"Mobile connectivity across the UK is becoming faster and more responsive on average; a marked gap still persists between the quality of experience in urban and rural areas; and the gap between the best and worst-performing local authorities remains significant, according to research from Ookla. The analyst's Speedtest Intelligence report for 2025 takes an overview of mobile network performance across the UK, focusing on outcomes at local authority level and how those outcomes have changed over time. The study was based on millions of samples from mobile devices connected to a cellular network, comparing results from Q1-Q3 2025 with the same period in 2024. For each local authority, the report considered not only typical speeds, but also the experience of slower connections, and the relationship between population density and mobile outcomes."
"Fundamentally, the research found that population density correlates strongly with better outcomes, and that practically, the findings illuminate the urban-rural digital divide, showing that where you live in the UK largely dictates your mobile experience. Analysis of local authority outcomes revealed what Ookla called the "stark" extent of regional variation in and across nations in the UK. Despite the general upward shift in the overall local authority distribution over the past year across key mobile performance indicators, the range remains large and many rural local authority areas are still stuck with not-spots despite the progress of the government's shared rural network (SRN) scheme."
"Areas that were strong performers in 2024 generally remained strong, and many of the weakest authorities in 2024 still sit near the bottom of the distribution in 2025."
Mobile connectivity across the UK improved in speed and responsiveness on average between Q1–Q3 2025 and the same period in 2024. Population density correlates strongly with better mobile outcomes, producing a clear urban‑rural digital divide. Local authority analysis shows wide regional variation and a large range of performance, with many rural areas still experiencing not‑spots despite shared rural network (SRN) progress. Authorities that performed well in 2024 generally remained high-performing in 2025, while many weaker authorities remained near the bottom. National-level metrics for the UK and its nations showed notable improvements year-on-year.
Read at ComputerWeekly.com
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