The latest tests from Ookla have revealed that Three Mobile is leading the way in the UK for fast download speeds, surpassing its main competitors. Three secured the top spot with an impressive average download speed of 214Mbps, outperforming other major networks by a significant margin. In comparison, the UK’s fixed-line broadband average speed is half of what Three offers.
Vodafone claimed the second position in the rankings, followed by EE in third place, while O2 lagged behind with the slowest speeds overall. Ookla confirmed Three as the Fastest 5G Network in the United Kingdom for Q3-Q4 2025 based on its Speed Score, which considers download and upload speeds along with latency metrics.
Here is a quick overview of Ookla’s results:
– Overall Speed Score:
– Three: 53.46
– Vodafone: 43.05
– EE: 36.73
– O2: 30.70
– Median download speeds:
– Three: 214Mbps
– Vodafone: 129.78Mbps
– EE: 97Mbps
– O2: 78.92Mbps
– Median upload speeds:
– Three: 13.8Mbps
– Vodafone: 10.78Mbps
– EE: 10.96Mbps
– O2: 8.28Mbps
While the results showcase Three’s dominance, it is essential to note that testing mobile networks can be challenging due to users constantly moving between different locations and changing network conditions. Nonetheless, Three’s performance is expected to see further enhancement following its alliance with Vodafone. The newly merged VodafoneThree aims to revolutionize the UK’s mobile network with an £11 billion investment.
Since the merger, VodafoneThree has initiated the integration of the two networks using “Multi-Operator Core Network” technology. This integration allows customers of both Vodafone and Three to seamlessly connect to each other’s networks at no extra cost, potentially leading to improved coverage and performance nationwide.
