nPerf study names EE best for 4G and 5G mobile coverage in the UK
France-based benchmarking firm nPerf has today published the results from a new study they conducted into 4G and 5G mobile (mobile broadband) coverage across the United Kingdom, which found that EE delivered the best reach for both network technologies. The results took account of both population and geographic network coverage.
The study is based off data gathered from masses of mobile internet connection tests carried out during 2026 by users of the mobile speed testing tools on both nPerf’s website and via their dedicated mobile testing apps for Android and iOS. Crucially the coverage score this returned represented a combination of both population coverage and geographic (landmass) network coverage (both are also displayed separately).
Overall EE returned a combined 4G coverage score of 96.50%, which dropped to 77.02% for 5G connections. By comparison the weakest mobile network for 4G coverage was found to be Vodafone on 92.50% and they also came last for 5G connections too on just 37.48%. Both O2 and Three UK were much more middle of the road, which is interesting given how Three and Vodafone are slowly merging their networks closer together.
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As a side note, Northern Ireland was also found to offer the best 5G coverage (48.2%), while Wales delivered the the lowest (40.3%), but we didn’t get the results for Scotland and England.
Best UK Operator for 5G Mobile Network Coverage
Best UK Operator for 4G Mobile Network Coverage
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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No surprise for me on my own testing. EE consistently the best in the areas I travel around.
Me too.