EE emerged as the top-performing network in the national report based on data gathered in the first half of 2014, but the other networks are showing improvement compared to the 2013 study. EE earned the highest Overall RootScore at 88.1/100; this was followed by Three (84.3), O2 (78.6), and Vodafone (77.8).
The RootMetrics UK National RootScore Report provides insights and comparisons of major UK network performance for each of the four UK nations, as well as within the 16 largest metro areas in the UK.
UK-Wide Performance
During the first half of 2014, RootMetrics drove more than 25,000 miles while testing across the UK; this is the equivalent of more than 383,000 football pitches lined end to end. Tests were conducted in each of the four UK nations, and more than 920,000 test samples were collected, which is equivalent to approximately one sample for every 100 mobile phone contracts in the country. Tests were performed while driving and at more than 1,200 indoor locations – a 20 percent increase over the previous study conducted in the second half of 2013.
The RootMetrics UK National RootScore Report shows that EE is the leading mobile network in nearly all aspects of testing, winning awards in the overall, mobile internet, call, and text performance categories, while also ranking first in network speed and sharing the top rank in network reliability with Three. During testing in the second half of 2013, EE won all six awards outright. Since then, Three has made significant improvements, sharing top honours with EE in network reliability. Three also once again finished second in overall performance, but has closed the gap with EE considerably since 2013 testing.
Mobile internet performance in the UK is currently a two-horse race, with EE (85.5) ranking first and Three closely following (82.7). O2 (68.1) and Vodafone (67.0), meanwhile, each delivered improved RootScore results compared to the previous UK study. EE also came out on top for call and text performance, though all four networks showed strong results in both categories.
“Our mobile phones have become an essential part of our everyday lives, but determining which network performs best seems to have become more difficult,” said RootMetrics CEO and President Bill Moore. “We conducted such a large-scale study on mobile network performance to provide depth and transparency around how the networks truly perform. We firmly believe consumers deserve clear, unbiased, and accurate information in order to make the most informed decisions to improve their everyday mobile experience.”