The latest tests from Ookla reveal that Three Mobile has emerged as the top performer among the UK’s major mobile providers for fast download speeds, surpassing its competitors. Ookla’s data shows that Three achieved an average download speed of 214Mbps, outpacing its closest rival by over 80Mbps and doubling the typical fixed-line broadband speed in the UK.
In the rankings, Vodafone secured the second spot, followed by EE in third place, while O2 lagged behind with the slowest speeds across all categories. Ookla officially confirmed Three as the fastest 5G network in the United Kingdom for the period of Q3–Q4 2025, based on its Speed Score methodology that considers network throughput, responsiveness, and speed performance metrics.
Here is a snapshot of the Ookla results:
– Overall Speed Score:
– Three: 53.46
– Vodafone: 43.05
– EE: 36.73
– O2: 30.70
– Median download speeds:
– Three: 214Mbps
– Vodafone: 129.78Mbps
– EE: 97Mbps
– O2: 78.92Mbps
– Median upload speeds:
– Three: 13.8Mbps
– Vodafone: 10.78Mbps
– EE: 10.96Mbps
– O2: 8.28Mbps
Although mobile network testing can be challenging due to varying user locations and network conditions, the results highlight Three’s superior performance. The recent merger with Vodafone has positioned VodafoneThree to invest £11 billion in building the UK’s premier mobile network for enhanced coverage and improved performance nationwide.
The integration of the two networks through the use of “Multi-Operator Core Network” technology post-merger enables seamless connectivity between Vodafone and Three customers at no additional cost, potentially leading to broader coverage and better service quality across the country.