Seven in 10 UK properties can now access 5G mobile services
Seven in 10 households can now connect to 5G mobile networks, but the quality of these services is yet to reach the “highest performance” level, according to a new study by Ofcom.
During the last 12 months, 5G has become more popular in the UK, with one in five smartphones now 5G capable.
70% of all UK properties can also get a reception, which is an increase from around 50% last year.
However, despite ongoing investment in 5G networks, mobile users are not entirely happy with speeds in comparison to 4G.
Ofcom found that many areas with 5G are yet to offer the best possible performance, which means that customers’ experiences can vary drastically by location and network.
Ofcom told the BBC that further investment is required to ensure that 5G delivers a step change in service quality compared to the previous generation.
Other telecom experts have blamed the poor performance on the government’s decision to remove all Huawei equipment from networks by 2027.
However, there are now 12,000 5G mobile sites in the UK, which again is a notable increase from 2021, with the vast majority of these located in England (86%).
Ofcom also revealed that 12 million households can now access ultra-fast full-fibre broadband after an impressive rollout this year, which saw a further 4.3 million properties switched on.
Around a quarter of households are taking advantage of full-fibre, a form of tech that typically offers speeds of up to 1Gbps.
More concerning is the fact that around 80,000 homes still don’t even have access to basic broadband, which can leave people without access to essential online services.