giffgaff named Network of the Year at the annual Uswitch Mobile Awards
Asda Mobile scoops Best Network for Customer Service and Smarty takes home Best Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Network
Apple beats Samsung to be crowned Manufacturer of the Year, with the iPhone 12 Pro Max named Handset of the Year
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold2 5G wins Tech Innovation of the Year
Three takes home Best Network for Roaming, Most Popular Mobile Network plus Best Network for Data and Best SIM-only Network
O2 wins Best Network Coverage at the Uswitch mobile awards
Smaller providers won big in the mobile phone categories of the 2021 Uswitch Awards, with giffgaff scooping Network of the Year[1], Asda Mobile taking the Best Network for Customer Service and Smarty lifting the Best Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Network award.
The awards, which recognise excellence in the mobile sector, were voted for by more than 17,000 consumers as well as a judging panel of experts in the fields of technology, consumer affairs and personal finance.
The pandemic caused many providers to reduce the number of staff dealing with customer service enquiries at call centres, making Asda Mobile’s award for Best Network for Customer Service all the more impressive. Another smaller provider, Lebara, was named Best Value SIM Only.
Apple beat Samsung to be named as Manufacturer of the Year and also scooped Handset of the Year for the iPhone 12 Pro Max — the top-of-the-line model in the company’s first series of 5G-capable devices.
Samsung was honoured with the Telecoms Innovation Award for the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, its folding phone with a tablet-like 7.6-inch screen that improved upon its predecessor.
Mobile network Three took top spot for Most Popular Mobile Network, as well as claiming the Best Network for Data, and also came out on top for roaming.
Meanwhile, O2’s reliable reception across the country helped it win the Best Network Coverage award.
In what has been a financially difficult year for many customers, Sky Mobile won the award for Best Value Pay Monthly as well as Best Pay Monthly Network.
Three scored the Best SIM Only Network and EE scooped Fastest Mobile Network. Meanwhile, Apple was named High Street Retailer of the Year.
2021 Mobile Award Winners and Runners-up
| Award | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Best Network Coverage | O2 | EE |
| Best Network for Customer Service | Asda Mobile | Sky Mobile |
| Best Network for Roaming (judges’ award) | Three | EE |
| Fastest Mobile Network - Based on analysis derived from Opensignal* | EE | Vodafone |
| Best Pay Monthly Network | Sky Mobile | Tesco Mobile |
| Best PAYG Network | Smarty | Lebara |
| Best Retailer for Customer Service | John Lewis | Apple |
| Best SIM Only Network | Three | O2 |
| Best Value Pay Monthly | Sky Mobile | Tesco Mobile |
| Best Value SIM Only | Lebara | Smarty |
| High Street Retailer of the Year | Apple | John Lewis |
| Manufacturer of the Year | Apple | Samsung |
| Handset of the Year (judges’ award) | iPhone 12 Pro Max | Samsung S20 FE 5G |
| Mobile Reseller of the Year | A1 Comms | Mobile Phones Direct |
| Network of the Year | giffgaff | Tesco Mobile |
| Online Retailer of the Year (judges’ award) | Amazon | AO.com |
| Most Popular Mobile Network | Three | O2 |
| Telecoms Innovation Award | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G | Vodafone Standalone 5G |
Source: Uswitch.com
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “Over the last year we’ve relied more than ever on our mobile phones for work, entertainment and to keep in touch with our loved ones.
“giffgaff has won a place in consumers’ hearts with its no-nonsense business model, and it fully deserves its Network of the Year award.
“Once again Apple has taken home the Handset of the Year award, with the iPhone 12 Pro Max showing off a quality camera, stylish design and 5G for the first time.
“The absence of one provider sweeping the board at our awards this year shows how competitive the UK mobile market is, and also demonstrates what each network has to offer in the various categories.”
Find out how you could save over £1,000 a year with Uswitch.com here.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rory Stoves
Phone: 020 3872 5613
Email: rory.stoves@uswitch.com
Twitter: @UswitchPR
Notes to Editors
1. Network of the Year is voted for by the public and takes into overall levels of customer service, network coverage, data speed and allowance, value for money, roaming and free giveaways.
*Analysis derived from Opensignal Awards - UK Mobile Network Experience reports April and October 2020, based on independent analysis of mobile measurements recorded during the period Dec 1, 2019 - Feb 28, 2020 and Jun 1 - Aug 29, 2020. ©2020 OpenSignal Inc.
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
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