O2 customer experience slower file download speeds over 4G and 5G compared to other networks according to Ofcom’s latest ‘Mobile Matters’ report published today.
The research, which is based on crowdsourced data supplied by Opensignal, analysed crowdsourced data collected between October last year and March, and highlights the varying experiences of mobile network users across the country.
Ofcom and Opensignal’s analysis reveals that while 78 per cent of mobile usage is on 4G, 20 per cent is now on 5G, with 2 per cent on 3G and just 0.1 per cent on 2G. The report also shows a disparity between urban and rural areas: in cities, 21 per cent of connections are on 5G, compared to only 10 per cent in rural regions.
The study specifically examined the time it takes to download a 2MB file—equivalent to a photo or short video—across different networks. On average, this task takes 0.3 seconds on 5G, 0.8 seconds on 4G, and 4.3 seconds on 3G. According to Ofcom, even a fraction of a second can create a noticeable difference between a smooth or delayed user experience.
Among the mobile network operators, O2 it says customers face the longest wait, with average download times of 1 second on 4G and 0.4 seconds on 5G. In contrast, Three offers the fastest 5G download speeds, with users waiting only 0.2 seconds on average, while EE delivers the quickest 4G downloads at 0.6 seconds.
However O2 disputes the the findings saying:
“Ofcom’s report excludes tests run on Apple iOS devices and those where the device operating system was not identified.The very minor differences in download speeds highlighted by Ofcom are negligible. We invest more than £2m a day in our 4G and 5G networks to provide fast and reliable mobile connectivity, and a recent independent study found that Virgin Media O2 offers the country’s best combined connectivity experience.
“As Ofcom acknowledges, mobile network performance is one of many factors that matter to customers, along with price, quality of service and perks and rewards. Our customers choose us not only for our vast network, but for the excellent value we offer, for example through Priority – one of the UK’s most valued loyalty schemes, providing access to thousands of perks and deals and pre-sale access to major music and sporting events, and which saved customers over £31m last year. We also remain the only major provider to offer inclusive EU roaming.”
“In July, a study from independent wireless insights consulting firm GWS pinpointed Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) as offering the country’s best combined connectivity experience for its broadband and mobile experience”
The report also sheds light on 5G adoption rates: 21 per cent of customers on Three and O2 use 5G, while Vodafone trails with just 15 per cent.
Vodafone leads in 4G usage, with 83 per cent of its connections on the network, while O2 has the lowest share at 74 per cent.
O2 has the highest percentage of 3G users (5 per cent), although 2G usage remains minimal across all operators.
Latency—the response time of a network—also varies. Three offers the fastest average response on 5G at 16.3 milliseconds, while EE leads on 4G with a latency of 18.3 milliseconds. O2 customers, however, experience the slowest response times on 5G (21.4 milliseconds), with Vodafone lagging behind on 4G (23.7 milliseconds).
