12125122, 3:11 AME How fasts 5G - 5G speeds and performance 5G Comparison Site Check Coverage Compare Deals Home > SGguides > How fast is SG? How fast is 5G? ® By James Rogerson and Sacha Kavanagh ‘7 October 2022 Contents list 1 How fast is 5G? 2. 5G network speeds 21 Maximum 5G speeds 22 EE5G speeds 23 Three 5G speeds 24 Vodafone 5G speeds 25 025G speeds 2.6 MVNO 5G speeds 3 How to check 5G download speeds 4 5G latency 5 Future 5G download speeds 6 Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 5G is rol 1g out across the UK on every major network, and brings with it far higher speeds than 4G with a theoretical maximum speed of between 10 and SOGbps, according to the regulatory body Ofcom. We're not at that level yet, but reported peak download speeds have already reached 753Mbps hitps:59.c0 ukiqudesihow-fastis-S! ane12725122, 311 AM How fasts 5G -5G speeds and performance (based on a Point Topic / Thinkbroadband report from late 2020) and some networks claim that speeds of upwards of IGbps are already being experienced. Average download speeds are currently up to six times faster than 4G and twenty five times faster than 3G, and 5G is already faster than fibre broadband in many areas around the UK. 1) How fast is 5G? Network ty age down {5 _ Peak download speed: ees unload sf 3G 7.4Mbps ~20Mbps 42Mbps 4G 36.4Mbps 90+Mbps 300Mbps 5G 90Mbps-230Mbps 753Mbps+ 10-S0Gbps Based on the currently available data from RootMetrics, Point Topic, Opensignal and other validated tests, across the UK's networks you can expect average 5G download speeds of between roughly 90Mbps ~ 230Mbps. The exact figures will vary from network to network and place to place, but the averages recorded will normally to be in that range. You can see both extremes of that in the September 2022 Mobile Network Experience report from Opensignal, which put Three's average 5G download speeds at 2284Mbps, and 02's at 92.3Mbps, with EE and Vodafone filling out the middle Point Topic for its part claims that as of September 2020, the average 5G download speed across the UK's networks is 148Mbps, with the median being 128Mbps. The peak meanwhile was recorded at 753Mbps — that's the highest recent figure we've seen from independent tests (carried out by Point Topic / Thinkbroadband). For the 4G and 3G average download speeds in the chart above we've used the highest average speeds on Ofcom's Mobile Network Experience Update from October 2020. Currently, you can expect 5G to be between around 3 and 6 times faster than 4G on average, but jin some cases that difference is much greater. For example, Vodafone's median 5G speed in London as recorded by RootMetrics in the second half of 2020 was 216.6Mbps, which is over 1 times faster than the 18. 7Mbps median speed it recorded on 46, And 5G is set to get faster as time goes on, with theoretical speeds that could be hundreds of Himae factar than AG hacad an the 10_6AGhne actimata fram Afram hitpss59.c0 ukigudesihow-fastis-S ane12125122, 3:11 AME How fasts 5G - 5G speeds and performance Wines Hake! Welt, UOSEY UI WHE WU UUGups eoulnaue Hunn wreutt 2) 5G network speeds 2.1Maximum 5G speeds in the UK While 5G is fast, exactly how fast will depend in part on where you are and what network you're ‘on, but we're now getting a good picture of the general speeds you can expect. Below you can see details of actual maximum speeds that tests by Point Topic and / Thinkbroadband and RootMetrics have achieved with each network FE 753Mbps. 388.4Mbps in London Three 473Mbps 478.1Mbps Vodafone 4lSMbps. 545.6Mbps in London o2 247Mbps 302.1Mbps in London At the time of writing, the results in the chart above are the highest 5G download speeds we've seen reported for each network. That doesn't mean they're necessarily the fastest each is capable of - for most of the RootMetrics results the speeds here were only tested in London for one thing. We also have less data on 02 than the other networks, which means it might be capable of much more than the rather modest maximum recorded speeds above Still, the speeds in the chart above should be towards the very top end of what you can expect from at least EE, Three and Vodafone at the time of writing. Note that the RootMetrics results above aren't all from the same study, as we've simply used the highest numbers. Those for Vodafone and 02 were recorded in the ‘UK Mobile Performance in Review 2H 2020’ report, while those for EE and Three were taken from an earlier report covering the first half of 2020. 2.2.) EE 5G download speeds hitps:59.c0 ukiqudesihow-fastis-S! ane12125122, 3:11 AME How fasts 5G - 5G speeds and performance Average UK-wide 5G download speeds of 1305 / 149.9Mbps - Opensignal/Point Topic Median SG download speed of 187.8 / 130 / ISIMbps ~ RootMetrics/Point Topic/Ookla Maximum 5G download speed of 753Mbps - Point Topic EE 5G coverage checker At the time of writing, E's 5G network is one of the most widely available, and as such there's generally more data available than for some of the other networks, First up, Point Topic and Thinkbroadband have provided average, median, and maximum 5G download speeds for EE based on its tests. As of September 2020 then EE’s average UK-wide 5G speed is reportedly 149.9Mbps, its median is 130Mbps, and its maximum is 753Mbps (which it achieved in Paisley). The report also found that EE delivered a maximum SG download speed in Greater London of 397Mbps. Data from Ookla (which runs Speedtest) covering the first half of 2021 meanwhile states that EE has a UK-wide median download speed of ISIMbps, which is very similar to the above, while RootMetrics in tests covering the second half of 2020 found that its fastest median 5G download speed was 143.6Mbps - that speed was recorded in Hull. Opensignal found in a September 2022 report that EE’s average 5G download speed across the UK was 130.SMbps (which is not far off the Point Topic data). For reference, its average 4G download speed during an earlier test was found to be 33.Mbps, making 5G around four times faster in this instance. RootMetrics meanwhile found in testing covering the second half of 2021 that EE had a median 5G download speed of over 100Mbps in all 16 of the cities it tested (with the lowest being 12LIMbps in Newcastle). Its highest median was 187.8Mbps, recorded in Bristol RootMetrics has also revealed in an earlier report that EE’s highest ‘everyday median 5G hitpsSg.co ukigudesihow-fastie-Sqh ane12125122, 3:11 AME How fasts 5G ~ 5G speeds and performance download speed’ for the first half of 2021 was 162.9Mbps, recorded in Birmingham. The ‘everyday SG’ results are a mix of SG-only and ‘SG mixed mode’, which switches between SG 4G. They're designed to provide a more accurate picture of the real-world 5G experience. These average and median speeds are broadly in line with ~ or even slightly faster than - what EE has said to expect. Originally it had said to expect average speeds that are 100-ISOMbps faster than 4G, with peak speeds of potentially over 1Gbps. More recently though in its ‘5G speeds explained’ article it's made the more modest claim of roughly I0OMbps maximum speeds currently, and said that IGbps won't likely be achieved until all EE’s SG infrastructure is up and running. So based on all the available data, we'd say that EE’s average 5G download speeds are in the region of 130Mbps ~ I90Mbps, while its peak speeds are at least around 753Mbps. 2.3) Three 5G download speeds S Average UK-wide SG download speed of 228.4 / 158.7Mbps - Opensignal/Point Topic Median 5G download speed of 2235 / 122 / 231IMbps ~ RootMetrics/Point Topic/Ookla Maximum overall 5G download speed of 478.IMbps - RootMetrics Three 5G coverage checker We don't have quite as much speed data for Three as EE, but it was included in the same major Point Topic report, which found that Three’s maximum UK-wide 5G download speed was 473Mbps (recorded in Walsall), its average was 158.7Mbps, and its median was 122Mbps.The report also found that Three's maximum 5G download speed in Greater London was 410Mbps. It's worth noting though that according to Ookla/Speedtest data from the first half of 2021, Three has a UK-wide median download speed of 23IMbps, which is much higher than the figure above. That's also higher than any rival managed in the same tests Likewise, Three’s average 5G download speed was the highest of any network in a September 2022 report from Opensignal,, which put it at 228.4Mbps. hitps:59.c0 ukiqudesihow-fastis-S! ene12125122, 3:11 AME How fasts 5G - 5G speeds and performance Three was also included in the same RootMetrics reports as EE, with the latest one (from f* second half of 2021) finding that Three's highest median SG download speed in the 16 te: cities was 223.5Mbps, recorded in Leicester. That's in line with the Ookla data above, thougn notably this speed was an outlier, with the other 15 tested cities all having much lower median 5G download speeds. Its median 5G speed in London was recorded as 107.3Mbps. Where Three does better according to RootMetrics data though is in its maximum 5G download speed, as in London (in an earlier report) that was found to be 3585Mbps, which is in line with EE and ahead of 02, but behind Vodafone. In even earlier RootMetrics tests Three managed the highest overall maximum of 478.IMbps (recorded in Liverpool). And we also have ‘everyday 5G’ results for Three in the first half of 2021. This is a metric used by RootMetrics, which gives an average speed using a mix of 5G and 4G, for a more real world experience. Here, three’s fastest median download speed was 127.Mbps, and this was recorded in Belfast. Three itself hasn't been very specific about what speeds you can expect on its network, but it has said that at the top end they could be up to twice as fast as rivals, due to it having both more SG spectrum in total and more contiguous 5G spectrum. These current results don’t show speeds that are quite double, but they are higher. Based on the data that we have then, Three's average 5G speeds seem to be between around 105Mbps and 230Mbps, while its peak 5G download speeds are at least around 480Mbps, but likely higher. 2.4) Vodafone 5G download speeds Average UK-wide 5G download speed of 105.2 / 143.6Mbps ~ Opensignal/Point Topic Median SG download speed of 255.8 / 129 / 159Mbps - RootMetrics/Point Topic/Ookla Maximum London 5G download speed of 545,.6Mbps ~ RootMetrics Vodafone 5G coverage checker hitps:59.c0 ukiqudesihow-fastis-S! ene12125122, 3:11 AME How fasts 5G - 5G speeds and performance We have a similar amount of SG speed data for Vodafone as for EE - which is to say sligh more than we have for Three or 02. But let's start with a report that covers all the networks - one from Point Topic with data from September 2020. This states that Vodafone's UK-wide average 5G download speed is 143.6Mbps, its median is 129Mbps, and its maximum (recorded in Brent) is 415Mbps. Every major network was also included in an Opensignal report from September 2022, which found that Vodafone's average SG download speed was just 105.2Mbps, so some way lower than the Point Topic report above According to Ookla/Speedtest data from HI 2021 meanwhile, Vodafone has a UK-wide median download speed of IS9Mbps, which is a bit better than the figure above. The bulk of our speed data though comes from a couple of RootMetrics reports, with the newest (from the second half of 2021) detailing median 5G download speeds in 16 cities. Of those, Vodafone's highest was recorded in Nottingham, where it recorded a median 5G speed of 255.8Mbps. Its London result meanwhile was 129Mbps. Its median in all tested cities was above JOOMbps, which isn't true of Three or 02. Speaking of London, Vodafone's top SG download speed was excellent there too in an older RootMetrics report, coming in at 545.6Mbps, and beating every other network. Another RootMetrics report has revealed Vodafone's highest ‘everyday SG’ score for the first half of 2021 This is a median download speed achieved using a mix of 5G and 4G, and it came in at 192.2Mbps (recorded in Glasgow) Vodafone itself has said to expect average 5G speeds of 150-200Mbps, with peak speeds exceeding IGbps. While its peak speeds in tests don't seem to reach that level, its average speeds do seem to be broadly in that range, albeit towards the bottom end of that. Based on the data we have it seems Vodafone's average 5G download speeds are in the ballpark of 80-255Mbps, with peak speeds of at least around S45Mbps, and possibly higher. 2.5) 02 5G download speeds O, Average UK-wide 5G download speed of 923 / 1I5.7Mbps — Opensignal/Point Topic hitps:59.c0 ukiqudesihow-fastis-S! me42105122, 3:11 AME How fasts 5G - 5G speeds and performance Median 5G download speed of 169.2 / O iSMbps — RootMetrics/Point Topic/Ookla 2 Maximum London 5G download speed of 302.Mbps ~ RootMetrics 02 5G coverage checker 02 is the major UK network that we have the least data on regarding 5G speeds, but there are still lots of things that we can say. First of all, according to Point Topic data from September 2020, 02 has an average UK-wide 5G download speed of 115.7Mbps, a median of 103Mbps, and a maximum (recorded outside Glasgow) of 247Mbps. However its average 5G download speed is a lower 92.3Mbps according to a September 2022 report from Opensignal. That's the lowest average of any network on test. Ookla/Speedtest meanwhile found in QI-Q2 2021 that 02's median 5G download speed across the UK was 1SSMbps, which is a lot better than the above, though notably it's down on an earlier report from the same company, which found a median of 176. 9Mbps. In a RootMetrics report covering Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry, and London for the first half of 2021, its highest median 5G speed was 193Mbps. That was recorded in Birmingham and was higher than any median achieved by any other network in any city in these tests. 02 also achieved a median of 1775Mbps in London, which beat every other network there too, and it also achieved the highest median speed in Coventry However, since then a newer RootMetrics report covering the second half of 2021 wasn't quite so impressive. In this report its highest median (across 16 cities) was 1692Mbps, recorded in Glasgow. Its median in London meanwhile was 134.4Mbps, which was solid but beaten by EE. 02 is also included in a 2H 2020 RootMetrics report, which found that its fastest median 5G. speed was 178.9Mbps (recorded in Belfast), and that its median SG speed in London was 145Mbps. Its fastest 5G download speed in London meanwhile was 302.Mbps. And we've also got an ‘everyday SG’ result from 02, recorded by RootMetrics in the first half of 2021. This median download speed (using a mix of 5G and 4G) came in at 1793Mbps, and was recorded in Glasgow. 02 itself hasn't yet said much about its 5G speeds, but based on this very limited data it seems that you can potentially expect average download speeds of between around lISMbps and 195Mbps, with peak speeds potentially being around 302Mbps ~ though once 02's 5G coverage improves and more data ralls in, we'd expect the figures to improve. hitps:59.c0 ukiqudesihow-fastis-S/ ane12128122, 3:11 AM 2.6) MVNO 5G download speeds Asda Mobile BT CMLink Giffgatt iD Mobile Lebara Lyca Mobile Sky Mobile Smarty Talkmobile Tesco Mobile Virgin Mobile Vox! hitps:59.c0 ukiqudesihow-fastis-S! Vodafone cE cE 02 Three Vodafone 02 02 Three Vodafone 02 Vodafone Vodafone How fasts 5G - 5G speeds and performance 80-25SMbps 130-190Mbps 130-190Mbps 90-195Mbps 105-230Mbps 80-255Mbps 90-195Mbps 90-195Mbps 105-230Mbps 80-255Mbps 90-195Mbps 80-255Mbps 80-255Mbps S45Mbps+ 753Mbps+ 753Mbps+ 302Mbps+ 478Mbps+ 545Mbps+ 302Mbps+ 302Mbps+ 478Mbps+ S45Mbps+ 302Mbps+ 545Mbps+ S45Mbps+ one12125122, 3:11 AME How fasts 5G - 5G speeds and performance As well as the main four UK networks, a number of MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) have also launched 5G services. At the time of writing those include BT Mobile, Mobile, Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Asda Mobile, iD Mobile, Lebara, Lyca Mob. ‘Smarty, CMLink and VOX Starting with BT Mobile, while we don’t have much data on it, we can expect its performance to be similar to EE’s, since BT owns EE and they share infrastructure. As such you can read EE’s section above for full details, but in short, BT Mobile's average SG download speeds are likely to. be around 130-190Mbps, with peak speeds potentially hitting around 753Mbps. CMLink also shares EE’s infrastructure, so again is likely to be similar. Sky Mobile, Giffgaff, Lyca Mobile and Tesco Mobile all use 02's infrastructure, so check out 02's section above for a picture of what you might be able to expect. Average SG download speeds could be in the region of 90-195Mbps based on the data that we have, with peak speeds of at least around 302Mbps. Tesco for its part has said to expect average download speeds of around 200Mbps Then there's iD Mobile and Smarty, which use Three's infrastructure, and based on the various data we have so far these networks could have average 5G speeds in roughly the range of 105- 230Mbps, with peak speeds upwards of 478Mbps. Finally, VOX! is owned by Vodafone and therefore uses that network's infrastructure, as do Asda Mobile, Lebara, Talkmobile and Virgin Mobile. Based on the data we have for Vodafone then, you might be able to expect average SG download speeds in the region of 80-2S5Mbps, with peak speeds of likely at least around 545Mbps. Speeds in some cases could be higher though, as VOX! has mirrored Vodafone in claiming that its 5G download speeds average 150-200Mbps and top out at roughly IGbps. We'd also take all these numbers with a pinch of salt, because ~ as the detailed main network sections above show — they're extremely variable, even on a single network in a single city. 3) How to check 5G download speeds Testing what 5G speed youre really getting is easy, as a number of sites and apps will do the job. Before opting for any of them though make sure you're actually connected to SG rather than a Wi-Fi network or 4G. To do this, turn Wi-Fi off on your phone, and check for an icon saying ‘5G’ on your phone's status bar. Then, one of the simplest options to test your speed is simply to enter the address fast.com into your mobile browser. It will then instantly start a speed test. The main speed displayed is your download speed, but if you hit the ‘show more info’ button you can also see your upload speed. If you'd rather use an app then one of the best options is Speedtest by Ookla, a popular app hitpsiSg.co.ukiqudesihow-fastie-Sqh sone12125122, 3:11 AME How fasts 5G - 5G speeds and performance available on both iOS and Android. Once it’s up and running hit ‘Go’ and it will first test yor download and then your upload speed. 4)5G latency Network Type Milliseconds (ms) 3G Network 58.2ms (actual)* 4G Network 36ms (actual)* 5G Network 29ms (actual)** / Ims (theoretical) * Figures show the lowest average latency of any network according to April 2020 Opensignal data ** Figure shows the lowest average latency of any network according to HI2021 Ookla data, Latency is how long it takes the network to respond to a request, which could be you trying to play a song or video or load a website for example. The network has to respond before it even starts loading, which can lead to minor but perceptible lag and is especially problematic for ‘online games, as each input has a new response time Over 3G those response times are typically around 60 milliseconds (ms) and on 4G they're around half that at roughly 35ms. The theory is that on 5G response times will ultimately drop to just Ims, which will be completely imperceptible, That will help with all the things we use data for now, but more than that it's necessary for new mobile data uses, such as self-driving cars, which need to respond to inputs and changes in situation immediately. As with speeds though, super low latency won't be achieved on day one, with a 2021 report from Ookla showing a median 5G latency of between 29ms and 33ms. Specifically, Vodafone and EE had a median of 29ms, 02's was 31ms, and Three's was 33ms. Notably these figures are actually higher (and therefore worse) than in an earlier report from late 2019, showing latency of between 2Ims and 26ms. We also have late 2020 data for central London, where according to RootMetrics, Three has a 5G latency of a mere 17ms, with Vodafone being second lowest at 34ms, and EE’s only achieving hitpss59.c0 ukiqudesthow-fast is) we12125122, 3:11 AME How fasts 5G - 5G speeds and performance SOINS, UZ Hea WHY UIUF UNaVe d 9G PreSelice HT LOMUON dl UIE LITE OF Ue Lest, Interestingly then Three's latency is best in that report but worst in the Ookla ane above, tho that might just mean that it has good latency in London and poorer latency elsewhere 5) Future 5G download speeds As 5G evolves and becomes less dependent on 4G infrastructure, and more spectrum becomes available, estimates put download speeds at up to 1000 times faster than 4G, potentially ‘exceeding 1OGbps, which would enable you to download an entire HD film in less than a second. Some estimates are more conservative, but even the most conservative put it at several dozen times faster than 4G Some insane speeds well beyond today’s 5G speeds have already been seen. The UK's 5G Innovation Centre achieved around 1 terabit per second (ITbps) in a test environment. That's roughly 65,000 times faster than typical 4G speeds and would enable you to download a file around 100 times larger than a full movie in just 3 seconds. However, such speeds are unlikely to be replicated in the real world Ofcom for its part sees SG as achieving real world speeds of between 10 and SOGbps, which is insanely fast whichever end of the scale it ends up at. These numbers are all very impressive, but what do they actually mean? According to AT&T, at IGbps you can download 25 songs in under a second, a TV show in under three seconds, and an HD movie in less than 36 seconds. These rates are currently available over its fixed GigaPower ultra-fast internet service and it has indicated the same will be possible over 5G at IGbps. Qualcomm, on announcing its X50 5G modem in October 2016, said it would be able to download a 15GB film in two to three seconds, compared with 10 to IS seconds at IGbps. As speeds approach 10Gbps, film downloads will become near instantaneous, and with all this extra speed whole new use cases become far more viable, such as streamed console-quality games, 8K video, and even holographic content. Even at the speeds people are getting now, 5G can rival fibre broadband, which is why we're starting to see 5G home broadband services. Most conventional fibre broadband services only provide speeds of under 100Mbps, and even at the top end it's rare to get more than a few hundred Mbps, so based on the 5G speeds above, it's a clear alternative. 6) Frequently asked questions How fast is 5G in the UK? hitps:59.c0 ukiqudesihow-fastis-S! vane