Operator claims title for second year running since. Three was named best for voice.
EE has been voted the best network provider for the second year running as part of the latest mobile network testing review by P3 Communications.
P3 launched its first UK test last year, with EE coming out on top overall – an accolade it retained this year with a score of 760 out of 1000, with Three (687), Vodafone (673) and O2 (638) making up the rest.
To carry out the tests, P3 Communications used two measurement cars carrying eight Samsung Galaxy S5 handsets and four Galaxy Note 4 devices, testing mobile-to-mobile from one car to the other.
It logged more than 90,000 speech samples per operator, and 50,000 data samples. 60 per cent of the samples were obtained in big cities, while the rest were collected in smaller locations.
For data, EE scored 490 our of 600, with 89 per cent success rate in the big cities drivetest and 79 per cent success in big cities walktest. It had 61 per cent success in small cities, and 76 per cent in connecting roads, meaning it topped every category.
Vodafone came second overall for data, with 373 out of 600, while O2 scored 370 and Three scored 354.
Three was the best performing network for voice, scoring 333 out of 400, with 66 per cent success in the big cities drivetest, 86 per cent in the walktest and 84 per cent on connecting roads.
Vodafone came second for voice with a score of 300, followed by EE (270) and O2 bringing up the rear with 268.
P3 head of test Bernd Theiss said the UK was still lagging behind other European operators.
“In last year’s mobile network test it was mentioned that compared with other leading operators in Europe and worldwide, all UK networks have significant potential to further improve their service quality and performance,” he explained.
“We see some improvement in this year’s benchmark, especially with EE in the data measurements. Here the best operator of last year’s benchmark managed to make a big step ahead in speed.
“No wonder EE defends its leading position and contends for ‘best in test’ seal again. But voice services from EE are handled only satisfactorily with success ratios slightly below 95 per cent. Other European operators constantly deliver above 98 per cent.
