The UK’s network connectivity is above average when compared to other countries, sitting at around 77% 4G availability nationwide, for example, and yet sometimes we still find ourselves dropping out during a call, or our videos stuttering and freezing.
Struggling to send a text when you’re out and about, or have to stand in a certain room in the home when taking on the phone in order to get reception? Here are some clear signals as to which might be the best provider to go with, and also which areas in the UK have the best mobile network coverage.
Battle of the Brands
According to a study conducted by RootMetrics, EE are the mobile provider in the UK with the best mobile coverage overall. There isn’t much in it between the other big hitters – such as O2, Three and Vodafone – but depending on your need for speed, you should do the research on who will give you what, when, and where.
In Liverpool, for example, EE covers the vast majority of the city, both indoors and outdoors, meaning those visiting or living there will never go without invaluable connection for too long. Being a northern city that is extremely popular among students from far and wide, with a student population of around 70,000, this is an extremely beneficial bit of infrastructure, that allows many young people to get the most out of the city while living there. Investment company RW Invest, who have an office in the heart of the city, state that the area is one of the best in the country for regeneration at the moment, and so it may come as no surprise that the network speed and availability is there. Of course, for investors looking towards an area to buy property in, internet speeds and connectivity infrastructure is important thing to look at.
EE is also ahead of the curve with its even higher-speed 5G technology, which it is rolling out throughout certain parts of the country. Some controversy and protest has arisen around this new upgrade, due to the belief that the electromagnetic radiation may lead to a higher risk of cancer after long exposure, although the World Health Organisation have dismissed these concerns. It seems our phones will continue to get faster and faster as the days go by.
Networked – The best areas
Here are some of the top coverage and network spots around the UK:
- Manchester – Again, much like Liverpool, Manchester is a prime example of a northern city that has experienced a ton of development, and its network coverage is also strong. The area was also one of the first to receive 5G coverage from EE earlier this year.
- Brighton – Brighton is also known as having some of the fastest and most reliable broadband and internet connection in the country. This attractive trait is one of the reasons why you’ll find so many YouTube personalities living and creating there, as they need fast, reliable streams in order to upload videos on time and also even livestream to their followers.
- Stoke-on-Trent – Perhaps surprisingly, Which’s study done in collaboration with OpenSignal revealed that Stoke-on-Trent had the best internet speeds on average with a 4G signal, clocking in at 26.6Mbps.
- Middlesbrough – Again, according to studies done by Which that were conducted with the help from members of the general public using a smartphone app, Middlesbrough has the best overall availability on 4G, clocking in an impressive 82.%. No other city in the country has topped 80%, although it does come at the cost of average speed, as Middlesbrough slips down the list in that regard to a middling 15th.