The Confusing State of 5G and 4G Availability in London vs Birmingham
A new study from SignalTracker, which operates a popular Android mobile app (but not iOS) for monitoring and examining mobile phone reception, has compared the quality of Vodafone’s 5G between Birmingham and London to find that the former is falling considerably behind. Furthermore, 72% of tests on Vodafone’s flagship 5G plan were actually 4G quality.
Take note that the majority of 5G mobile networks today are still Non-Standalone (NSA), which means they’re partly reliant upon older and slower 4G infrastructure. But SA networks are pure end-to-end 5G that can deliver ultra-low latency times, greater energy efficiency, better speeds (particularly uploads), network slicing, improved support for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, support for Voice over New Radio (VoNR or Vo5G) and increased reliability and security etc.
SignalTracker claims to have performed thousands of tests in London and Birmingham, which found that one of the key selling points of Vodafone’s latest network – 5G Standalone (5G SA) technology – was only available in 27% of London tests and a mere 9% of Birmingham tests.
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In London, the best signal was also found primarily in central locations like Westminster, Lambeth, Soho and Waterloo, while outer regions such as Barking, Bromley and Kingston suffered worse signal. This remained superior to Birmingham, which found that 5G SA coverage was largely limited to the city centre and the Bullring centre. A 6-minute walk into nearby Digbeth saw signal quality fall back to 4G.
Furthermore, in Birmingham, some 90% of tests on 5G SA were in fact 4G and, when the 5G icon was showing, 82% of the time it was actually 4G. This is due to a quirk of smartphones which the SignalTracker app highlights, where the device shows a 5G symbol but in reality, is connected to 4G. The 5G icon displays because the base station has 5G capabilities, even though they are not being used by the connected device. When consumers saw the 5G icon in London, 57% of the time it was actually connected via 4G.
PolicyTracker’s Managing Director, Martin Sims, said:
“This can lead to confusion for customers. Particularly in Birmingham, [where] many will wonder why a premier service isn’t delivering the promised 5G standalone more frequently. In both cities, on Vodafone’s ‘ultrafast’ 5G standalone service, the majority of our tests came back as 4G. It is a disappointing reminder of how far the UK’s 5G rollout has to go.”
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Can someone please explain how the 5G signal then runs on the slower 4G network…and why are Ifcom allowing this false advertising?
For the first part of your question, as it states in the article the device will display 5G if it is connect to a mast with 5G equipment. Even if the 5G isn’t live.
To the second part of your question, I believe this is 100% false advertising! And should be illegal! I honestly believe companies doing this should be fined and forced to shut down the 5G equipment if it doesn’t work!
My provider supports 5G SA, I work in an area with coverage, and my phone is supported by the provider; but I’m stuck on NSA because it’s “not available” on my particular business plan.
Why do they make it so difficult?!
What exactly are you missing out on?
What do you feel you would get from a stand alone connection that would change your experience?
Something seems fishy about the findings in this report, I know Birmingham and I know 5G SA is available in most areas of the city outside the centre.
I use a Vodafone + EE combo (best networks in London) and I still have moments where data doesn’t work or there’s no signal (EE indoors, VF sometimes outdoors, which is weird).
Fake 5G icons is a problem, but that’s nothing considering the issues networks have here.
Loads of those ugly 5G masts here in Birmingham.
When my phone switches to 5G, it’s so much slower when viewing the internet. Just feels like a scam.
People complain about the masts but the phase 7&8 masts look nicer than the phase 6 they had those big covers over the top. The new phase 9 style does look cleaner with the monopole design with the square 5G-NR cells bolted on the outside.
100%. It’s just a case of people complaining about something they clearly have no idea what they are talking about. And I find it so funny because all they are doing is making themselves look stupid.
5GSA hasn’t been a gamechanger but has been a nice boost in built up areas like London Bridge.
I would love this to come to my city! I often see the 5G logo on my phone, but the performance is garbage!
There is one particular mast my phone connects to every time I come out the end of my road, it registers as 5G but as soon as I connect to it my phone calls cut out, messages stop working and I cannot load anything on the internet! And it has been like this for over a year! I’ve seen tham working on the mast several times, at first I used to get excited thinking I was suddenly going to have service when at the location, but that faded months ago.
“I often see the 5G logo on my phone, but the performance is garbage!”
You don’t happen to be using O2, do you?
Independently of which network it is, port your number to one that works better.
Good article, I thought this is the state of affairs with U.K 5G. Some years ago I was in an hotel in Wiltshire and my Blackberry gave me 4G plus, wow ! I thought we’ve arrived to Hi-Tec with BBC tv open on my phone and emailing at the same time, then. We are told to take all Huwawei stuff out and the fast phone signal now gone, poor internet in the car from home in Surrey along the A303 is hit and miss. Then I learn that UK has Standalone 5G and you know that 5G icon on your phone ” ain’t real ” now it’s been confirmed.