According to recent data from the mobile network think tank Opensignal, mobile phone users in the UK are experiencing significant difficulties in 5G download speeds. In 2023, the UK had the slowest 5G download speeds among G7 countries, despite ministerial claims that superfast mobile network technology is crucial for economic growth.
Between August 1 and October 29, smartphone users in the UK achieved average 5G download speeds of 118.2 megabits per second (mbps). This is 13% slower compared to the same period in 2022 when the UK ranked third alongside Germany. In contrast, France and Germany had average 5G download speeds of 221.1 mbps and 151.8 mbps, respectively.
This places the UK at the bottom of the G7 rankings, with Italy overtaking them and increasing download speeds by 35%, from 97.6 mbps to 131.9 mbps. Despite being one of the first countries to commercially launch 5G in 2019, the UK has fallen behind in the global race for 5G.
One of the main contributing factors to these difficulties is the ban on critical telecommunications equipment from Chinese company Huawei. UK network operators must remove and replace Huawei equipment from the country’s 5G infrastructure by 2027 due to concerns of potential espionage. The ban, along with insufficient investment from mobile operators, has slowed down the deployment of 5G in the UK, leading to limited mobile coverage across the country.
Opensignal attributed the slower download speeds in the UK to the high amount of traffic on 5G networks, causing congestion during peak hours. This can occur when too many users or devices are simultaneously using the ultra-fast network.
To address these issues, the government has committed to facilitating the rollout of standalone 5G in all populated areas by 2030. The widespread adoption of 5G could bring significant productivity benefits of up to £159 billion by 2035, according to the Secretary of State for Technology, Michelle Donelan.
It is important for the UK to address the slow 5G speeds and improve its 5G infrastructure in order to maintain competitiveness on the international stage and fully leverage the potential of this groundbreaking technology for economic growth.
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