• More than half a million tests were conducted as part of one of the UK’s longest-running studies into mobile network performance to prove which operators provide the highest quality connectivity.
• EE retains its crown as the UK’s best network for a record-breaking 12^th year in a row, coming first in 127 of 128 awards and demonstrably providing the most reliable network, so customers have a great experience video calling, streaming or mobile gaming.
• Rankings also show EE delivers the UK’s best 5G experience and average download speeds more than double that of Vodafone, Three and Virgin Media O2.

The results of one the UK’s longest-running studies analysing mobile network performance have been revealed, showing that EE provides the best and most reliable mobile connectivity across the UK – meaning millions of people and businesses would benefit from a better mobile experience by switching to EE.

RootMetrics®, a team of independent mobile analysts, have spent the last six months travelling to all parts of the UK and conducting more than half a million tests to provide the most robust and definitive picture of the performance of all the UK’s mobile network operators – EE, Vodafone, Three and Virgin Media O2.

This included extensive drive and walk tests in the UK’s largest 16 cities and rural communities in each of the four nations, as well as along more than 22,000 miles of roads and almost 800 indoor locations.

These tests examined the mobile network experience in real-life situations in a variety of locations and scenarios and found:

• Overall, EE provides the most reliable mobile connectivity in more places than anyone else, naming it the UK’s best network for a record-breaking 12 years in a row.
• The widespread availability and high-performance of EE’s network mean customers get the best connectivity for mobile gaming and video streaming – whether that’s TV shows or virtual meetings.
• EE delivers the UK’s best 5G experience and has the UK’s highest average download speeds – more than double any other operator (110.8 Mbps vs next best at 48.4 Mbps).
• Out of the 128 individual RootMetrics® awards available across all locations, EE came 1^st or joint-1^st in 127 – including 89 outright wins.

Claire Gillies, Chief Executive Officer at EE, said: "While others are busy making promises, we are focused on delivering the best network to connect the lives of millions of people across the UK every single day.

“Everyone has their own unique connectivity needs and what this research shows is that whether you are streaming in Southampton, gaming in Glasgow, or video calling your friends in Cardiff, the nation gets a better network experience on EE.”

When analysing all UK mobile networks for the quality of their 5G connectivity, RootMetrics® testing focused on two main areas: network availability and quality of performance. The results proved EE delivers the best 5G experience in the UK, with the highest average 5G download speeds (241.2 Mbps). This has been made possible thanks to the widespread availability of EE’s 5G network, which Ofcom data shows is greater than anyone else.

With EE’s 5G network now covering more than 87% of the population, and its 5G standalone network available to more than 34 million people, EE customers – on both iOS and Android – are getting a better, faster and more reliable 5G service in more places than those people relying on other UK networks.

This is reflected in the fact that EE now has the highest proportion of 5G connections of any UK operator according to Ofcom, with RootMetrics® finding that EE delivered the best 5G experience in many major cities including: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Nottingham and Sheffield.

Here is a snapshot of the network awards EE has won following the independent testing conducted by RootMetrics® throughout the UK in 2025:

1. The Nation’s #1 Network
2. The UK’s Best Network for 12 years
3. The UK’s Most Reliable Network
4. The UK’s Best 5G Experience
5. The UK’s Fastest Network
6. The UK’s Best Network for Video
7. The UK’s Best Network for Gaming
8. The UK’s Most Reliable Network for Mobile Gaming
9. The UK’s Most Responsive Network
10. The UK’s Best Network for Calls
11. The UK’s Best Network for Data Performance
12. The Best Network in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

To see how all UK networks compared, read the full report here: https://www.ookla.com/research/reports/rootmetrics-uk-state-of-mobile-union-1h-2025