UK’s 5G Network Struggles in Recent Benchmark Study

Network benchmarking firm MedUX has published a comprehensive analysis of 5G networks across Europe, revealing that the United Kingdom is among the underperformers. The report, titled ‘Status of 5G Quality and Experience in Europe,’ is based on crowdsourced data from over 35 million tests in more than 40 countries.

The study highlights the complexities of accurately measuring mobile performance, given the variability in user environments and device capabilities. Despite widespread 5G deployment, the UK’s average download speed is only 51.54 Mbps, with upload speeds at 14.43 Mbps and an average latency of 28.27 ms. These figures place the UK behind many European nations, such as Switzerland, which boasts average speeds of 104 Mbps down and 28 Mbps up.

One of the critical issues is that UK users are connected to 5G networks only about 34% of the time, compared to 48% across Europe. The report also notes higher streaming buffering rates and inferior gaming experiences, largely due to elevated jitter levels that disrupt real-time gameplay. The social media performance also lags, with only 40% of users experiencing optimal conditions.

The report attributes some of these shortcomings to regulatory and infrastructural challenges. The UK’s previous ban on Huawei disrupted ongoing roll-outs, causing delays and increased costs. Additionally, restrictions on mast upgrades and new deployments have hampered capacity expansion. Government targets, such as achieving full gigabit coverage by 2030, have already been delayed, with a new deadline set for 2032.

While progress is underway, with Vodafone aiming for 99.95% coverage of their 5G Standalone network by 2034, improvements are gradual. The UK’s 5G situation continues to lag behind leading European nations, emphasizing the need for more spectrum allocation and infrastructure development to enhance user experience.

Co