Who has the fastest, who has the widest — and how to check your postcode.
Ask us about this →All four UK MNOs (EE, O2, Three, Vodafone) claim approximately 99% population outdoor 4G coverage. For everyday use in urban and suburban areas, there's little practical difference. Differences emerge in rural areas and building penetration.
| Network | 5G Population | 5G Towns | Avg Download | 5G Spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE | 87%+ | 500+ | 53.2Mbps | 5G+ Standalone |
| O2 | ~70% | 450+ | 32.8Mbps | 5G Standalone |
| Three | ~62% | 450+ | 51Mbps (5G: 187Mbps) | Most spectrum (140MHz) |
| Vodafone | Growing | Major cities | 37.5Mbps | Integrating with Three |
Source: Opensignal UK Mobile Network Experience Report, January 2026
Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile and giffgaff use O2's coverage. iD Mobile uses Three's. VOXI, Lebara and Asda use Vodafone's. BT Mobile uses EE's. Use the host network's coverage checker for accurate results.
All four networks support Wi-Fi Calling on compatible devices — routes calls over your home Wi-Fi when mobile signal is weak indoors. Enable in your phone's mobile settings. EE's 5G+ Standalone also provides better building penetration.
The merged VodafoneThree group has pledged £11 billion in network investment, targeting 99% 5G Standalone population coverage by 2030. MOCN network sharing already active — coverage improving for both Vodafone and Three throughout 2026–2030.