Why Is Mobile Signal So Bad in the UK?
Outdoor 4G coverage from at least one MNO has now reached 95% of the UK landmass (hitting one of the key targets from the Shared Rural Network programme), yet thousands of people across the country still struggle with poor signal strength, inconsistent coverage and slow mobile data speeds. In fact, in a recent Which? survey 17% of mobile users reported problems with signal and network connectivity. From network outages to consistently poor phone signal, it’s clear that there are real issues with mobile connectivity in the UK. So, why is mobile signal so bad in the UK?
One of the main reasons why the UK suffers from such poor mobile signal, especially when compared to other G7 countries, is the lack of investment in network infrastructure, particularly 5G towers. This was made worse by the ban on Huawei infrastructure in 2020 which likely pushed back the rollout of 5G by two to three years. Other issues include stringent planning permission and modern eco-friendly building materials.
Keep reading for a more detailed look into the reasons behind the UK’s poor cellular connectivity and what you can do to improve mobile signal quality.
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Why Is the UK Mobile Signal So Poor?
According to research by Opensignal, UK mobile users had the least reliable mobile experience out of all G7 countries in 2024. The Mobile Trust Score measures a user’s ability to connect to a mobile network and complete basic tasks and is expressed as a number between 100 and 1,000. The UK scored 859 points, while Japan at the top of the leader board scored 925 points. It’s clear that there are significant issues with UK mobile connectivity. Below we’ll explore five key reasons why UK mobile signal is so poor compared to other G7 nations.
Chart based on 2024 Mobile Trust Score data from Opensignal.
1. Lack of Investment
Despite the increasing demand for mobile data and an ever-growing number of mobile devices, there has not been sufficient investment in network infrastructure. In 2024, the UK fell from 51st to 53rd for mobile speeds (based on Ookla’s Speedtest.net internet benchmarking). The UK’s download speed was 59.15 Mbps while the United Arab Emirates at the top of the leader board was 428.53 Mbps, a significant difference.
The 2024 Connected Nations Report estimated that UK mobile network operators (MNOs) invested £1.7bn in mobile network infrastructure in 2023, a £0.2bn (11%) year-on-year decline in real terms. This is despite the fact that demand for mobile data continues to grow significantly year on year. It’s clear that the UK is not investing enough in its network infrastructure, especially when compared to the advancements being made by other countries.
Chart based on the average 2024 download speed based on internet benchmarking from Speedtest.net
2. Insufficient 5G Infrastructure
The UK is not just lagging behind other countries in terms of overall mobile connectivity, we are also behind in terms of 5G availability and quality. According to a report by the Social Market Foundation, the UK ranks 30th out of 39 countries for 5G availability and 37th out of 39 countries for the quality of the 5G (download speed). This report identifies a lack of investment in 5G infrastructure as the key reason for the UK’s low rankings.
5G offers much faster download speeds and lower latency than 4G, but its main downside is that its higher frequency signals can’t travel as far as 4G. This means an effective 5G network demands a significant number of 5G masts (or smaller micro cells) at regular intervals for high-quality connectivity. The UK lags significantly behind other countries in terms of 5G base stations per 100,000 inhabitants and a high-quality national 5G network might require as many as double the number of existing macro and micro cell sites – a significant financial investment.
2020 Huawei Ban
In 2020, the UK government decided to ban Chinese telecom giant Huawei from participating in the 5G network rollout, due to potential security risks posed by Huawei equipment following a review by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Huawei was banned from supplying new equipment for UK 5G networks after December 31, 2020, and all existing Huawei equipment was ordered to be removed by the end of 2027. It’s estimated that these restrictions delayed the UK’s 5G roll-out by two to three years, contributing to the UK’s poor 5G performance compared to other nations. The government notes in its 2023 Wireless Infrastructure Strategy:
“The decision to remove Huawei from our 5G networks was necessary to ensure the security and resilience of the UK’s networks and the protection of consumers, but we recognise that this has affected the timetable for the UK’s standalone 5G rollout.”
The UK’s Standalone 5G Connectivity Goals
The government‘s target is to ensure “nationwide coverage of standalone 5G to all populated areas of the UK by 2030” (UK Wireless Infrastructure Strategy). Standalone 5G (5G SA) is the new generation of 5G technology which delivers faster download speeds, lower latency and new features (such as network slicing) compared to Non-Standalone 5G (5G NSA). However, Standalone 5G requires a 5G core network to operate, while existing (Non-Standalone) 5G utilises the existing 4G core network. This means that meeting this ambitious 2030 target will require significant financial investment and new core 5G infrastructure.
However, there is already strong evidence to suggest that the UK will not meet its 2030 target. Chris Bryant, the Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms, remarked at the 2024 Labour Party Conference:
“We are behind on mobile, significantly behind and that is a problem for us, as there’s so much that we could do with 5G standalone when we get there.”
Currently, 5G standalone sites make up just below 15% of reported mobile 5G sites and carry 14% of the total 5G monthly traffic in the UK (according to the 2024 Connected Nations Report). It’s clear that the UK government still has a long way to go to improve both Standalone and Non-Standalone 5G connectivity.
3. Planning Permission
UK planning regulations are also impacting how effectively 5G can be rolled out, especially as 5G (especially Standalone 5G) requires a significant number of new phone masts and micro cells. Current regulations state that new ground-based masts can be up to 30 metres in unprotected areas and 25 metres in protected areas are classed as permitted development. This means they only need prior approval from the local planning authority, while masts exceeding these heights will require full planning permission. Upgrades to existing masts and new masts on buildings don’t require any prior approval.
The government enacted the above changes to permitted development rights in 2022 – previously only masts up to 25 metres in unprotected areas and 20 metres in protected areas were classed as permitted development. So, it’s clear the government is actively trying to speed up the rollout of 5G and improve mobile connectivity by reducing the barriers caused by planning regulations.
Public Consultation
However, public consultation is still required for both prior approval applications for permitted development and full planning applications. Although 84% of people surveyed by industry trade body Mobile UK, said they feel it is important to have a mast within range of their home or business, a vocal minority means there can be strong opposition to new phone masts being installed, particularly in rural areas and villages. Many people cite unfounded health concerns about 5G technology or concerns about aesthetics – a new phone mast proposed in Pudsey was called ‘highly visually intrusive’ by one resident (Leeds Live)
4. Phones Prioritise 5G over 4G
Another issue that impacts mobile connectivity in the UK is that most phones are automatically programmed to prioritise 5G signals over 4G. Although this might sound positive, the problem is that in many areas 4G offers a stronger and more consistent signal than 5G. A phone might switch from three bars of 4G to one bar of 5G as soon as it becomes available, significantly decreasing speed and performance.
Most phones allow you to choose your “preferred network type” which determines which cellular network technologies (like 5G, 4G/LTE, 3G, or 2G) your phone prioritises when connecting to a mobile network. However, many users are unaware of this setting and that most phones are automatically set to prioritise 5G. Changing this preference to 4G could actually result in better mobile signal quality for some users.
5. Modern Energy-Efficient Building Materials
Many new buildings are using more energy-efficient materials which have the unfortunate side effect of blocking cellular signals, particularly 5G signals which have a shorter range and are more vulnerable to obstructions.
Low-Emission Glass
One particular problem is low-emission (Low-E) glass. This glass is highly effective at reducing heat loss or gain, but it also almost completely blocks mobile phone signals. Low-E glass contains a thin metallic coating which reduces the amount of heat and light that passes through it. However, this metallic coating also acts as a barrier to radio waves, which include mobile phone signals.
The higher frequency waves used for 5G communication are almost entirely blocked by Low-E glass. This can cause a signal loss of 33.2dB compared to only 3.3dB for standard glass (at 60 GHz). Low-E Glass can significantly reduce indoor 5G connectivity, which can be a real problem for businesses that rely on a strong cellular signal to operate effectively.
How Can I Improve My Mobile Signal in the UK?
There is only one way to reliably and legally improve your mobile signal quality and that’s through a high-performance signal booster. Signal boosters work by capturing a weak existing outdoor signal using an exterior antenna. This signal is then amplified, before being sent to areas of your building with poor signal quality. Installing a signal-boosting system ensures that there are no dead zones and that every area of your building has a reliable and high-quality mobile signal.
At NetCov, we specialise in designing and installing high-quality signal-boosting systems for a wide range of businesses, workplaces and commercial buildings.
High-Performance Signal Boosters from NetCov
If your business is struggling with poor mobile signal, our signal boosters are a reliable and high-performance solution.
At NetCov, we only design and install high-quality Ofcom-approved signal boosting systems, so you can be sure your business will be fully compliant with UK legislation. We offer signal boosters for all the most popular UK networks, including EE, O2, Vodafone and Three, and install signal-boosting solutions throughout the UK.
For more information on how NetCov can help your business improve your mobile connectivity, contact our team today or get started with a free initial consultation.
UK Mobile Signal FAQs
4G connectivity in the UK is so poor due to insufficient investment in new network infrastructure and upgrades, compared to the growing number of mobile devices and users. Another challenge is prior approval requirements for new phone masts which require approval from residents and often cause significant outrage due to unfounded health concerns about cellular technology and the aesthetic appearances of these masts.
The reason why the 5G signal in the UK is so unreliable and low-quality, especially when compared to other nations, is due to a range of factors. Most significant is the lack of investment in new 5G network infrastructure and crucial network upgrades which are required for an effective Standalone 5G nationwide network. The 2020 ban on Huawei 5G equipment also set back the UK rollout of 5G by several years.