Network benchmarking provider Ookla, renowned for its Speedtest.net internet connection testing service, has shared exclusive data with ISPreview, shedding light on the current and historical levels of 5G mobile availability across the UK’s major network operators: EE (BT), Vodafone, Three UK, and O2 (Virgin Media). The findings offer some intriguing insights.
To clarify, the 5G availability figures represent the percentage of users with 5G-enabled devices who spend the majority of their time connected to 5G networks. This should not be confused with population or geographic coverage metrics, which measure broader network reach.
As reported earlier this week, the United Kingdom currently has a national 5G availability score of 42.2%, placing it behind much of Europe. This performance gap has been attributed to various factors explored previously. However, Ookla has now provided ISPreview with updated data on 5G availability by network operator, highlighting changes between Q4 2023 and Q4 2024.
The results show EE leading with a 5G availability score of 67.45%. While EE may not consistently outpace Three UK in terms of 5G speeds, its availability more than doubles that of its closest competitor. O2 follows with a score of 46.11%, performing significantly better in availability compared to its usual position at the bottom of many performance studies. Three UK secures third place with 31.1%, while Vodafone trails far behind with a disappointing 16.37%.
These discrepancies are likely influenced by the robustness of existing 4G infrastructure and the gradual rollout of true end-to-end 5G Standalone networks. However, Vodafone’s relatively poor performance compared to its peers, and O2’s stronger-than-expected showing, remain surprising developments in the ongoing evolution of UK mobile networks.