UK mobile broadband statistics 2025
With the popularity of smartphones showing no signs of waning, the usage of mobile broadband has continued to accelerate rapidly. Approximately 66 million people in the UK were mobile broadband users in 2023, equating to roughly 98% of the population.
With mobile internet now playing an integral part in the everyday lives of millions in the UK, access to fast, reliable mobile broadband has never been more important.
But what is the current state of mobile broadband coverage in the UK? We’ve collated the latest UK mobile broadband statistics for 2025, covering mobile broadband access, usage, speed, and more.
Top 10 UK mobile broadband statistics 2025
- The number of mobile broadband connections per 100 people is expected to surpass 130 by 2028.
- Globally, there is a 38% mobile broadband usage gap, meaning nearly two-fifths of the world is covered by mobile connectivity but does not use the technology. A further 4.3% are not covered by mobile broadband.
- Northern Ireland has the greatest 5G coverage of all UK nations, with at least one major network operator (MNO) covering 90% of the country.
- There is a significant urban-rural gap in 5G coverage, with 45% of urban areas covered, compared to just 5% of rural areas.
- BT and EE have the greatest 5G coverage within the UK, at over two-fifths (42%).
- While the entirety of the UK has access to 4G from at least one MNO, only 88% is covered by all MNOs.
- Despite the ongoing 2G/3G switch off, 2.1 million devices are still reliant on these networks.
- Across both uploads and downloads, 5G standalone networks offer the fastest speeds, regardless of file size.
- Three offers the fastest average 5G download speeds at 208.9Mbps.
- Across the UK, 5G has a higher successful connection rate than 4G, at 97.6% vs 95.7%, respectively.
UK mobile broadband access statistics
The latest UK mobile broadband statistics show a slight drop in the number of mobile broadband subscriptions between Q4 2023 and Q4 2024.
Number of mobile broadband subscriptions
At the end of 2023, there were 4.82 million mobile broadband subscriptions according to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report, but by the end of 2024, this figure had fallen 0.62% to 4.79 million.
Number of global mobile broadband connections by region
According to GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Report, 57.1% of the global population was using mobile broadband in 2023 - an increase of 73.56% from the % of the population connected to mobile internet in 2015.
Global mobile broadband statistics
GSMA also reports a coverage gap of 38.6%, indicating that nearly two-fifths of the world live in areas covered by mobile broadband connectivity but do not use it. However, this figure has dropped by 10 percentage points in eight years.
The coverage gap - those living in areas without access to mobile broadband - has decreased by 76.8% between 2015 and 2023, from 18.5% to 4.3%. This means fewer than one in 20 people on Earth do not have access to mobile broadband.
UK 5G connectivity statistics
Where is 5G available in the UK?
Recent mobile broadband statistics from Ofcom show that Northern Ireland had the most 5G coverage of any UK nation in September 2024. The upper MNO coverage percentage of the country sits at 90%, nine percentage points ahead of England’s upper range figure (81%).
That being said, Northern Ireland also has the lowest lower range 5G outside premises coverage, at 36%.
Percentage of the UK with outdoor 5G coverage (September 2024)
Wales has the greatest range in MNO 5G coverage outside premises. With a range of 16-80%, there are 64 percentage points between the MNO with the least coverage and that with the most coverage.
Meanwhile, England reports the smallest range in coverage, at just 16 percentage points.
Urban vs rural 5G statistics
There is a significant gap in 5G coverage between urban and rural areas in England. The overwhelming majority (98%) of urban premises in England have access to at least one MNO offering 5G mobile coverage outdoors - this figure is 16.33% lower for rural areas, where just over four-fifths (82%) of premises have access to 5G outdoors.
Percentage of UK with 4G coverage in urban and rural areas (September 2024)
This trend is worse when considering all network operators. While over two-fifths (45%) of urban premises can access 5G mobile coverage outdoors, the figure is 88.89% lower for rural areas. Only one in 20 (5%) premises in rural areas has access to 5G coverage outdoors from all operators.
UK 5G accessibility by network
The latest mobile broadband statistics show that BT and EE had the most 5G geographic coverage of any network in the UK, at 42%. This figure indicates that BT and EE have 50% more coverage than VMO2 in second position.
Percentage of the UK with high confidence 5G geographic coverage by network
Ofcom’s September 2024 data indicates that Vodafone offers the least 5G coverage. At just 15%, they are the only MNO unable to offer 5G access to at least a fifth of UK premises.
UK 4G connectivity statistics
Outdoor 4G coverage statistics
Outdoor 4G access remained largely unchanged between 2021 and 2023, with all of the UK able to access 4G outside the premises from at least one MNO.
Percentage of the UK with outdoor 4K coverage
| Year | Percentage of the UK with 4G coverage outside premises from at least one MNO | Percentage of the UK with 4G coverage outside premises from all MNOs |
|---|---|---|
| September 2022 | 100% | 98% |
| September 2023 | 100% | 98% |
| September 2024 | 100% | 99% |
(Source: Ofcom)
The majority of premises also have outdoor 4G coverage from all MNOs, with a slight increase from 98% to 99% reported between 2023 and 2024.
Indoor 4G coverage statistics
Indoor 4G coverage has grown since September 2022, when over four-fifths (84%) of UK premises had access to 4G indoors from all MNOs. Coverage has grown by two percentage points each year to 88% in 2024, for an overall increase of 4.76%.
Percentage of the UK with indoor 4G coverage
| Year | Percentage of the UK with 4G coverage inside premises from at least one MNO | Percentage of the UK with 4G coverage inside premises from all MNOs |
|---|---|---|
| September 2022 | 99% | 84% |
| September 2023 | 99% | 86% |
| September 2024 | 100% | 88% |
(Source: Ofcom)
4G coverage inside premises from at least one MNO has finally reached 100%.
Urban vs rural 4G accessibility
Recent mobile broadband statistics found that UK 4G access from at least one MNO was strong in both urban and rural outdoor areas, with urban areas reporting 100% coverage and rural areas only narrowly behind at 98%.
Percentage of the UK with 4G coverage in urban and rural areas
However, there is a greater disparity in terms of 4G access from all MNOs. While the overwhelming majority (99%) of urban areas are covered by all operators, under nine in 10 of rural areas can access 4G from all MNOs. Further, 2% of rural areas have no access to 4G.
UK 4G accessibility by UK nation
4G statistics from Ofcom found that every UK nation had outdoor 4G access rates of 100% from at least one major operator in September 2024. England had the highest outdoor access from all MNOs, at 99%, followed by Scotland (98%), and Northern Ireland and Wales (both 97%).
Percentage of the UK with 4G coverage by country
| Country | Percentage of country with 4G access outside UK premises from at least one MNO | Percentage of country with 4G access outside UK premises from all MNOs | Percentage of country with 4G access inside UK premises from at least one MNO | Percentage of country with 4G access inside UK premises from all MNOs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 100% | 99% | 100% | 88% |
| Northern Ireland | 100% | 97% | 99% | 74% |
| Scotland | 100% | 98% | 100% | 89% |
| Wales | 100% | 97% | 99% | 80% |
(Source: Ofcom)
Indoor access from at least one MNO was similarly strong, with every UK nation having at least 99% of premises covered in 2024. England and Scotland reported full indoor coverage from all MNOs, while Northern Ireland and Wales were just behind at 99%.
The greatest disparity between UK nations is found within inside coverage from all MNOs. Scotland records the greatest coverage here at nearly nine-tenths (89%), whereas Northern Ireland trails behind with under three-quarters (74%).
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The ongoing 2G and 3G switch off
With 5G access accelerating and 4G providing the foundation of UK mobile broadband coverage, major networks have started the process of switching off their 2G and 3G networks
As such, the number of customers using devices reliant on 2G or 3G connectivity has fallen considerably, from approximately 5.5 million in 2022 to 2.4 million in 2023.
Number of mobile devices in the UK reliant on 2G and 3G connectivity.
As such, the number of customers using devices reliant on 2G or 3G connectivity has fallen by over three-fifths (61.82%), from approximately 5.5 million in 2022 to 2.1 million in 2024.
UK mobile broadband traffic statistics
Mobile broadband traffic by connection type
Most mobile broadband traffic in the UK still occurs on a 4G network, as of September 2024. Around 831PB of traffic in 2024 occurred on a 4G network, up 13.22% from 734PB in 2023.
Total UK mobile broadband traffic by year and technology type
5G mobile traffic accelerated between 2021 and 2022 (270.59%), before slowing down between 2022 and 2023 (139.68%) and 2023 and 2024 (50.33%).
Meanwhile, monthly traffic on a 3G network halved between 2023 and 2024, from 20PB to 10PB.
Urban vs rural mobile broadband traffic statistics
Research on mobile broadband statistics found that nearly half (45.32%) of monthly UK mobile broadband traffic came from urban areas in 2024. By comparison, suburban areas were responsible for almost two-fifths (37.08%) of traffic, with less than a fifth (17.60%) coming from rural locations.
Total UK mobile broadband traffic by year and area type
While the volume of internet traffic increased significantly between 2021 and 2024, the overall distribution remains similar. In 2021, more than two-fifths (42.48%) of internet traffic came from urban areas, increasing to 44.28% in 2022 and 45.46% by 2023.
Suburban locations made up just under 37.59% of overall mobile broadband traffic in 2021, with this figure falling slightly to 36.83% (2022) and 36.84% (2023).
Rural areas accounted for nearly a fifth (19.93%) of traffic in 2021, falling slightly (18.9%) the following year. This downward trend continued in 2023, when rural areas accounted for 17.7% of monthly traffic.
Mobile broadband traffic by UK nation
Mobile broadband traffic data from Ofcom found that England was responsible for more than four-fifths (85.49%) of monthly UK mobile broadband traffic in 2024. Traffic in England rose by 141PB between 2023 and 2024, equivalent to an increase of 18.26%.
Scotland was responsible for the second-highest percentage of UK mobile broadband traffic in 2024, with its total of 88PB accounting for 8.24%. This is a slight increase from 2021, when the country’s traffic accounted for 7.97%.
Total UK mobile broadband traffic by year and country
Wales was responsible for 4.21% of the UK’s mobile broadband traffic in 2024, down from 4.37% in 2021.
Similarly, Northern Ireland’s 15PB traffic was responsible for 2.06% of the total mobile broadband traffic in the UK in 2024, down from 2.62% in 2021.
How fast is mobile broadband in the UK?
Which mobile broadband network provider is best for streaming?
According to Opensignal’s experience index, EE is the best provider for streaming video content and playing games using a mobile broadband connection.
Video and games experience scores by network provider
| Network provider | Video experience score (/100) | Games experience score (/100) |
|---|---|---|
| EE | 66.6 | 70 |
| O2 | 60.1 | 62.7 |
| Three | 61.4 | 64.2 |
| Vodafone | 63 | 68.7 |
(Source Opensignal)
All providers place in the ‘good’ (58-68) category for video streaming, indicating that users can stream 720p or better content on a mobile broadband connection with satisfactory load times and little buffering.
Average UK download speeds
According to the latest average UK download speeds statistics, 5G is far ahead of both 4G and 3G.
Average UK download speeds by mobile broadband connection type
With average download speeds of 70-205Mbps, even the slower end of 5G is almost twice as fast as 4G.
Average 5G download speeds by UK country
Mobile broadband stats show that Wales had the fastest 5G download speed of any UK country in March 2023. With an average speed of 136.4Mbps, Wales was more than 4% faster than any other UK country.
England had the next highest average 5G download speeds at 130.7Mbps. This was nearly 4% faster than Scotland (15.9Mbps), making England the only other UK country with 5G download speeds above 130Mbps.
Northern Ireland had the slowest average 5G speed, at 97.8Mbps, which was around a fifth (22%) slower than Scotland and more than a quarter (28%) slower than Wales.
A breakdown of the average UK 4G and 5G download speeds by country
As of 2023, England had the quickest average 4G speed, at 30.2Mbps. This was 11% faster than Scotland (26.7Mbps) and 13% quicker than Wales (26.7Mbps).
Northern Ireland’s average 4G download speed of 19.8Mbps was more than a third (34%) slower than England's, making it the only country with 4G download speeds below 20Mbps.
Average 5G download speeds by provider
Three had the fastest 5G download speed of all UK MNOs, with an average rate of 235Mbps in March 2023. This was nearly double the speed of any other provider and meant that Three was the only major operator with average download speeds above 200Mbps.
A breakdown of the the average UK 5G download speed by network provider
O2 had the slowest 5G download speeds of the major providers, with an average speed of 80.1Mpbs. Although this is 61.66% slower than Three, it nevertheless represents an 8.54% improvement on O2’s 2023 speeds (73.8Mbps).
Average upload speeds
Analysis of mobile broadband statistics shows that 5G had by far the fastest upload speeds of any connection type in 2023. With an average upload pace of 14.7Mbps, 5G’s average was nearly double the rate for 4G connections (7.6Mbps).
Average UK upload speeds by mobile broadband connection type
At the other end of the scale, 3G had average upload speeds of just 2Mbps. This was nearly four times slower than 4G and more than seven times slower than 5G.
Which UK country has the fastest 5G upload speeds?
Scotland had the fastest 5G upload speeds of any UK country in 2023, with an average of 15.3Mbps. This was nearly 3% higher than the next fastest country (Wales) and meant that Scotland was the only UK country with average 5G upload speeds exceeding 15Mbps.
Average 5G upload speed by UK country
Northern Ireland had the slowest average 5G upload speeds, with an average of 12.7Mbps. This was typically 2Mbps slower than England, meaning 5G upload speeds were around a fifth (17%) slower in Northern Ireland than in Scotland.
Average 5G upload speeds by provider
Mobile broadband stats show that Three had the fastest 5G upload speeds of any major operator in the UK in 2024. With an average of 19.2Mbps, Three’s typical uploads were 8.47% faster than EE in second position (17.7Mbps).
Average 5G upload speeds in the UK by network provider
O2 had the slowest 5G upload speed of all MNOs, with an average of 10.1Mbps. This is 47.4% slower than Three, and also makes O2 the only operator to report upload speeds of under 15Mbps.
UK mobile network speed and reliability statistics
Average UK mobile speed data - downloading and uploading
Across uploads and downloads of different file sizes, 5G standalone networks always offer the quickest times. For example, downloading a 10MB file on a 5G standalone connection takes the same time as downloading a file of half the size on a 5G non-standalone network.
Average time taken to upload and download different-sized files by type of connection
The greatest disparity in speeds can be found when looking at downloading a 10MB file. On a 5G standalone network this takes just 0.7 seconds, while the same action takes nearly two seconds longer (2.5 seconds) on a 4G network.
Reliability of UK mobile data connections
There is little variation in the reliability of mobile data connections across the UK. England and Scotland both report 97.6% successful 5G connections, while Wales and Northern Ireland are only narrowly behind at 97.4% and 97%, respectively.
Average proportion of successful data connections by type of connection
| Average proportion of successful data connections while the screen was active, by connection type (%) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 4G | 5G | |
| UK | 95.7 | 97.6 |
| UK urban | 95.7 | 97.6 |
| UK rural | 95.2 | 97.4 |
| England | 95.7 | 97.6 |
| Northern Ireland | 95 | 97 |
| Scotland | 95.8 | 97.6 |
| Wales | 95.2 | 97.4 |
Source: Ofcom
Similarly, all UK nations report upwards of 95% successful 4G connections.
The difference in proportion of successful connections in urban and rural areas is minimal, too, with 95.7% vs 95.2% for 4G, and 97.6% and 97.4% for 5G.
Reliability of UK mobile video streaming
Urban areas in Scotland are the most reliable areas in the UK for streaming a 30-second video without interruption. In these areas, this action is completed successfully 98.6% of the time. Meanwhile, rural Northern Ireland is the least reliable area for this, with a 96.9% successful streaming rate.
Proportion of 30-second video streams completed without interruption by connection type
| Proportion of 30-second video streams completed without interruption, by connection type (%) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 4G | 5G | |
| UK | 96.6 | 98.2 |
| England | 96.6 | 98.1 |
| Northern Ireland | 96.9 | 97.8 |
| Scotland | 97 | 98.5 |
| Wales | 95.9 | 98.2 |
| Urban: UK | 96.8 | 98.2 |
| Urban: England | 96.8 | 98.2 |
| Urban: Northern Ireland | 97.1 | 98 |
| Urban: Scotland | 97.1 | 98.6 |
| Urban: Wales | 96.1 | 98.2 |
| Rural: UK | 95.9 | 97.8 |
| Rural: England | 95.7 | 97.7 |
| Rural: Northern Ireland | 96.4 | 96.9 |
| Rural: Scotland | 96.8 | 98.1 |
| Rural: Wales | 95.5 | 98.4 |
Source: Ofcom
When streaming a 30-second video on a 4G mobile network, urban areas in both Scotland and Northern Ireland offer the most reliable connections (97.1%).
UK mobile response times for data requests
The latest statistics on UK mobile broadband response times indicate that Three offers the fastest response times on 5G. With average speeds of 15.3 seconds, this network is nearly two full seconds faster than EE.
Average mobile broadband response time by connection type and MNO
However, in terms of 4G, EE takes the title of fastest response times, at 17.7 seconds.
O2 is the slowest network provider across both 4G and 5G, with average mobile broadband response times of 23.2 and 21.3 seconds, respectively.
Mobile Broadband FAQs
How fast is 5G?
As of 2023, the average download speed for 5G in the UK was 129.9Mbps. This is more than four times faster than the average 4G download speed of 29.5Mbps.
How to get 5G
5G connections are now available with most modern smartphones. However, the level and quality of your coverage will depend on an array of factors, including your location, network, and phone type. To find out whether 5G is available on your device, you can contact your provider to confirm that they support 5G and that you're on a plan that offers 5G.
What is mobile broadband?
Mobile broadband refers to the wireless broadband delivered through cellular towers to mobile devices like phones and tablets. Separate from traditional, fixed-line internet, mobile broadband provides data through mobile networks such as 3G, 4G, and 5G.
When will 5G be in my area?
As the UK 5G rollout continues to accelerate, availability across the UK continues to grow. Despite this, many areas still have limited or no 5G access. You can find out more about the current status of 5G in your area by visiting Ofcom’s 5G coverage checker.
What is the difference between 4G and 5G?
As the fifth generation of mobile internet technology, 5G is the direct successor of 4G technology. 5G uses smaller wavelengths and much higher frequencies when transporting data to your device, meaning it can offer substantially higher speeds, lower latency, and more bandwidth than 4G.
How to improve mobile internet speed
Numerous factors can affect your mobile internet speed. As such, it’s important to bear in mind a few things when trying to get the best speed on your device:
Ensuring you’re in a 5G-ready location
Turning off any unused apps or phone features that may be slowing your device down.
Ensuring you’re on the network that provides the best speed and coverage in your area
Finally, if your device is still providing unsatisfactory speeds, simple troubleshooting steps like clearing cache and cookies and updating software and apps may help to ensure your mobile broadband is operating at full capacity.
What is the best mobile broadband?
The best mobile broadband coverage for you depends on an array of factors, such as your location, requirements, and device. In terms of speed, Three typically has the fastest mobile broadband of any major operator in the UK, with an average 5G download speed of 235Mbps and upload speed of 17.2Mbps.
Mobile broadband glossary
4G
4G is the fourth generation of mobile broadband, allowing higher speeds and greater reliability than previous connection types like 2G and 3G.
5G
5G is the fifth and latest generation of mobile broadband, allowing higher speeds and greater reliability than previous connection types like 3G and 4G.
Major network operator (MNO)
A major network operator (MNO) is a mobile broadband company that is among the largest providers in the UK in terms of coverage and market share.
Mobile broadband
Mobile broadband is a type of wireless internet delivered through cellular towers to mobile devices like phones and tablets. Separate from fixed-line broadband, mobile broadband is provided to customers via mobile services like 4G and 5G.
Petabyte (PB)
A petabyte is an extremely large unit of digital data equivalent to 1 billion gigabytes (GB).
Methodology and sources
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/273721/connected-nations-2023-uk.pdf
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/273721/connected-nations-2023-uk.pdf
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/264600/mobile-matters-2023-report.pdf
https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2024/09/uk/mobile-network-experience
