The UK is drastically lagging behind in its 5G capabilities compared to other nations, new research has revealed, ranking last in a list of 15 developing and advanced international markets.

With the importance of 5G – for the economy, education, and digital inclusion – being well documented and understood by the public and private sectors, it is no wonder the UK government’s 5G aspirations are high.

By 2035, widespread availability of 5G could add £159 billion to the UK economy, providing direct benefits to businesses through operational efficiencies and diffusing innovations across industries.

However, a new study from the Social Market foundation (SMF) found that the UK ranks last in a list of 15 international markets when it comes to 5G capabilities, including availability and download speeds.

The cross-party think tank found that UK users only have access to a 5G signal 10% of the time, compared to users in India having access over 40% of the time.

This is despite the UK government aiming to become a leader in 5G technology since 2017, with countless policy papers and strategy documents following.

In the final quarter of 2023, however, the UK consistently came up short when it came to 5G capabilities.

In terms of availability, 5G was available to UK users only 8% of the time, compared to 43% in India, and 38% in South Korea.

The UK also ranked as one of the slowest in terms of average 5G download speed, at just 118 Mbps, compared to 437 Mbps in South Korea, which came out on top, and trailing the next lowest contender, Italy, with 133 Mbps.

In the study’s composite 5G network analysis, the UK came in 15th out of 15 countries, which included South Korea, India, Norway, New Zealand, France, Australia, the US, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Canada.

The UK trails not only against global tech contenders, but also against comparable economies in Europe.

The study, an eviscerating review of the UK’s 5G progress, comes shortly after the new Labour government announced its intension to bolster the UK’s digital infrastructure.

Recommended reading

• New Builds in Scotland Could Come with Gigabit-capable Broadband
• UK Altnets Broadband Overbuild Leaves Rural Areas in Jeopardy
• Digital Exclusion Growing in Scotland

The commitment follows the previous government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published in 2023, which set to have nationwide standalone 5G coverage across the UK’s populated areas by 2030.

However, many areas, including the UK’s most rural and remote, still lack stable broadband coverage, let alone 5G.

SMF’s review claimed that private investment in the UK could unlock its 5G potential, suggesting that the UK currently lacks enough investment in infrastructure as well as innovation, holding it back from realising its 5G ambitions.

Delays in building this critical telecommunications infrastructure, including masts, is due to investment barriers and over-complex planning laws, according to the review.

A stall in the Three UK and Vodafone merger, as well as continuous regulatory litigation, was also argued by SMF to be delaying 5G rollouts.

The UK’s approach to spectrum and infrastructure pricing is actually decreasing the amount of land supplied to mobile network operators to rollout fiber cables and build masts, the review also argues.