London is one of the worst UK cities for 4G speeds and availability
UK telcos have been urged to improve their services, as new figures reveal that 4G coverage varies wildly across the UK.
The average overall availability for 4G services is just 65% in the UK, with mobile users left unable to connect for a third of the time, according to a new report from Which? and OpenSignal.
The study looked at connectivity within the country’s 20 largest cities, with Middlesbrough topping the charts at 83% availability and London placing 16th at less than 75% availability.
“These latest findings underline the need for Ofcom to keep the pressure on mobile operators, so that every part of the country gets a decent service on their mobile phone,” said Which? managing director of home products and services, Alex Neill.
“Our mobile phone is central to how we live our lives and that is why it is so frustrating when we can’t access emails or browse the internet on the go.”
The figures, combined with astronomical property prices compared with other areas, could add further weight to arguments that emerging tech hubs in the north of England such as Manchester and Leeds are better places for tech startups to base their operations.
“The mobile data experience isn’t the same in every city for UK consumers,” confirmed OpenSignal’s CEO and co-founder, Brendan Gill. “OpenSignal users found LTE signals more often in Middlesbrough than in Manchester and faster 4G connections in Stoke than in London.”
The report added: “Overall, 4G signals are far more consistently available in the cities than in the countryside, as you would expect.”