UK’s 4G hot and not-spots revealed

The best place in the UK to enjoy mobile 4G coverage is Middlesbrough, and Bournemouth is the worst, according to a new report.

Which?, the consumer group, and analyst Open Signal analysed data from mobile phones in 20 cities in the UK, drawing up a ranking of the good and not-so-good places to get decent 4G coverage.

Top 5
Middlesbrough/Teesside - 82.7 per cent
Sheffield - 79.3 per cent
Sunderland - 79% per cent
Leicester - 78.6 per cent
Leeds/West Yorkshire - 78.2 per cent

Bottom 5
Bournemouth/Poole - 67.5 per cent
Southampton/Portsmouth - 69.6 per cent
Cardiff - 71.8 per cent
Nottingham - 73.3 per cent

The report looked at average 4G download speeds across the UK, finding Stoke-on-Trent the fastest and Brighton the slowest.

The research also found that the average overall 4G availability across the UK is 65 per cent, meaning mobile users can only access 4G around two-thirds of the time.

Which? is calling on the government to work with communications regulator Ofcom, and providers, to ensure “critical” reforms are made to the UK’s mobile market.

The organisation said this will ensure mobile phone users “will not be limited” in doing activities on their phone, like using social media, sending emails or streaming content.

Alex Neill, Which? managing director of home products and services, said: “These latest findings underline the need for Ofcom to keep the pressure on mobile operators, so that every part of the country gets a decent service on their mobile phone.

“Our mobile phone is central to how we live our lives and that is why it is so frustrating when we can’t access emails or browse the internet on the go.”