EE named best network in London for download speeds and coverage
Streetwave, a Welsh company which analyses mobile network performance across the UK, has released its latest report for London, with EE winning top marks in all metrics, for download speeds, upload speeds and coverage.
Data was collected from 2nd October 2023 to 18th January 2024, by analysing 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G performance across the capital, with over 2.7 million recorded samples.
EE won top spot for average download speeds, clocking in at 22.1 Mbps, followed closely by Three with 21.2 Mbps. Vodafone came in third with 19.6 Mbps, and O2 in last place at 19 Mbps.
| Network | Average download speeds | Average upload speeds | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE | 22.1 Mbps | 5.7 Mbps | 79% |
| Three | 21.2 Mbps | 4.1 Mbps | 61% |
| Vodafone | 19.6 Mbps | 4.8 Mbps | 72% |
| O2 | 19 Mbps | 4.6 Mbps | 68% |
Nonetheless, the results show only a negligible 15% difference in download speeds between first and last place. Similar reports, which look at average download speeds across the UK, place the 4 major networks in identical positions, but with greater differences. For example, in the second half of 2023, RootMetrics found EE to have median download speeds of 68.6 Mbps, with O2 in last place at 19.9 Mbps - a whopping 110% difference.
Strretwave states their methodology looks at "real-world performance". Although they don’t disclose their exact methodology, they say they collect data “across the places consumers live, work and travel”. This can explain why download speeds appear lower than average compared to other reports for London, which tend to focus within open spaces in popular areas.
The report also showed EE best network for upload speeds, with average speeds of 5.7 Mbps. Vodafone followed in second place at 4.8 Mbps, with O2 in third at 4.6 Mbps, and Three in last place with 4.1 Mbps.
Coverage was also good news for EE, with 79% availability across the capital. Vodafone followed in second with 72%, O2 in third with 68%, and Three in last with 61%.