5G communications services have been available in the UK for just over three years but the public perception of next-gen mobile is far from universally good with user experiences mixed finds research from Uswitch.com.
The study was carried out on behalf of the comparison and switching service by Opinium surveyed a sample of 2,000 UK adults from the 20-23 September 2022.
Despite the fact that more than 16 million people own a 5G-enabled handset in the UK, and that almost a quarter (23%) of consumers were planning to buy or upgrade to a 5G handset within the next two years, the standout finding was around one in six mobile phone users (16%) felt 5G technology was overhyped and 5G experience were not universally satisfactory. And while some did indeed feel their service had got better, only just over two-fifths of 5G users (41%) said they have experienced improvements in speed or reliability.
Worryingly, Uswitch.com also believes that fifth-generation connectivity also risks making the digital divide between urban and rural areas worse. One in six (17%) 5G mobile users in the countryside said they have never been able to connect to the network, nearly three times the proportion of those in cities (6%). Worse, for parts of the UK, poor connectivity extends beyond 5G. In Yorkshire, less than half of residents (48%) said they receive a reliable 4G service, and one in seven (14%) report that they often have to use the 2G network, which dates back to the early 1990s.
“After the promise of 5G delivering ultrafast speeds to our mobiles, it’s no wonder that many consumers still don’t understand what the fuss is about when compared to their everyday experiences,” commented Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com.
“But it’s important to remember 5G was first trialled in the UK just three years ago, so this technology is really still in its infancy. We’re still only scratching the surface of what it can do. When the technology reaches its potential - and more importantly is readily available to all - it won’t just change the speed of our mobile data, but how we live our lives.”
Despite the fact that more than 16 million people own a 5G-enabled handset in the UK, and that almost a quarter (23%) of consumers were planning to buy or upgrade to a 5G handset within the next two years, the standout finding was around one in six mobile phone users (16%) felt 5G technology was overhyped and 5G experience were not universally satisfactory. And while some did indeed feel their service had got better, only just over two-fifths of 5G users (41%) said they have experienced improvements in speed or reliability.
Worryingly, Uswitch.com also believes that fifth-generation connectivity also risks making the digital divide between urban and rural areas worse. One in six (17%) 5G mobile users in the countryside said they have never been able to connect to the network, nearly three times the proportion of those in cities (6%). Worse, for parts of the UK, poor connectivity extends beyond 5G. In Yorkshire, less than half of residents (48%) said they receive a reliable 4G service, and one in seven (14%) report that they often have to use the 2G network, which dates back to the early 1990s.
“After the promise of 5G delivering ultrafast speeds to our mobiles, it’s no wonder that many consumers still don’t understand what the fuss is about when compared to their everyday experiences,” commented Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com.
“But it’s important to remember 5G was first trialled in the UK just three years ago, so this technology is really still in its infancy. We’re still only scratching the surface of what it can do. When the technology reaches its potential - and more importantly is readily available to all - it won’t just change the speed of our mobile data, but how we live our lives.”
