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Mobile broadband speeds revealed
The telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, has published its first research into the performance of mobile broadband across the UK. 4.2 million tests were conducted at the end of last year.
Average mobile broadband speeds
The research found that the average download speed achieved by consumers was 1.5 megabits per second (Mbit/s) and basic web pages took on average 8.5 seconds to download.
This compares with the average fixed broadband speed of 6.2 Mbit/s and average web page download times on fixed broadband networks of less than 0.5 seconds.
However, in good 3G coverage areas, Ofcom found that average mobile broadband speeds were 2.1 Mbit/s, falling to an average of 1.7 Mbit/s during the peak evening period of 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm. Basic web pages took on average 2.2 seconds to download.
Speed variations
Mobile broadband users
17 per cent of UK households are using mobile broadband to access online services, with 7 per cent using it as their only means of internet access
Differences between mobile broadband providers
The research found some differences between the performance of operators’ 3G networks. O2, Vodafone and Three offered faster average download speeds than T-Mobile and Orange.
O2, on average, delivered web pages faster than the other four operators and had lower average latency than Three, Orange and Vodafone. Latency is a measure of the responsiveness of a connection (it is measured by the time it takes a single packet of data to travel from a user’s PC to a third-party server and back again).
Differences between locations
The research also looked at how performance varied by location. Urban areas outperformed rural areas, primarily due to greater 3G availability. However, performance was highly variable across urban areas, with no guarantee of good performance offered in a city centre location.
Advice on buying mobile broadband
The most important factor affecting mobile broadband performance is coverage. Ofcom suggested that consumers should check with their provider how good the coverage is likely to be before buying a service.
They should also consider what they most want to use mobile broadband for. As well as being able to use it in different locations, mobile broadband may also be less expensive for some consumers as it does not require a landline, and pay-as-you-go tariffs are available.
However, slower download speeds and data limits may make it unsuitable for heavy users, and some broadband services may not be suitable for applications which require a high level of responsiveness, such as some online gaming.
Further information
Ofcom has published a guide for consumers with advice on what to think about when choosing a mobile broadband service. The full research report is available on the Ofcom website.
Ofcom is planning to undertake further research into mobile broadband, including the performance of smartphones.
