Britain has been identified as having the poorest phone signal among major economies, according to recent analysis. Data from the industry reveals that within the G7 countries, which include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US, the UK ranks at the bottom in terms of mobile network performance. Additionally, when compared to 23 other EU countries in Opensignal’s Global Network Excellence Index, the UK also lags behind.
On a global scale, the UK ranks 57th for overall network performance, 70th for download speeds, and 55th for consistent quality required for activities like video calls, streaming, and gaming. A survey conducted by consumer group Which? highlighted the dissatisfaction among mobile customers due to poor signal and unreliable mobile data connections.
Despite the primary factor in selecting a mobile provider being price, with half of the respondents citing value for money as their main consideration, poor signal emerged as the top complaint. Over a third of customers reported encountering service issues in the past year, with problems ranging from coverage dropouts to slow data speeds and network outages lasting an entire day.
Which? emphasized the need for a shift towards providing a reliable service over mere coverage expansion. The consumer group pointed out challenges faced by industry players like VodafoneThree, where network upgrades are hindered by planning permissions, leading to service disruptions. Recommendations have been submitted to the government calling for increased investment in mobile infrastructure, clear 5G targets, and coverage standards based on real-world performance metrics.
Natalie Hitchins, head of home products and services at Which?, stressed the importance of a reliable mobile service alongside affordability. She urged customers experiencing poor signal to explore alternative providers offering better value and more dependable connections.