UK mobile broadband statistics 2024

With the popularity of smartphones showing no signs of waning, the usage of mobile broadband has continued to accelerate rapidly. Approximately 66 million people in the UK were mobile broadband users in 2023, equating to roughly 98% of the population.

With mobile internet now playing an integral part in the everyday lives of millions in the UK, access to fast, reliable mobile broadband has never been more important. 

But what is the current state of mobile broadband coverage in the UK? We’ve collated the latest UK mobile broadband statistics for 2024, covering mobile broadband access, usage, speed, and more.

Top 10 UK mobile broadband statistics 2024

• There were 59.25 million mobile internet users in the UK in 2023 – a 1.2% rise from 2022.

• In 2023, there were around 118 mobile broadband connections per 100 people, a 3% increase from 2022.

• The number of mobile broadband connections per 100 people is expected to surpass 130 by 2028.

• The percentage of outdoor UK premises with 5G coverage from at least one major network operator (MNO) was 93% in 2023 – up 15% from 2022.

• The percentage of outdoor UK premises with 4G coverage from at least one MNO was 99% in 2023 and 98% for all MNOs.

• There were 2.4 million mobile devices in the UK reliant on 2G and 3G technology in 2023 – down from 5.5m (-56%) in 2022.

• Around 17% of the UK’s mobile broadband traffic occurred on a 5G network in 2023 – a rise of 16% from 2020.

• The average UK 5G download speed stood at 129.9Mbps in 2023, while the average 4G speed was 29.5Mbps.

• Three had the fastest average 5G download speed of all MNOs, at 235Mbps in March 2023.

UK mobile broadband access statistics

The latest UK mobile broadband statistics show a significant rise in mobile broadband connections between 2014 and 2023. There were more than 118 mobile broadband connections per 100 people in 2023 – a 3% increase from 2022.

An annual breakdown of the number of mobile broadband connections per 100 people in the UK (2014-2023)

In 2014, the number of mobile broadband connections per 100 people stood at 87.04. This declined over the following two years, dropping to 83.44 in 2016 – a 4% fall from 2014. From 2016 onwards, the number of connections has grown year on year.

2019 marked the first year the number of mobile broadband connections exceeded the number of people (104.95 per 100 people), with this figure rising a further 4% by 2022. The latest figure for 2023 means that the number of mobile connections per 100 people increased by more than two-fifths (42%) between 2016 and 2024.

How much is mobile broadband connectivity expected to grow in the coming years?

Statista’s mobile broadband report predicts a continued rise in mobile broadband connectivity between 2024 and 2029. The number of mobile broadband connections is expected to reach nearly 122 per 100 people in 2024, a rise of almost 3% from 2023.

An annual breakdown of the predicted number of mobile broadband connections per 100 people in the UK (2024-2029)

By 2027, the number of connections per 100 people is expected to exceed 129, representing a 6% rise from 2024. This figure is predicted to exceed 130 for the first time in 2028 (131.4) before rising a further 1.4% in 2029 (133.25).

If 2029 projections are correct, the number of mobile broadband connections per 100 people will increase by nearly 10% in the five years between 2024 and 2029. A breakdown of the projected number of mobile internet users in the UK between 2020 and 2029

The total number of UK mobile internet users is projected to climb steadily between 2020 and 2029. In 2023, there were 59.25 million mobile internet users in the UK – a rise of 1.2% from 2022 and a 2.4% increase from 2020.

An increase of 1.3% is predicted between 2023 and 2024, taking the overall figure to 59.89 million. A further 1% increase in 2025 is expected to take total UK mobile internet users past 60 million for the first time. From here, growth starts to slow, with increases of less than 1% from 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. 

By 2029, the number of UK mobile internet users is projected to reach 62.53 million, representing a 5.5% rise from 2023 and a 15.4% climb from 2020.

Number of global mobile broadband connections by region

Mobile broadband stats show there were approximately 87.4 mobile broadband connections per 100 residents worldwide in 2023.

When broken down by region, the Americas had the highest number of connections, at 116.2 per 100 residents. This was 5% more than the next highest region (Europe) and made it the only region with more than 115 mobile broadband connections per 100 people.

A breakdown of the number of global mobile broadband connections per 100 residents by region

Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) were the only other regions with more mobile internet connections than people. With totals of 110.3 and 105.9, respectively, these regions exceeded the worldwide figure by more than 20%.

At the other end of the scale, Africa had the lowest number of mobile internet connections per 100 people, at 48. This is more than a third (36%) less than the next lowest region (Arab State) and nearly three-fifths (59%) fewer than the Americas.

UK 5G connectivity statistics

As the UK continues to transition towards 5G as the primary source of mobile broadband connectivity, 5G coverage continues to accelerate. In 2021, less than six in 10 (57%) outdoor premises had 5G coverage from at least one major network operator.

This figure rose to nearly eight in 10 (78%) in 2022, representing a year-on-year increase of almost a fifth (19%).

A breakdown of the percentage of the UK with outdoor 5G coverage from at least one major provider

(Source: Ofcom)

In 2023, the percentage of outdoor UK premises with 5G coverage from at least one MNO stood at 93%. This represents a rise of 15% from 2022 and a 36% climb from two years previously.

At the same time, a quarter of UK outdoor premises had outdoor coverage from all (MNOs), with this figure expected to increase in the coming years.

Where is 5G available in the UK?

Recent mobile broadband statistics from Ofcom show that England had the most 5G coverage of any UK country in May 2023. More than nine in 10 (94%) outdoor premises in England had 5G access from at least one MNO. This was 7% more than any other UK country and made England the only one with outdoor 5G coverage exceeding 90%.

Scotland had the next highest coverage, with 88% of their outdoor premises having 5G access from at least one MNO. This is 5% higher than the total for Wales (83%) and 8% more than Northern Ireland (80%).

A breakdown of the percentage of the UK with 5G coverage by country

England also had the highest percentage of outdoor premises with 5G access from all MNOs, at 27%. This was 5% more than the next highest country (Scotland), making England the only UK country in which more than a quarter of outdoor premises had 5G access from all MNOs.

More than one in five (22%) outdoor premises had 5G access from all MNOs in Scotland – 4% more than in Northern Ireland (18%). Conversely, just one in 10 outdoor areas in Wales could receive 5G from all major operators. This was less than half the figure for both England and Scotland. 

Urban vs rural 5G statistics

There is a significant gap in UK 5G coverage between urban and rural areas. Nine out of 10 urban outdoor areas had 5G coverage from at least one MNO in May 2023, compared to just over half (55%) in rural areas.

A breakdown of the percentage of the UK with 4G coverage in urban and rural areas

When looking at places with 5G access from all major operators, coverage fell substantially for both urban and rural areas. Just under one in five (18%) urban areas had outdoor 5G from all MNOs, a 72% fall compared to areas with access from at least one major provider.

Meanwhile, less than 1% of rural areas could receive outdoor 5G from all MNOs. This represents a fall of around 54% compared to the number of locations with outdoor access from at least one provider.

UK 5G accessibility by network

The latest mobile broadband statistics show that Three had the most 5G coverage of any network in the UK, at 78%. This is 15% more than any other network, making Three the only provider providing 5G access to more than 70% of UK premises.

A breakdown of the percentage of the UK with 5G coverage by network

BT/EE had the next-highest coverage, with the network offering 5G access to nearly two-thirds (63%) of the UK. This was 13% more than Vodafone, which offered 5G access to exactly half of UK premises (50%).

Virgin Media/O2 had the lowest percentage of all MNOs, at 48%. This made the network the only MNO unable to offer 5G access to at least half of UK premises.

How many 5G-capable smartphones are there in the UK?

The number of 5G-capable mobile phones in the UK accelerated between 2019 and 2023. Just 2.3% of phones were 5G capable in 2019, rising more than tenfold the following year to almost a quarter (23.3%).

The number of 5G-ready smartphones surpassed 50% for the first time in 2020 (57.2%) before rising by more than 35% in 2023 (82.3%). This means that the percentage of 5G-capable smartphones in the UK increased by 80% from 2019-2023.

A breakdown of the forecasted percentage of UK smartphones that are 5G capable by year

The percentage of 5G capable mobile phones is projected to surpass 90% for the first time in 2024, reaching 92.1% (+9.8% from 2023). From here, growth is expected to slow, with the projected figure of 93.1% for 2025 representing a year-on-year increase of 1%.

UK 4G connectivity statistics

Outdoor 4G access remained unchanged between 2021 and 2023, with the vast majority of the UK able to receive this service. In 2023, the percentage of the UK with outdoor 4G access from at least one MNO stood at 99% – unchanged from the previous two years.

(Source: Ofcom)

When it came to outdoor areas with 4G access from all MNOs, the number fell slightly to 98%. This figure remained unchanged between 2021 and 2023, highlighting the UK's widespread coverage of 4G.

Indoor 4G coverage statistics

Indoor 4G coverage in the UK continued to grow between 2021 and 2023. Mobile broadband statistics show that between 90% and 95% of indoor premises had 4G coverage from at least one MNO in 2021. This figure rose to 92-95% in 2022 before climbing to 99% in 2023.

A breakdown of the percentage of the UK with indoor 4G coverage

(Source: Ofcom)

The number of indoor areas with 4G access from all major operators stood at 86% in 2023, 13% lower than the number of areas with access from at least one MNO.

Urban vs rural 4G accessibility

Recent mobile broadband statistics found that UK 4G access was strong in both urban and rural outdoor areas. Outdoor 4G access from at least one MNO was available to all urban areas (100%) and the vast majority of rural locations (99-100%) in 2023.

Nearly nine in 10 (89%) rural areas had outdoor access from all MNOs. This was around 10% less than urban areas which had access rates between 99% and 100%.

A breakdown of the percentage of the UK with 4G coverage in urban and rural areas

The differences between rural and urban areas were more significant when it came to indoor 4G access. Between 99% and 100% of urban areas now have indoor 4G access from at least one MNO – 4% more than rural areas (96%).

More than nine in 10 (92%) urban locations have indoor 4G availability from all major operators. This figure fell by two-fifths (41%) for rural indoor areas, where just over half (51%) now have access from all MNOs.

UK 4G accessibility by UK country

4G statistics from Ofcom found that every UK country had outdoor 4G access rates of between 99% and 100% from at least one major operator in 2023. England had the highest outdoor access from all MNOs, at 99%, followed by Scotland (97%), Wales (96%), and Northern Ireland (94%).

A breakdown of the percentage of the UK with 4G coverage by country

(Source: Ofcom)

Indoor access was similarly strong, with every UK country having at least 98% of premises covered by at least one major operator in 2023. England had the highest indoor coverage from all MNOs, with nearly 9 in 10 (87%) indoor areas having this level of coverage. 

Scotland followed England with an indoor 4G access rate of 86% for all MNOs. This made Scotland the only other UK country with an indoor 4G access rate above 80% across all major operators in 2023. Around three-quarters of indoor areas in Wales and Northern Ireland are covered by all MNOs, with the two countries recording percentages of 76% and 73%, respectively.

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The ongoing 2G and 3G switch off

With 5G access accelerating and 4G providing the foundation of UK mobile broadband coverage, major networks have started the process of switching off their 2G and 3G networks

As such, the number of customers using devices reliant on 2G or 3G connectivity has fallen considerably, from approximately 5.5 million in 2022 to 2.4 million in 2023.

A breakdown of the number of mobile devices in the UK reliant on 2G and 3G connectivity.

Less than 3% of mobile data traffic is now carried on 3G networks, with overall 3G traffic decreasing by an average of 44% between 2022 and 2023. The ongoing 3G switch-off in the UK means these numbers will only likely decrease further.

UK mobile broadband traffic statistics

The latest mobile broadband statistics show a sharp climb in traffic between 2020 and 2023. Total traffic stood at 905 petabytes (PB) in 2023, a rise of nearly 25% from 2022 (725pb).

A breakdown of the total of UK mobile broadband traffic by year

Total mobile broadband traffic stood at 416pb in 2020 before rising almost two-fifths (38%) to 575pb in 2021. From here, annual increases slowed, rising by more than a quarter (26%) to 725pb in 2022 before increasing by a further quarter (25%) in 2023.

The latest figure means that mobile traffic more than doubled (+118%) between 2020 and 2023.

Mobile broadband traffic by connection type

Most mobile broadband traffic in the UK still occurs on a 4G network, as of May 2023. Around 734pb of traffic in 2023 occurred on a 4G network, accounting for more than four-fifths (81%) of the overall total. While this is the highest volume of 4G traffic to date, the figure represents a percentage fall of 10% from 2021 and 6% from 2022, when 4G accounted for 91% and 87% of mobile broadband traffic, respectively. 

A breakdown of the total of UK mobile broadband traffic by year and technology type

(Source: Ofcom)

The proportion of 5G traffic rose sharply over this time, increasing from just 1% in 2020 to nearly 17% in 2023. This marked the first time 5G accounted for more than 10% of mobile broadband traffic in the UK, rising from just under 9% in 2022. In terms of overall use, total 5G traffic rose by around 140% between 2022 and 2023, from 63pb to 151pb.

Conversely, the proportion of 3G traffic has continued to fall year on year. 3G accounted for around 7% of traffic in 2020, with this figure falling to 4% in 2022 and 2% by 2023.

Urban vs rural mobile broadband traffic statistics

Research on mobile broadband statistics found that nearly half (45%) of UK mobile broadband traffic came from urban areas in 2023. By comparison, suburban areas were responsible for almost two-fifths (37%) of traffic, with less than a fifth (17%) coming from rural locations.

A breakdown of the total of the UK mobile broadband traffic by year and area type

While the volume of internet traffic increased significantly between 2020 and 2023, the overall distribution remains similar. In 2020, more than two-fifths (41%) of internet traffic came from urban areas, increasing to 42% in 2021 and 44% by 2023.

Suburban locations made up just under 38% of overall mobile broadband traffic in 2023, with this figure falling slightly to 36.8% by 2022. 

Rural areas accounted for nearly a fifth (19%) of traffic in 2020, rising to more than a quarter (27%) the following year. However, this figure fell back to 19% in 2022 before falling below 18% in 2023.

Mobile broadband traffic by UK country

A mobile broadband report from Ofcom found that England was responsible for more than four-fifths (85%) of UK mobile broadband traffic in 2023. Mobile broadband traffic in England rose by 102pb between 2022 and 2023, with its overall percentage of UK traffic rising by around 0.5%.

Scotland was responsible for the second-highest percentage of UK mobile broadband traffic in 2023, with its total of 76pb accounting for just over 8%. This is a slight fall from 2022 when the country’s total internet traffic of 60pb equated to just under 9% of overall traffic.

A breakdown of the total of UK mobile broadband traffic by year and country

Wales was responsible for 4% of the UK’s mobile broadband traffic in 2023 – down from 4.3% in 2021 and 2022. Northern Ireland’s total traffic of 20pb accounted for 2.2% of the UK total in 2023. This represented a fall from 2022 when the country accounted for 2.4% of UK traffic.

How fast is mobile broadband in the UK?

Mobile broadband statistics show that 5G is the quickest network for downloading files, as of March 2023. The average time taken to download a 2MB file was just 0.4 seconds on 5G. This was twice as fast as 4G (0.8 seconds) and nine times faster than 3G (3.6 seconds).

A breakdown of the average time taken to download various file sizes by mobile broadband connection type

(Source Ofcom)

5G also had the fastest average speed when downloading 5MB files, at just 0.8 seconds. This was more than double the average speed for 4G (1.9 seconds), meaning 5G was the only technology that could reliably download 5MB files in less than a second. 

The difference between 4G and 3G mobile phones was substantial when it came to download times. The average time taken to download a 5MB file on 3G was 8.2 seconds. This was more than four times longer than 4G and 10 times longer than 5G.

A breakdown of the average UK download speeds by mobile broadband connection type

5G had the fastest average download speeds of any UK connection type in 2023. With an average speed of nearly 130Mbps, 5G was around 340% faster than 4G and over 2000% quicker than 3G.

Though 4G’s average download speed of 29.5Mbps was substantially slower than 5G's, it was five times faster than 3G's average download speed of 5.9Mbps.

Average 5G download speeds by UK country

Mobile broadband stats show that Wales had the fastest 5G download speed of any UK country in March 2023. With an average speed of 136.4Mbps, Wales was more than 4% faster than any other UK country. 

England had the next highest average 5G download speeds at 130.7Mbps. This was nearly 4% faster than Scotland (15.9Mbps), making England the only other UK country with 5G download speeds above 130Mbps.

Northern Ireland had the slowest average 5G speed, at 97.8Mbps, which was around a fifth (22%) slower than Scotland and more than a quarter (28%) slower than Wales.

A breakdown of the average UK 4G and 5G download speeds by country

As of 2023, England had the quickest average 4G speed, at 30.2Mbps. This was 11% faster than Scotland (26.7Mbps) and 13% quicker than Wales (26.7Mbps). 

Northern Ireland’s average 4G download speed of 19.8Mbps was more than a third (34%) slower than England's, making it the only country with 4G download speeds below 20Mbps.

Which UK country has the shortest 5G download times?

There was little difference across the UK when it came to the time taken to download various file sizes in March 2023. The average time taken to download a 2MB file size in the UK is 0.4 seconds, with this figure rising to 0.5 seconds in Scotland and Northern Ireland while remaining at 0.4 in England and Wales.

A breakdown of the time taken to download various file sizes on a 5G connection by UK country

(Source: Ofcom)

When it came to 5MB files, Wales was the only country with download times below the UK average of 0.8 seconds. With an average download duration of 0.7 seconds, Wales was around 12.5% quicker than England and Scotland (0.8 seconds) and more than a fifth (22%) quicker than Northern Ireland (0.9 seconds).

Wales also led the way when it came to 10MB files, with its average download time of 1.2 seconds around 14% less than the UK average (1.4 seconds). At the other end of the scale, Northern Ireland had the slowest download times for 10MB files at 1.6 seconds – 14% longer than the UK average.

Average 5G download speeds by provider

Three had the fastest 5G download speed of all UK MNOs, with an average rate of 235Mbps in March 2023. This was nearly double the speed of any other provider and meant that Three was the only major operator with average download speeds above 200Mbps.

A breakdown of the the average UK 5G download speed by network provider

EE had the next highest average 5G download speeds, at just over 121Mbps. This was around 48% slower than Three but more than a fifth (21%) faster than Vodafone – the third-fastest MNO. 

O2 had the slowest 5G download speeds of the major providers, with an average speed of 73.8Mbps. This was more than three times slower than the average speed offered by Three and the only MNO with an average 5G download speed below 100Mbps.

A breakdown of the time taken to download a 10MB file on a 5G connection by network

(Source: Ofcom)

Recent mobile broadband statistics found that Three had the fastest download times of any major network operator in the UK in March 2023. The average time taken to download a 10MB file on Three was just 1.2 seconds, which was fractionally faster than EE (1.3 seconds).

At the other end of the scale, O2 had the slowest average 10MB download time of all MNOs, at 1.9 seconds. This was more than a third (36%) longer than Three and 6% longer than Vodafone (1.4 seconds).

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Average 5G upload speeds

Analysis of mobile broadband statistics shows that 5G had by far the fastest upload speeds of any connection type in 2023. With an average upload pace of 14.7Mbps, 5G’s average was nearly double the rate for 4G connections (7.6Mbps).

A breakdown of the average UK upload speeds by mobile broadband connection type

At the other end of the scale, 3G had average upload speeds of just 2Mbps. This was nearly four times slower than 4G and more than seven times slower than 5G.

Which UK country has the fastest 5G upload speeds?

Scotland had the fastest 5G upload speeds of any UK country in 2023, with an average of 15.3Mbps. This was nearly 3% higher than the next fastest country (Wales) and meant that Scotland was the only UK country with average 5G upload speeds exceeding 15Mbps.

A breakdown of the average 5G upload speed by UK country

Northern Ireland had the slowest average 5G upload speeds, with an average of 12.7Mbps. This was typically 2Mbps slower than England, meaning 5G upload speeds were around a fifth (17%) slower in Northern Ireland than in Scotland.

Average 5G upload speeds by provider

Mobile broadband stats show that Three had the fastest 5G upload speeds of any major operator in the UK in March 2023. With an average of 17.2Mbps, Three’s typical uploads were around 3% faster than EE and almost a fifth (18%) faster than Vodafone.

A breakdown of the average 5G upload speeds in the UK by network provider

O2 had the slowest 5G upload speed of all MNOs, with an average total of 9.9Mbps. This was around two-fifths (42%) slower than Three, making O2 the only major operator with average upload speeds below 10Mbps.

A breakdown of the time taken to upload a 1MB file on a 5G connection by network

(Source: Ofcom)

A mobile broadband report from Ofcom found that Three had the quickest upload times of any UK MNO. On average, it took those on the Three networks just 1.2 seconds to upload a 1MB file – around 8% quicker than those on EE and 14% faster than Vodafone customers.

O2 had the slowest 1MB download times of all MNOs, with an average duration of 1.9 seconds – nearly three-fifths (60%) longer than Three and more than two-fifths (46%) longer than EE.