EE tops mobile network performance study
According to data analysis firm RootMetrics, EE has the best network for 4G connectivity. The company found that EE’s customers experienced 4G connectivity 90% of the time, with rivals Vodafone at 82%, O2 at 81% and Three at 67%.
The study examined the performance of the four major mobile providers in four geographic market segments: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. For the first half of 2017, data revealed that EE has the best network for data speed and performance, but Three scores top honours for overall reliability in England, Scotland and Wales.
The study named Vodafone as the best overall provider in Northern Ireland. Vodafone also has the best network for call performance and shares the honour with O2 of being the best provider of texts.
During the same period, RootMetrics also evaluated the performance of the four mobile operators in the 16 largest metropolitan areas in the four market regions for calls, text messages, large and small data uploads and large and small data downloads. EE exhibits the best overall performance in the six categories tested, but O2, Three and Vodafone all show improved performance over previous tests conducted by RootMetrics.
“These latest results have really shaken things up and show the increasing competitiveness in the UK, particularly over the last six months,” said Scott Stonham, General Manager of Europe for RootMetrics.
“EE continues to lead the way, but Three and Vodafone are close behind. What is clear is that each operator showed strong performance in at least one particular country, while nobody was able to sweep the board at the four-nations level. UK consumers have strong mobile options depending on how and where they use their devices most.”
However, the research conducted by RootMetrics indicates the need to make some improvements before all mobile service customers in the UK can have access to high-performing networks.
“To succeed, mobile operators must secure sufficient radio spectrum and invest in the necessary equipment, sites and operational teams to ensure consumers enjoy fast reliable mobile broadband,” said Ian Fogg, Senior Research Director for Mobile and Telecom at IHS Markit.
“With new UK spectrum allocations soon to be auctioned in the run up to 5G, these performance results provide a snapshot on the competitive balance between the UK mobile operators now and highlight which operators most need to acquire new spectrum capacity if they are to be a future mobile performance winner.”
Fogg also noted that the blocked merger of O2 and Three might have hampered O2’s ability to perform better in these performance tests.
“It may have been a distraction, which meant things like discussions around network planning were put off,” he said.
“Added to that, O2’s challenge is that it has less spectrum than some of its competitors but a large customer base.”
Responding to the results of RootMetrics’ study, a representative for O2 said: “We spend over £2 million every day improving network service and expanding coverage. Different network surveys produce different results.”