nearly five times in areas in which 5G is available.

Essentially, GWS’s headline finding is that once 5G is deployed in a certain area, average network speeds go up by quite a lot, which is probably to be expected, but interesting nonetheless.

“Average speeds during network capacity stress tests where 5G is delivered are 150 Mbps across all operators, compared with 33 Mbps in areas where there is no 5G present,” the firm said.

Analysis of the data showed that for an entire market to achieve an average network speed of 100 Mbps, operators need to extend 5G coverage to 40% of that market. Only seven of the 32 cities it tested achieved that baseline, and in each case only operator hit the mark: Vodafone was the operator in question in four of the cities and EE in three. The cities were Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester. In Belfast, EE achieved overall speeds of 102 Mbps with 5G coverage of 41%, while in Manchester, Vodafone recorded an average overall throughput of 166 Mbps with coverage of 70%, to give two examples.

“Deploying a network nationwide isn’t instantaneous and each of the operators will face their own independent challenges,” said GWS chief executive Paul Carter, in a statement. “While we’ve seen significant improvements in speeds due to 5G, to realise predictable 5G coverage across entire cities and other locations, it’s simply going to take time.”

5G coverage hype is all very well, but consumers are for the most part predominantly concerned about the reliability of their existing mobile network.

And on that score, O2 comes out on top, closely followed by EE, which should perhaps be cause for concern for Vodafone and Three. It’s not too much of a stretch to suggest that consumers will make their 5G buying choices based on their experiences on 4G…and on handset deals, of course, but this is a story for another day.

O2 ranked top on reliability in 18 of the 37 markets tested, while EE took the crown in 16 markets; Vodafone won out in just three locations and Three in none. O2 is also the most reliable on the UK’s major motorways.

“These findings are borne out by GWS’s consumer survey, which found that even during the lockdown, 39% of O2 customers were always satisfied with their network’s reliability, compared to 33% of EE customers, 31% of Vodafone customers and 30% of Three customers,” GWS said.

Those numbers may look a little low, but “always satisfied” is a difficult milestone to hit. It’s not often customers are always happy with anything in this industry.

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Its latest nationwide test assessed the mobile network performance of the four major operators – EE, O2, Three and Vodafone, and is the first to incorporate 5G network performance into each company’s OneScore rankings.

Based on network scanner testing, 5G is now available across 37% of the markets tested by GWS. The report shows that once a market reaches a certain level of 5G coverage, average network speeds are significantly boosted. Average speeds during network capacity stress tests where 5G is delivered are 150 Mbps across all operators, compared with 33 Mbps in areas where there is no 5G present.

GWS also analysed the test results to determine what level of 5G coverage across an entire market (city or town) is needed to achieve a certain minimum threshold of speed for that market. GWS discovered that in order to achieve a baseline of 100 Mbps average network speed throughout an entire market, operators must first achieve around 40% coverage in that market.

In addition to achievements in speed, testing revealed that success rates for tasks completed with 5G were well over 99% across all operators.

The report found that each operator is approaching its deployment strategy differently. In particular, operators are focusing on deploying 5G at different locations and with varying percentages of 5G per city, town or motorway. Further, Vodafone’s network was completing tasks on 5G roughly three quarters of the time 5G signal was available, while the others were completing tasks on 5G around half the time.

Throughout testing, GWS found that 5G signal is, on average, available 40% of the time in UK cities, 16% in towns, and 11% on motorways, while at the same time the network is completing tasks on 5G just 23% of the time in cities, 8% in towns, and only 5% of the time along motorways.

In terms of overall network reliability – clearly more crucial than ever right now, as the pandemic continues – O2 earned the title of the UK’s Most Reliable Network for the third year running, ranking top in 18 out of 37 locations tested in the UK according to GWS’s OneScore network reliability testing. O2 is also the most reliable on the UK’s major motorways, M1, M6, M25 and M62. It is followed in the overall rankings by EE, which has wins in 16 locations. Vodafone has wins in 3 locations while Three has no wins.

These findings are borne out by GWS’s consumer survey, which found that even during the lockdown 39% of O2 customers were always satisfied with their network’s reliability, compared to 33% of EE customers, 31% of Vodafone customers and 30% of Three customers.

Dr Paul Carter, CEO, GWS, commented: “As next-generation technology is added into the network at more locations with overall speeds increasing and as new, feature-rich devices are introduced, customer expectations about network reliability remain constant – they want a network that they can rely on that will deliver the services they need.

“The results of our latest national testing show signs of good things to come for those with 5G-enabled phones across the country. Deploying a network nationwide isn’t instantaneous and each of the operators will face their own independent challenges. While we’ve seen significant improvements in speeds due to 5G, to realise predictable 5G coverage across entire cities and other locations, it’s simply going to take time.”

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LONDON, 19 February 2021 – Leading mobile network benchmarking firm Global Wireless Solutions (GWS) has today released the results of its latest nationwide drive test assessing mobile network performance of the four major operators.

The latest national test – the first conducted by GWS which incorporates 5G network performance into the company’s OneScore rankings – reveals that good progress is being made in the deployment of 5G throughout the UK by EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. Based on network scanner testing, 5G is now available across 37% of the markets driven; in addition, throughput testing shows average speeds boosted nearly five times in areas where 5G is available.

5G: Covering the bases

The performance test results paint a clear picture of progress for the ongoing deployment of 5G across the UK. In particular, the data highlights how once a market reaches a certain level of 5G coverage, average network speeds are significantly boosted. Average speeds during network capacity stress tests where 5G is delivered are 150 Mbps across all operators, compared with 33 Mbps in areas where there is no 5G present.

Further, GWS also analysed the test results to determine what level of 5G coverage across an entire market (city or town) is needed to achieve a certain minimum threshold of speed for that market.  GWS discovered that in order to achieve a baseline of 100 Mbps average network speed throughout an entire market, operators must first achieve around 40% coverage in that market (for consumers, 100 Mbps means that downloading a HD movie should take around two minutes).

GWS found that this baseline occurred in only 7 out of the 32 cities and towns tested (and in each instance only one operator in each city reached the baseline). In particular, Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester recorded average overall speeds in excess of 100 Mbps on any operator, with Vodafone accounting for four of these values and EE for three. And as 5G coverage expands, faster speeds are more likely to be consistently achieved. For example, in Belfast, EE achieved overall speeds of 102 Mbps with 5G coverage of 41%, whereas in Manchester, Vodafone recorded an average overall throughput of 166 Mbps with coverage of 70%.

In addition to achievements in speed, testing revealed that success rates for tasks completed with 5G were well over 99% across all operators.

5G: Running different races

According to analysis of GWS’s device and scanner tests, tasks completed on devices via 5G tends only to occur in areas with strong 5G signal, rather than everywhere it is available (relying instead on 4G). While 5G signal is available across more than a third (37%) of the markets tested by GWS, results show that it is only being delivered to 5G-enabled handsets one fifth (20%) of the time.

Even when 5G is available, it is clear from the data that each operator is approaching its deployment strategy differently. In particular, operators are focusing on deploying 5G at different locations and with varying percentages of 5G per city, town or motorway. Further, Vodafone’s network was completing tasks on 5G roughly three quarters of the time 5G signal was available, while the others were completing tasks on 5G around half the time.

Throughout testing, GWS found that 5G signal is, on average, available 40% of the time in UK cities,  16% in towns, and 11% on motorways, while at the same time the network is completing tasks on 5G just 23% of the time in cities, 8% in towns, and only 5% of the time along motorways. In fact, deployment of 5G along UK motorways appears to be progressing more slowly, with operators placing less emphasis on rolling out coverage along the nation’s highways. While full 5G will likely be required for enabling advanced applications of the future such as autonomous vehicles, today’s network needs on motorways are more limited and can be facilitated by existing network technologies.

Reliability of existing networks still paramount

While the deployment of 5G is resulting in the delivery of faster speeds, it’s still more important than ever (i.e., during this work from home period) for mobile operators to provide robust, reliable service. In terms of overall network reliability, O2 earns the title of the UK’s Most Reliable Network for the third year running, ranking top in 18 out of 37 locations tested in the UK according to GWS’s latest OneScore network reliability testing (Figure 1). O2 is also the most reliable on the UK’s major motorways, M1, M6, M25 and M62. It is followed in the overall rankings by EE which has wins in 16 locations. Vodafone has wins in 3 locations while Three has no wins.

These findings are borne out by GWS’s consumer survey, which found that even during the lockdown 39% of O2 customers were always satisfied with their network’s reliability, compared to 33% of EE customers, 31% of Vodafone customers and 30% of Three customers.

When looking at the regional rankings (which combine the results from all operators), for the second year running the best UK city for reliability remains Liverpool, with Nottingham now the least reliable.

Good news for consumers in lockdown

The results are encouraging for consumers currently navigating the ongoing pandemic – especially since the need to have acceptable speeds is crucial for home workers. With consumers likely to switch to their mobile network when poor WiFi fails them, it’s encouraging to see that 84% of O2 customers are happy with their speeds at home, as are 78% of EE customers, and 82% of Three and Vodafone customers. As 5G continues to roll out across the UK, consumers can look forward to marked improvements in speeds.

Consumers also have high expectations about the rollout of 5G, with 38% believing that faster 5G deployment could help improve economic recovery after the pandemic. Additionally, 26% believe that it could help fix the problem of the digital divide around the country.

Paul Carter, CEO, Global Wireless Solutions, commented: “As next-generation technology is added into the network at more locations with overall speeds increasing and as new, feature-rich devices are introduced, customer expectations about network reliability remain constant – they want a network that they can rely on that will deliver the services they need.

The results of our latest national testing show signs of good things to come for those with 5G-enabled phones across the country. Deploying a network nationwide isn’t instantaneous and each of the operators will face their own independent challenges. While we’ve seen significant improvements in speeds due to 5G, to realise predictable 5G coverage across entire cities and other locations, it’s simply going to take time.”

Figure 1.

Methodology

The detailed assessment involved GWS’ engineers conducting nearly 1.2 million data and voice task tests on iOS and Android devices across the UK, alongside consumer research polling of 2,007 smartphone users. The assessment is the only study of its kind to combine controlled scientific network testing with a deep analysis of consumer behaviour and expectations of performance.

Testing of EE, O2, Three and Vodafone networks involved 37 major cities, towns and roads, and took place between the 26^th of October 26^th and the 4^th of December, 2020. The tests were conducted using the GWS OneMeasure App running on iPhone devices, Rohde & Schwarz’s Freerider SW using Samsung Galaxy devices, and the GWS Mobistat data evaluation and reporting platform.  

GWS conducted its broader quantitative consumer polling with Censuswide.  Fieldwork was undertaken between the months of October and December 2020. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

Media Contact

Megan Hughes-Evans
Diffusion PR
+44 (0)207 291 0238
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GWS states that their engineers conducted a total of 1.2 million data and voice task tests (described as “controlled scientific network testing“) – via iOS and Android devices (using the GWS OneMeasure App) – in order to evaluate mobile network performance across the United Kingdom (on both 4G and, for the first time, 5G networks). In addition, they also conducted some quantitative online consumer polling with Censuswide (between October and December 2020).

The survey found that, even during the lockdown, some 39% of O2 customers were always satisfied with their network’s reliability, compared to 33% of EE customers, 31% of Vodafone customers and just 30% of Three UK’s customers. Similarly, 84% of O2’s customers are happy with their mobile broadband speeds at home, as are 78% of EE customers, and 82% of Three UK and Vodafone customers.

Consumers also have high expectations about the on-going rollout of ultrafast 5G networks, with 38% believing that faster 5G deployments could help improve the economic recovery after the pandemic. Additionally, 26% believe that it could help fix the problem of the digital divide around the country (debatable given the spectrum limits of rural connectivity, where achieving wide coverage is cost preferable to faster speeds).

Key Findings of the GWS 2021 Mobile Study

— Average speeds during network capacity stress tests where 5G is delivered are 150 Mbps across all operators, compared with 33Mbps in areas where there is no 5G present.

— Success rates for tasks completed with 5G were well over 99% across all operators.

— A 5G signal was found to be available across 37% of the markets tested by GWS, but results show that it is only being delivered to 5G-enabled handsets 20% of the time.

— GWS discovered that in order to achieve a baseline of 100Mbps average network speed throughout an entire market, operators must first achieve around 40% coverage via 5G in that market. This baseline occurred in only 7 out of the 32 cities and towns tested (and in each instance only one operator in each city reached the baseline).

— Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester all recorded average overall speeds in excess of 100Mbps on any operator, with Vodafone accounting for four of these values and EE for three. And as 5G coverage expands, faster speeds are more likely to be consistently achieved. For example, in Belfast, EE achieved overall speeds of 102Mbps with 5G coverage of 41%, whereas in Manchester, Vodafone recorded an average overall throughput of 166Mbps with coverage of 70%.

— GWS found that 5G signal is, on average, available 40% of the time in UK cities, 16% in towns, and 11% on motorways, while at the same time the network is completing tasks on 5G just 23% of the time in cities, 8% in towns, and only 5% of the time along motorways.

In terms of overall network reliability, O2 earns the title of the UK’s Most Reliable Network for the third year running, ranking top in 18 out of 37 locations tested. O2 is also the most reliable on the UK’s major motorways – M1, M6, M25 and M62. The operator is followed in the overall rankings by EE, which has wins in 16 locations, and Vodafone with wins in 3 locations, while Three UK has no wins.

We should point out that this is one of the few benchmarks where O2 comes top (EE and Vodafone are normally the ones battling over the top spot in other studies).

GWS OneScore Reliability Winners by Market

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Research from Global Wireless Solutions (GWS) has found that good progress in 5G deployments is already making a “marked improvement” in UK speeds.

According to GWS’ network scanner testing, 5G is available across 37 percent of the 37 major cities, towns, and roads tested.

Throughput testing has shown that average speeds are boosted nearly five times in areas where 5G is available. Across all operators, 5G areas are delivering 150Mbps average speeds compared to 33Mbps elsewhere.

GWS notes that average network speeds are significantly boosted when a market reaches a certain level of 5G penetration. To achieve a baseline of 100Mbps average, operators must achieve around 40 percent 5G coverage in that market.

Only 7 of the 32 tested cities and towns have reached the aforementioned 40 percent baseline; London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Belfast. Furthermore, only one operator has reached the baseline in each market. Vodafone accounts for four of these and EE for three.

As 5G coverage expands, higher average speeds become more consistent. In Belfast, for example, EE achieved overall speeds of 102 Mbps with 5G coverage of 41 percent. In Manchester, Vodafone recorded an average overall throughput of 166 Mbps with coverage of 70 percent.

Dr Paul Carter, CEO of Global Wireless Solutions, commented:

“As next-generation technology is added into the network at more locations with overall speeds increasing and as new, feature-rich devices are introduced, customer expectations about network reliability remain constant – they want a network that they can rely on that will deliver the services they need. 

The results of our latest national testing show signs of good things to come for those with 5G-enabled phones across the country. Deploying a network nationwide isn’t instantaneous and each of the operators will face their own independent challenges. 

While we’ve seen significant improvements in speeds due to 5G, to realise predictable 5G coverage across entire cities and other locations, it’s simply going to take time.”

4G is currently being used for the majority of tasks even in areas where 5G is available. While 5G is available across more than one-third of the markets tested by GWS, it is only being delivered to 5G-enabled handsets 23 percent of the time in cities, 8 percent in towns, and just 5 percent of the time along motorways.

Few applications requiring 5G are currently available so it’s clear 4G is being used for the majority of tasks to conserve power, especially in areas where a 5G signal is available but weak. The general reliability of networks is, therefore, more important to most people than 5G at this point.

According to GWS’ OneScore network reliability testing, O2 is the UK’s most reliable network for the third year—ranking top in 18 of the 37 locations tested:

A consumer survey carried out by GWS backs its network testing findings that O2 is the most reliable UK network.

84 percent of O2 customers are happy with their speeds at home, 82 percent of Three and Vodafone customers, and 78 percent of EE customers. During lockdown, 39 percent of O2 customers were “always satisfied” with their network’s reliability compared to 33 percent of EE customers, 31 percent of Vodafone customers, and 30 percent of Three customers.

In GWS’ network reliability testing, EE followed O2 with wins in 16 locations, Vodafone in 3, and Three with none.

The major city with the most reliable mobile connectivity remains Liverpool while Nottingham is now the least.

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All four UK operators have contributed to the good progress of 5G deployments says GWS

O2 has retained top spot as the UK’s most reliable mobile network according to Global Wireless Solutions (GWS) latest nationwide study.

The operator performed the best of the four big networks in 18 out of the 37 UK towns, cities and motorways sampled.

O2 just edged out EE, which ranked the best in 16 cities, followed by Vodafone on three, while Three didn’t come top in any area.

However EE topped reliability for some of the UK’s biggest cities, including London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.

O2 claimed Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and Oxford among its most reliable areas.

Liverpool is the UK’s best city for reliability for the second year running, while Nottingham is the least reliable.

5G drive

The study was also the first to incorporate the performance of 5G into the company’s OneScore rankings.

GWS says that “good progress is being made in the deployment of 5G” by all four UK operators, as average speeds boosted nearly five times in areas where 5G is available.

Global Wireless Solutions CEO Dr Paul Carter commented: “As next-generation technology is added into the network at more locations with overall speeds increasing and as new, feature-rich devices are introduced, customer expectations about network reliability remain constant – they want a network that they can rely on that will deliver the services they need.”

Testing by GWS found that once areas reach a certain level of 5G coverage, the average network speeds are significantly boosted.

This was backed up by capacity stress tests that revealed average speeds where 5G is delivered are 150 Mbps across all operators, compared with 33 Mbps in areas where there is no 5G present.

Room for improvement

Based on network scanner testing 5G is now available across 37 per cent of markets, but is only being delivered to 5G-enabled handsets one fifth (20 per cent) of the time.

On average 5G signal is available 40 per cent of the time to UK cities, 16 per cent in towns and 11 per cent on motorways.

At the same time the network is completing tasks on 5G just 23 per cent of the time in cities, eight per cent in towns, and only five per cent of the time along motorways.

Carter adds: “The results of our latest national testing show signs of good things to come for those with 5G-enabled phones across the country. Deploying a network nationwide isn’t instantaneous and each of the operators will face their own independent challenges.

“While we’ve seen significant improvements in speeds due to 5G, to realise predictable 5G coverage across entire cities and other locations, it’s simply going to take time.”

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The post UK already feeling 5G speed boost, says study appeared first on GWS.

The national test – the first conducted by GWS which incorporates 5G network performance into the company’s OneScore rankings – reveals that good progress is being made in the deployment of 5G throughout the UK by EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. Based on network scanner testing, 5G is now available across 37 per cent of the markets driven; in addition, throughput testing shows average speeds boosted nearly five times in areas where 5G is available.

5G: Covering the bases

The performance test results paint a clear picture of progress for the ongoing deployment of 5G across the UK. In particular, the data highlights how once a market reaches a certain level of 5G coverage, average network speeds are significantly boosted. Average speeds during network capacity stress tests where 5G is delivered are 150 Mbps across all operators, compared with 33 Mbps in areas where there is no 5G present.

Further, GWS also analysed the test results to determine what level of 5G coverage across an entire market (city or town) is needed to achieve a certain minimum threshold of speed for that market.  GWS discovered that in order to achieve a baseline of 100 Mbps average network speed throughout an entire market, operators must first achieve around 40 per cent coverage in that market (for consumers, 100 Mbps means that downloading a HD movie should take around two minutes).

GWS found that this baseline occurred in only 7 out of the 32 cities and towns tested (and in each instance only one operator in each city reached the baseline). In particular, Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester recorded average overall speeds in excess of 100 Mbps on any operator, with Vodafone accounting for four of these values and EE for three. And as 5G coverage expands, faster speeds are more likely to be consistently achieved. For example, in Belfast, EE achieved overall speeds of 102 Mbps with 5G coverage of 41 per cent, whereas in Manchester, Vodafone recorded an average overall throughput of 166 Mbps with coverage of 70 per cent.

In addition to achievements in speed, testing revealed that success rates for tasks completed with 5G were well over 99 per cent across all operators.

5G: Running different races

According to analysis of GWS’s device and scanner tests, tasks completed on devices via 5G tends only to occur in areas with strong 5G signal, rather than everywhere it is available (relying instead on 4G). While 5G signal is available across more than a third (37 per cent) of the markets tested by GWS, results show that it is only being delivered to 5G-enabled handsets one fifth (20 per cent) of the time.

Even when 5G is available, it is clear from the data that each operator is approaching its deployment strategy differently. In particular, operators are focusing on deploying 5G at different locations and with varying percentages of 5G per city, town or motorway. Further, Vodafone’s network was completing tasks on 5G roughly three quarters of the time 5G signal was available, while the others were completing tasks on 5G around half the time.

Throughout testing, GWS found that 5G signal is, on average, available 40 per cent of the time in UK cities, 16 per cent in towns, and 11 per cent on motorways, while at the same time the network is completing tasks on 5G just 23 per cent of the time in cities, 8 per cent in towns, and only 5 per cent of the time along motorways. In fact, deployment of 5G along UK motorways appears to be progressing more slowly, with operators placing less emphasis on rolling out coverage along the nation’s highways. While full 5G will likely be required for enabling advanced applications of the future such as autonomous vehicles, today’s network needs on motorways are more limited and can be facilitated by existing network technologies.

Reliability of existing networks still paramount

While the deployment of 5G is resulting in the delivery of faster speeds, it’s still more important than ever (i.e., during this work from home period) for mobile operators to provide robust, reliable service. In terms of overall network reliability, O2 earns the title of the UK’s Most Reliable Network for the third year running, ranking top in 18 out of 37 locations tested in the UK according to GWS’s latest OneScore network reliability testing (see Fig. 1). O2 is also the most reliable on the UK’s major motorways, M1, M6, M25 and M62. It is followed in the overall rankings by EE which has wins in 16 locations. Vodafone has wins in 3 locations while Three has no wins.

These findings are borne out by GWS’s consumer survey, which found that even during the lockdown 39 per cent of O2 customers were always satisfied with their network’s reliability, compared to 33 per cent of EE customers, 31 per cent of Vodafone customers and 30 per cent of Three customers.

When looking at the regional rankings (which combine the results from all operators), for the second year running the best UK city for reliability remains Liverpool, with Nottingham now the least reliable.

Good news for consumers in lockdown

The results are encouraging for consumers currently navigating the ongoing pandemic – especially since the need to have acceptable speeds is crucial for home workers. With consumers likely to switch to their mobile network when poor WiFi fails them, it’s encouraging to see that 84 per cent of O2 customers are happy with their speeds at home, as are 78 per cent of EE customers, and 82 per cent of Three and Vodafone customers. As 5G continues to roll out across the UK, consumers can look forward to marked improvements in speeds.

Consumers also have high expectations about the rollout of 5G, with 38 per cent believing that faster 5G deployment could help improve economic recovery after the pandemic. Additionally, 26 per cent believe that it could help fix the problem of the digital divide around the country.

Dr Paul Carter, CEO, Global Wireless Solutions, commented: “As next-generation technology is added into the network at more locations with overall speeds increasing and as new, feature-rich devices are introduced, customer expectations about network reliability remain constant – they want a network that they can rely on that will deliver the services they need. The results of our latest national testing show signs of good things to come for those with 5G-enabled phones across the country. Deploying a network nationwide isn’t instantaneous and each of the operators will face their own independent challenges. While we’ve seen significant improvements in speeds due to 5G, to realise predictable 5G coverage across entire cities and other locations, it’s simply going to take time.”

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The UK 5G network is failing to live up to its promise depsite strong growth across much of the country, new research has claimed.

The next-generation networks are only being delivered to 5G-enabled phones a fifth (20%) of the time according to new findings from benchmarking firm Global Wireless Solutions (GWS).

This is despite 5G now being deployed across more than a third (37%) of the UK, with signifcant gaps in performance already in certain areas.

UK 5G strength

The benefits of 5G are becoming evident to users across the UK, with average speeds boosted nearly five times in areas where 5G is available.

GWS found that the strenght and reliability of 5G connections can differ for users living in the same town or city due to the way different operators have deployed their networks.

Overall, GWS’ testing found that 5G signal is, on average, available 40% of the time in UK cities and 16% in towns – however at the same time, the network is completing tasks on 5G just 23% of the time in cities and only 8% in towns.

O2 was found to be the UK’s most reliable network, ranking top in 18 out of 37 locations tested to take the award for the third year in a row.

“As next-generation technology is added into the network at more locations with overall speeds increasing and as new, feature-rich devices are introduced, customer expectations about network reliability remain constant – they want a network that they can rely on that will deliver the services they need,” said Dr Paul Carter, CEO, Global Wireless Solutions.

“The results of our latest national testing show signs of good things to come for those with 5G-enabled phones across the country. Deploying a network nationwide isn’t instantaneous and each of the operators will face their own independent challenges. While we’ve seen significant improvements in speeds due to 5G, to realise predictable 5G coverage across entire cities and other locations, it’s simply going to take time.”

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Consumers have overwhelmingly said that network reliability is more desirable than faster speeds as O2 retains top spot for most reliable UK network. 

According to a study carried out by Global Wireless Solutions, (GWS) consumers ranked the importance of reliability to speed at a ratio of 40:1. 

The results for the report was gathered by GWS’ engineers who collected close to one million data and voice task tests on both iOS and Android devices. 

This study was also helped thanks to nationwide focus groups, which were carried out in partnership with Jigsaw Research plus consumer research that polled over 2,000 smartphone users through YouGov. 

Despite the preference for reliability over speed, the operators met customer expectations on speed 96 per cent of the time, according to the study, with the report revealing the ‘sweet spot’ of network speed being between four and six seconds. 

However despite the operators meeting the expectations of their customers, more than half of respondents (56 per cent) that they ‘usually’ encounter problems with their network. 

O2 tops the reliability charts

O2 came out on top for the four UK operators for reliability, placing first in half (18) of the 36 locations that were tested in the UK. 

EE came a close second with 14 locations, followed by Vodafone with four and Three bottom with zero. Three did not rank as the most reliable network in any of the towns or cities that were tested. 

As for the cities, Liverpool and Cardiff were ranked as the most reliable for network connectivity. However Leeds, Edinburgh, Sunderland and London scored the worst. 

Commenting on the report, GWS founder and CEO Paul Carter said: “The need for speed is an ongoing conversation in the industry and seems to be the de facto benchmark when measuring network success. 

“But that model is broken – while the advance of 5G brings with it exciting innovations that will undoubtedly change the way we use our phones, just like 4G did a few years ago, using your smart phone is not a race. Consumers are not just using their phones for speed hungry activities.” 

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GWS conducted a series of tests to evaluate mobile network performance. Just over 2.6 million data and voice task tests were conducted to evaluate the primary operators in 38 major cities and towns during 2018. The tests were run using the GWS OneMeasure App running on iPhone devices, Rohde & Schwarz’s Freerider using Samsung Galaxy devices, and the GWS Mobistat data evaluation and reporting platform.

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O2 has retained its position as the most reliable network operator across most locations in the UK despite a high-profile outage this month that saw data services knocked offline for nearly 24 hours.

Global Wireless Solutions (GWS) measured the reliability of four network operators including O2, Three, EE and Vodafone and found that O2 was deemed the most reliable in 17 of 28 UK towns and cities across the UK.

GWS Reliability OneScore Winners by Market

Telecoms rival Three ranked second, with respondents suggesting it was the most reliable in nine towns and cities including London, while Vodafone and EE were considered the most reliable in just one city apiece; Birmingham and Hull respectively.

“While a lot of focus is being placed on 5G, 2018 was the year when consumers voiced their ongoing concerns about the importance of network reliability,” said GWS’ CEO Dr Paul Carter.

“In unstable economic times, it’s also important to look at the difference between business and consumer requirements from their networks – while a dropped call for a consumer is an annoyance, it can have damaging “bottom line” consequences for a business.”

Businesses in the North of England meanwhile, according to the research, generally experienced a better quality of connectivity and network reliability in 2018 than firms based in the South.

This comes in light of a previous GWS poll found that 76% of IT business decision makers said their business ‘suffers’ when they receive anything less than excellent mobile coverage.

The North East and North West topped the table for business mobile network connectivity, of 12 regions across the UK assessed, while Greater London came bottom, beaten by the South East in 11th and the South West in 10th.

GWS Business OneScore Rankings

“The government has committed to driving forward technology for businesses across the nation, not just the South East,” Dr Carter continued.

“And our regional Business OneScore results indicate that the network investments operators are making in the North of the country are beginning to pay dividends in helping to bridge the economic North/South divide.

“However, the fact that London comes last should alert to challenges ahead in serving the UK’s biggest working population and this is something that must be addressed in 2019 and beyond.”

Voice calling was the most important criteria for businesses when selecting a mobile operator this year, according to the research, with phones also being used as by 64% of firms surveyed as mobile hotspots to support network access.

For 60% of businesses, moreover, a key priority over the next decade is to better support employees occasionally working from home.

The quality of 4G signal across UK motorways was also found to have dramatically improved in the last 12 months, with data showing improvements on all motorways tested against the previous year. In fact, the best motorway in early 2017 was the M60 with 82% 4G availability, while the worst motorway in the latest findings is the M23 with 90% availability.

Availability on the M6 doubled to 94% over the last year and a half, the biggest improvement recorded, while the M60 boasted 100% 4G connectivity when measured.

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London, 20^th December 2018
Leading mobile network benchmarking firm Global Wireless Solutions (GWS) has today released the results from its year-long study into mobile connectivity in the UK across the country’s major cities, towns and highways. Throughout 2018 it has collected over 2.6 million data points in scientifically controlled, real-world testing, as well as extensive focus groups and polling of consumers, SMEs and enterprises – because businesses and consumers demand different things from their mobile networks.  GWS’ OneScore rankings then highlight how networks are performing weighted against what truly matters most to consumers and businesses using those networks. Key findings from 2018 test results include:

•  Reliability OneScore for Consumers – Rankings: O2 retains top spot, followed by Three (Fig.1)
  Over the year, GWS has found that its Reliability OneScore ranking of operators (based on voice coverage, voice retainability and data success rates) has changed in some cities and towns. O2 has retained the top spot and is still ranked the most reliable network in the highest number of locations, followed by Three in second place.  However, Vodafone has now moved up to third place (tied with EE) with a win in Birmingham; EE, on the other hand, did have one win in Hull but also lost top spots in Manchester and Leicester to O2, and Leeds to Three. Looking at reliability scoring metrics is important because, when asked to consider the five most important criteria in selecting an operator, GWS found that UK consumers are twice as likely to choose reliability instead of network speed.
• Businesses OneScore – Rankings: All things point North for the best mobile network for businesses (Fig.2)
  GWS’ poll of IT business decision makers reveals that 76% of UK companies report that their business ‘suffers’ when they receive anything less than ‘excellent’ mobile coverage. None of the top scoring regions for mobile business connectivity (Business OneScore) are located in the South of the country, with the best regions being the North East, the North West, East Midlands and Scotland. Businesses located in these regions are likely to have the fewest issues making mobile calls and the best online experience for completing business related activities. In contrast to this, the three worst regions on test for mobile business activities were Greater London, the South East and the South West.The research results show that voice calling was the most important criteria for businesses in 2018 when selecting a mobile operator. While having a mobile phone to make calls will most likely remain an essential business function in 2019 and beyond, mobile phones are also used by 64% of businesses as mobile hotspots to fully support employees who are working where ever they are. It is therefore no surprise that for 60% of businesses, a top telecoms priority over the next decade is to better support employees working from home. 
• Motorways: 4G signal has drastically improved on all motorways across the country [Fig.3]Compared to tests that GWS completed in early 2017, the data shows that 4G performance has improved across all motorways tested. This is particularly impressive when you consider that the worst motorway in 2018 was the M23 with 90% 4G signal availability, whereas in early 2017 the best motorway on test was the M60 which only had 82% 4G availability.The M6 showed the most improvement on test, with 4G availability doubling in over a year and a half. Even during the 2018 testing period all motorways showed progressive improvements in 4G availability from the beginning of the year to the end. The best motorway on test in 2018 was the M60 with 100% 4G availability nearly the entire year.

Dr Paul Carter, CEO of Global Wireless Solutions commented: “There’s no denying that 2018 has been a busy year for operators, and while everyone is getting geared up for 5G, it’s great to see the significant strides that have been made towards improving 4G coverage levels across the country’s motorways.  We’ve seen investments made across the networks with operators deploying advanced LTE features to help enhance connectivity, help manage network loading, and pave the way for 5G deployment in 2019. For example, we’ve seen O2 and EE deploy EVS wideband codec to improve voice quality; and we’ve also seen three of the four operators (EE, O2, and Vodafone) reach nearly 100% 4G calling (VoLTE) in the cities we tested. On the data side, we saw average throughputs relatively unchanged during 2018 but operators did add more bandwidth that most likely eased network loading.  In addition, all operators with the exception of Three deployed 256QAM and three-channel carrier aggregation during the year.”

“While a lot of focus is being placed on 5G, 2018 was the year when consumers voiced their ongoing concerns about the importance of network reliability. In unstable economic times, it’s also important to look at the difference between business and consumer requirements from their networks – while a dropped call for a consumer is an annoyance, it can have damaging “bottom line” consequences for a business. The government has committed to driving forward technology for businesses across the nation, not just the South East, and our regional Business OneScore results indicate that the network investments operators are making in the North of the country are beginning to pay dividends in helping to bridge the economic North/South divide. However, the fact that London comes last should alert to challenges ahead in serving the UK’s biggest working population and this is something that must be addressed in 2019 and beyond.”

Figure 1: GWS Reliability OneScore Winners by Market 

Figure 2: GWS Business OneScore Rankings

Figure 3: 4G coverage on major motorways 

Methodology
GWS conducted this series of tests to evaluate mobile network performance across the United Kingdom. Just over 2.6 million data and voice task tests were conducted to evaluate the major network performances (EE, O2, Three and Vodafone) in 38 major cities and towns, in 2018. The tests were conducted using the GWS OneMeasure App running on iPhone devices, Rohde & Schwarz’s Freerider using Samsung Galaxy devices, and the GWS Mobistat data evaluation and reporting platform.

Where the consumer survey is mentioned, this is in relation to work that GWS conducted with YouGov polling over 2000 UK adults in February 2018. All survey figures, aside from the business test results, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,727 adults. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

GWS also worked with YouGov to conduct SME and consumer focus group sessions between November 2017 and February 2018.

GWS worked with Vanson Bourne to poll businesses on their attitudes towards mobile network connectivity. Total sample size was 200 UK business IT decision makers working in businesses with more than 250 employees. Fieldwork was undertaken between January and February 2018.  The survey was carried out online.

About Global Wireless Solutions, Inc.
Global Wireless Solutions, Inc. defines the industry standard for network benchmarking, analysis and testing. Its proprietary OneScore network ranking combines in-depth network testing data with real-world network usage scenarios to make the results of testing relatable and easy to understand. Working with some of the world’s largest wireless network providers, GWS offers standardised, high-quality network data and engineering analysis through a suite of benchmarking products, services, and OneMeasure diagnostic apps that includes drive, venue, and in-building testing.

Firmly rooted in a deep understanding of network engineering, GWS provides best-in-class, turnkey solutions to help customers better understand overall network performance as today’s wireless networks grow and evolve. Founded in 1996, GWS is headquartered in Dulles, VA. At last count, GWS has driven 12 million data collection miles for its customers. For more information, visit www.gwsolutions.com and follow us on Twitter at @gwsolutionsinc.

Media Contact:

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O2 ranked as the most reliable network across 32 cities and towns in the UK according to research carried out by Global Wireless Solutions.

The network came out on top in the testing, ranking the highest across the most locations in the UK with 17 out of the 32 cities putting them as the best for reliability after nearly one million individual tests between November 2017 and February 2018.

Three came second overall with 12 points including the most reliable in London, followed by EE with three, while Vodafone came bottom with none.

GWS worked alongside YouGov to conduct a survey on reliability from the mobile networks in the UK, sampling 2,757 adults in the same time period, conducting focus groups together.

Overall, 81 per cent of consumers said that they were satisfied with the service they receive from their operators which GWS reckon is as a result of improvements in voice over WiFi (VoWiFi) and Voice over LTE (VoLTE) solutions has improved the service consumers receive when in homes and offices.

Important call

The survey found that the most important function for UK consumers is to make calls with 69 per cent, followed by texting (53 per cent) and browsing the Internet (43 per cent). Only three per cent however chose watching videos as their top priority.

Speaking to Mobile News GWS CEO Paul Carter revealed that consumers in the UK are more interested in reliability than speed and that GWS made this priority when conducting the research.

Carter said: “When we asked people to choose between reliability and speed, two to one chose in favour of a more reliable network. In our methodology what we’re trying to do is to really test the network from a consumer perspective.”

“A phone is not a ‘nice to have’ it’s a must have and is part of our daily lives and we expect to be able to use it for a variety of services whenever and wherever we want.”

“Some of the findings were surprising, here we are in 2018 but yet watching videos on your phone still isn’t a dominant priority for users in the UK.”

GWS also looked into what consumers do when they lose signal with 28 per cent of people sighing in frustration and also 28 per cent of people giving up on their phone altogether.

Millennials (18-34 year olds) get the most agitated when this happens as the survey suggests that over half a million have thrown their device in anger when losing connectivity.

The worst place for poor signal was found on trains as 25 per cent of respondents said this was the case. Following this, poor signal at home was 22 per cent and shopping centres and work with 18 per cent each.

London amongst worst

London was amongst the worst cities for making and retaining calls meaning that the largest population in the UK has one of the worst experiences carrying out the primary function of their phone with Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Leicester and Newcastle also struggled in this department.

Regarding London being one of the worst for dropped calls, Carter added: “There are pockets of density that are very hard to provide coverage to.

London is a prime example when coverage is provided on the outskirts that can cause interference back into the city.” “There are a number of design challenges in London when it comes to maximising capacity for huge densities of population across a number of areas.”

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