The study also found that UK 4G access is lagging behind the rest of the world
Three has been named the worst network in the UK for 4G coverage in the latest study from consumer body Which?.
The ‘State of Mobile Networks: UK’ report was conducted in partnership with mobile coverage specialists OpenSignal. Data based on the time it takes for users to access 4G was taken from 30,000 registered members of OpenSignal’s mobile app.
It found that Three users could only access 4G 39.8 per cent of the time, the worst coverage of all four networks. EE came first (60.6 per cent), Vodafone second (57 per cent) and O2 third (56 per cent).
Despite Three’s shortcomings, it had the best download speeds of 18.7Mbps – up from 12mbps last year. EE averaged 17.8Mbps, O2 12.1Mbps and Vodafone 11.8Mbps.
According to Which?, mobile users across the world have access to 4G 60 per cent of the time or more. OpenSignal found that UK customers across all networks can only access 4G 53 per cent of the time.
Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: “Almost everyone now uses a mobile phone service and it’s not good enough that the UK is lagging behind so many countries with our 4G network coverage. Increasing 4G access s€‹hould be a priority for mobile providers and Ofcom must continue to push them to make this a reality.”