Who Is The Best Mobile Network Provider In The Uk?

What is the best fastest mobile network in the UK

EE mobile network EE has the best mobile phone coverage in the UK with over 99% coverage and the fastest speeds available. This is seen as the best mobile network in the UK for coverage. Even the cheapest EE deals can get you around 60Mbps speed, depending on the plan you’ve opted for and your phone’s condition.

Is 3 better than O2?

✔ Three provide much faster 5G speeds – Three’s 5G speeds are much faster than the competition, including O2. They’ve achieved this by buying up more of the spectrum than the other networks, letting them use frequencies that are closer together. They say they have the fastest 5G in the UK and results from Opensignal and Speedtest by Ookla confirm that.

1. Three’s typical 5G speeds sit between 228.4 Mbps – 285.2 Mbps while O2 got between 80.57 Mbps – 92.3 Mbps.
2. Peak 5G speeds on Three can get up to a blistering 687.13 Mbps, while they can get up to a decent 214.2 Mbps on O2.
3. Either way it’s much faster than what you’d get over home fibre optic broadband.

If you’re after bragging rights for the best possible speeds, then it’s hardly a competition, Three are by far the better choice. Still, O2’s 5G is an improvement over their 4G and will be good enough for most. Useful link: Why Three say theirs is fastest Data speeds are O2’s long-term historical weakness.

• In independent network tester Opensignal ‘s reports, O2 always come out on bottom (and so below Three) for 4G downloads.
• Three’s results have shot up by a lot, with typical speeds of 30.7 Mbps putting them second place in Opensignal’s results.
• O2’s results have gone down to 16.8 Mbps, almost half as fast as Three.

In our real life testing of O2 we found speeds could go as high as 95 Mbps in the city centre but as low as 5 Mbps in rural areas. On Three we got up to 70 Mbps but only went as low as 7 Mbps. Three were more consistent. So while you might be able to get faster peak speeds on O2, that’s only really possible in the city centre. Both WiFi calling and 4G calling (VoLTE) are standard features on O2 and Three and let you connect to calls using WiFi and 4G signal. This helps eliminate blackspots indoors and many other places signal can’t reach. You can send SMS texts over WiFi and 4G on both networks as well as letting you move from WiFi signal to 4G signal on a call and have it transfer over without it dropping.

1. So what are the differences? Most iPhone models are supported for WiFi calling on both, but O2 don’t support as many Android models,
2. And phones bought elsewhere should work with Three’s WiFi calling, while O2 are more defensive about this.
3. That doesn’t mean there’s no chance of them working.
4. In our tests for our best WiFi calling networks page, even older Android models not bought from O2 still worked, but you’re more likely to run into issues with them.

Useful link : See Three’s guide to WiFi calling “Three and O2 have very similar WiFi calling schemes in terms of how they work, but it’s easier to get it working on older Androids with Three. So Three just take this one.” Compare pricing and deals Do O2 or Three provide more WiFi hotspots around the country? While free WiFi is more common these days and data allowances have got larger, it’s still nice when networks help you stay connected and save data on the go by offering free WiFi hotspot access on your deal, O2 offer one of the best schemes of all networks.

• With the O2 WiFi hotspot scheme you get access to 15,000+ hotspots in populated places like transport hubs, shops and other venues.
• As an O2 customer, about a third of these hotspots will recognise your O2 SIM card and automatically connect you, without ever having to hit a login screen or choose it.

We’ve tried it for our O2 review, It’s a handy scheme for saving data on the go. And if you’re a regular traveller on the London Underground then you’ll love the free WiFi you get on the TFL network on O2. Useful link : Find hotspots near you

Who is the largest UK mobile provider

EE. Part of the BT Group, EE was formed after combining previous mobile networks Orange and T-Mobile. It’s the largest mobile network in the UK and provides coverage for over 99% of the country.

Is EE or Vodafone better?

In terms of 5G, a 2022 study by RootMetrics found EE to be the fastest network in the UK. In fact, EE consistently comes out as one of the speediest 5G networks, along with Three. Vodafone is no slacker, either. In the same tests carried out by RootMetrics, it finished second behind EE for 5G speeds.

Is O2 better than EE?

In Ofcom’s 2023 report, O2 scored slightly better than EE when it came to overall customer satisfaction. For example, O2 customers were found to be less likely than average to have had a reason to complain, and O2 was in line with the average when it came to whether customers would recommend them to a friend.

Which SIM service is best in UK?

Which mobile network is No 1 in UK?

Share this infographic via social media or on your site Boilerplate About EE: EE runs the UK’s biggest and fastest mobile network, offering superfast connections in more places than any other operator. EE brought the first 4G network to the UK in October 2012 and launched the UK’s first 5G network in May 2019.

EE’s mobile network has received extensive independent recognition, including being named the UK’s no.1 5G network by RootMetrics® in 2020 and 2021, and the UK’s best overall network by RootMetrics® every year since 2014, as well as being named Network of the Year at the 2022 Mobile Industry Awards.

As well as delivering mobile services to consumers, small and medium businesses, corporate customers and Government programmes, EE also provides home and business broadband using both 4G and fixed line connections. EE is committed to being number one for service in the industry and has nearly 600 shops across the UK.

1. EE remains the only mobile provider to answer 100% of customer calls in the UK and Ireland and was recognised as the UK’s Best Large Contact Centre by the UK Customer Experience Awards 2018 and Welsh Contact Centre Awards 2019.
2. EE was awarded The Sunday Times’ Best 100 Companies to Work for in 2018 and 2019, as well as being named Best Employer 2018 by the European Contact Centre & Customer Service awards.

Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ee Twitter at: www.twitter.com/ee YouTube at: www.youtube.com/ee LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/company/ee-uk

Is Vodafone or O2 better

✔ Vodafone have typically faster 5G speeds – More and more information about 5G speeds is coming out, so we can now confidently begin to compare one network against another. The most recent reports from Opensignal and Speedtest by Ookla we see typical 5G speeds on Vodafone between 105.2 Mbps – 133.54 Mbps while on O2 they were between 90.61 Mbps – 92.3 Mbps.

1. It’s odd that Vodafone got a lower average than O2 from one tester, but a higher average on another.
2. We think 5G should generally be pretty similar between the two, but speeds may vary more on Vodafone than O2.
3. Neither network are outstanding for 5G speeds.
4. If you want the fastest 5G speeds possible you might want to look at Three, with the fastest 5G speeds by far.

You can see how every network compares for 5G here, Useful link: Comparing every network’s 5G “Vodafone win out over O2 in every category. They’ve got the faster typical and peak 4G speeds and typically better 5G speeds. O2 look sluggish in comparison. Users looking for the best possible speeds will definitely prefer Vodafone.” Compare pricing and deals Comparing Vodafone and O2’s WiFi calling features Vodafone include WiFi/4G calling on most of their pay monthly SIM only and phone deals at no added cost. You will have to turn it on manually, however. And it’s not included on their Basics or Pay As You Go plans. You can check their supported phones list here,

1. Most iPhones should work, but Vodafone don’t clarify if Android models not bought from them will work.
2. But our manufacturer-bought Samsung model worked fine.
3. And you can also send SMS messages over WiFi and 4G signal, which can be handy for receiving bank confirmation messages or any other important texts no matter where you are.

While Vodafone claim they support more phones than O2, you should test the feature as soon as you get your SIM just to be safe. There’s a 14-day returns period when you buy online to get a full refund. Useful link : Vodafone’s full guide to their WiFi calling

Is O2 best in UK?

O2 Mobile coverage O2’s coverage is excellent, with its 2G, 3G and 4G networks available for 99% of the UK population. Its 5G network is also expanding. This puts it up there with EE and Three. Find out how to check the major networks’ coverage in your area to see which provider offers up the best connectivity.

Who is O2 biggest competitor?

o2.co.uk’s top 5 competitors in August 2023 are: vodafone.co.uk, three.co.uk, ee.co.uk, tescomobile.com, and more. – According to Similarweb data of monthly visits, o2.co.uk’s top competitor in August 2023 is vodafone.co.uk with 19.2M visits. o2.co.uk 2nd most similar site is three.co.uk, with 20M visits in August 2023, and closing off the top 3 is ee.co.uk with 14.4M.

Who is the best 4G operator in the UK?

EE mobile phone coverage – By some margin, EE offers the UK’s widest and fastest 4G coverage, At the time of writing, its standard 4G network covered 99% of the UK population. In select locations, EE offers a faster 4G services but these are largely limited to cities and larger towns.

1. The connection speed you’ll get depends on the phone you own and the EE plan you’re signed up to.
2. But even the cheapest EE plans can get you a theoretical connection speed of up to 60Mbps.
3. At the other end of the scale, in parts of central London the maximum speeds can reach up to 150Mbps.
4. EE also offers a 5G network connection for customers living in 50 UK towns and cities including London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Northampton and more.5G connections can reach speeds of over 500Mbps in certain areas.

Take a close look at coverage in your area with EE’s mobile phone coverage checker, Unique selling points: EE’s main perks and value-adding extras include:

Roaming for no extra charge in 48 locations Six months’ free Apple Music on select plans 24 months TNT Sports app on selected plans Option to cap your data usage

Compare our best EE mobile deals

What is the most popular mobile carrier in the UK?

In 2021, Vodafone reported having over 17 million mobile customers in the UK.

Who is better than Vodafone?

Overall Winner in snapshot: Three For us, Three just takes the crown. That’s because, while its phone contracts aren’t quite as flexible as Vodafone’s, it offers better value for money in terms of long term plans and SIM only deals.

What are the disadvantages of Vodafone?

The biggest drawback with Vodafone is their security and parental controls. Compared with the market, Vodafone parental controls are mostly device-level, with no default settings for multiple Wi-Fi networks. The setup experience is less user-friendly than the in-app systems offered by their competitors.

Is Vodafone popular in UK

Vodafone UK British telecommunications company Vodafone Limited Formerly

• Racal-Vikonics Limited (1980–1983)
• Racal-Millicom (Operating) Limited (1983–1984)
• Racal-Vodafone Limited (1984–1991)

TypeIndustryFounded7 January 1980 ; 43 years ago ( 1980-01-07 ) FounderHeadquarters, England, UK Number of locations 363 stores Area served Key people Ahmed Essam () Services

Website Vodafone Limited, Vodafone UK, is a British, and a part of, the world’s second-largest, Vodafone is the, with 18.0 million subscribers as of July 2023, after and, followed by, The country’s first cellular phone call was made on the Vodafone network in 1985.

Why is O2 so popular

Concerts At The O2 – The O2 Arena is one of the largest of its kind in the world and can hold up to 20,000 people, standing and seated. The O2 Arena is multifunctional, and has been used as an ice rink, for sporting events and for many sellout tours for some of the most famous musicians in the world.

Why is O2 so good

The great thing about O2 is that it caters for absolutely everyone, and has a plethora of phone contracts, 12-month and 30-day SIM-only deals and pay-as-you-go plans to boot. O2’s ‘Big Bundle,’ for example, offers large amounts of data, texts and minutes.

Why is EE so much more expensive?

High operational costs – In order to remain the fastest 5G network, with great coverage and reliability to match, EE has invested billions in their infrastructure in recent years. EE claims to deliver 5G in more cities than any other UK network. Furthermore, studies have shown EE is consistently the fastest network, with average download speeds of 66.23 Mbps – more than double their closest rival (Three).

What are the Big Four networks UK

Looking for more data on your SIM-only deal or faster 5G performance? We’re here to help you find the best UK mobile network for you – Choosing between the UK’s best mobile networks never gets easier. The four major UK networks – EE, Three, Vodafone and O2 – have been joined by over 20 virtual mobile networks, some selling smartphones and SIM-only contracts, and some specialising in flexible, no-frills deals.

This means there are dozens of operators, plans and bundles to pick from, and it’s easy to sign up for what looks like a great deal, only to find you could have saved some money or had faster speeds elsewhere. Coverage, reliability and customer service also count, and each can vary massively from network to network.

Luckily, we’re here to point you in the direction of the UK’s best mobile networks. We’ve compared prices, plans and features across all the big names, and factored in the latest performance figures from RootMetrics, whose researchers roam the length and breadth of the UK, testing signal strength, connection speeds, reliability and more.

• We also conduct our own research as part of our annual reader survey, in order to gather your opinions on the customer support, value for money and reliability of the networks you use, along with your experiences of 5G.
• We used last year’s figures as the basis of our Mobile Network Awards 2022 and we’ll be carrying out further research later on this year.

Finally, we looked at the latest customer service report from Ofcom, to see how the UK regulator rates the major networks for customer service and satisfaction. Ofcom’s research doesn’t cover every network, but where it does, you’ll find this information summarised in the tables below the review.

What are the 4 networks in the UK

There are actually only four UK mobile networks: EE, Three, O2 and Vodafone (check signal using Ofcom’s Mobile Coverage Checker).

Which mobile network is No 1 in UK?

Share this infographic via social media or on your site Boilerplate About EE: EE runs the UK’s biggest and fastest mobile network, offering superfast connections in more places than any other operator. EE brought the first 4G network to the UK in October 2012 and launched the UK’s first 5G network in May 2019.

EE’s mobile network has received extensive independent recognition, including being named the UK’s no.1 5G network by RootMetrics® in 2020 and 2021, and the UK’s best overall network by RootMetrics® every year since 2014, as well as being named Network of the Year at the 2022 Mobile Industry Awards.

As well as delivering mobile services to consumers, small and medium businesses, corporate customers and Government programmes, EE also provides home and business broadband using both 4G and fixed line connections. EE is committed to being number one for service in the industry and has nearly 600 shops across the UK.

EE remains the only mobile provider to answer 100% of customer calls in the UK and Ireland and was recognised as the UK’s Best Large Contact Centre by the UK Customer Experience Awards 2018 and Welsh Contact Centre Awards 2019. EE was awarded The Sunday Times’ Best 100 Companies to Work for in 2018 and 2019, as well as being named Best Employer 2018 by the European Contact Centre & Customer Service awards.

Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ee Twitter at: www.twitter.com/ee YouTube at: www.youtube.com/ee LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/company/ee-uk

What are the top 3 networks in the UK?

What’s the best phone network in the UK? – First, let’s have a look at the options. There are actually only four phone networks in the UK:

EE O2 Three Vodafone

That could go down to three, if the proposed Vodafone and Three merger goes through. In terms of piggyback providers, here are all the options:

EE – BT Mobile (owned by EE), Utility Warehouse, 1pMobile, Lycamobile, Your Co-op, Ecotalk, IQ Mobile, Zevvle, RWG Mobile O2 – Giffgaff, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile Three – iD Mobile, Smarty, FreedomPop, Honest Mobile, Superdrug Mobile Vodafone – Voxi, Asda Mobile, Lebara Mobile, Talkmobile

It’s worth keeping this in mind when considering which provider you’d like to use, as coverage for the network you use may differ depending on where you are in the UK. Ofcom’s coverage checker is a useful guide, but that doesn’t guarantee good signal.

If possible, ask friends and family for their experience, or try a pay-as-you-go SIM from one of the main four networks first. Of course, the problem with having only four networks is that if one goes down, all of its piggybackers are likely to suffer the same fate. According to RootMetrics, EE offers the most reliable service in the UK, followed by Vodafone, Three and O2.

Below, we’ll run through each of the big four phone networks and all the providers which use their service.