Fastest and most reliable: What is the UK's best mobile network?

EE has emerged to be the fastest and most reliable in one of UK’s most comprehensive tests of mobile networks.

17:28 13 March 2014

RootMetrics, a mobile measurement firm, has recently conducted comprehensive tests to identify which is the best mobile network in the United Kingdom. 

After 840,000 checks, ranking operators for reliability and speed of voice, data, and text services, it concluded that EE dominated for speed. Vodafone, which ranked last, said that it will not "take the results of this report seriously and neither should our customers".

Evidence suggested some tests were "carried out in an inconsistent manner", it added in a statement.

Matthew Howett, an analyst with research firm Ovum, agrees with the result.

"Clearly, EE scores very well and this reflects both their strategy of wanting to continue to be one step ahead with their network and the money they have put behind it," he said.

"While Vodafone doesn't score so well in comparison, they shouldn't be written off.

"They too have ambitious plans for network upgrades which are being delivered through 'Project Spring'. However, for the rest of the industry to close the gap on EE in terms of network speeds and availability, it is not going to be without a struggle."

Overall performance (out of 100)

    EE - 84.6
    Three - 73.5
    O2 - 66.5
    Vodafone - 52.4