Mobile network performance measurement firm RootMetrics has named EE the UK’s top network for the ninth consecutive year.
EE led across all UK-wide RootScore categories: Reliability, Accessibility, Speed, Data, Call, and Text.
Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s consumer division and head of EE, commented:
“We are proud to be named the UK’s best network for the ninth year running. Reliability is of huge importance to our customers, and we pride ourselves on leading the industry. I’m delighted to see the huge investments we make recognised once again and we will continue to expand the UK’s leading 4G and 5G networks across the nation.”
Earlier this year, EE became the first UK operator to achieve 5G coverage for more than 50% of the population.
With 4G networks now well established, differences between operators on 4G performance are small. The competition is more pronounced in 5G, where rollout pace, spectrum holdings and network design still create meaningful variation in user experience.
RootMetrics highlights Three as a notable challenger to EE in the 5G space. In median 5G download speeds, Three led—approaching 200 Mbps compared with EE’s roughly 150 Mbps. However, EE outperformed Three on fifth percentile 5G speeds, an important indicator of consistent, real-world performance across many users and conditions.
Industry guidance from the GSMA recommends operators hold at least 80–100 MHz of contiguous spectrum for effective 5G performance. Three is currently the only UK operator with 100 MHz of contiguous spectrum, a fact it has used in marketing to claim it offers “real 5G.”
Ofcom examined these claims and concluded that while Three’s larger contiguous block can enable higher peak speeds in ideal conditions, those peak speeds would be rare for most consumers across a mature 5G network. RootMetrics’ findings support Ofcom’s view: Three shows strong peak and median performance gains in certain areas, but those advantages do not consistently translate into superior performance across all measures.
RootMetrics’ tests across 16 metropolitan areas found that Three delivered significant improvements in 5G download speed. At the same time, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone are using newly acquired spectrum to improve their 5G availability and speeds, showing progress across all major operators.
EE dominated the nation-specific awards, winning 25 of 28 possible honours and posting the fastest aggregate median download speed in each of the UK’s four nations. Three performed particularly well in Wales, sharing the Call RootScore Award and finishing second for both reliability and text performance in that nation.
For readers who want the full details, RootMetrics’ H1 2022 UK mobile performance report provides comprehensive test data and regional breakdowns.
Photo credit: Brands&People on Unsplash.
Planning to refresh your digital transformation strategy? Discover events and insights at Digital Transformation Week, held in Amsterdam, California and London, where industry leaders share practical strategies for improving digital initiatives.