- London ranks alongside Brussels for poor 5G performance.
- MedUX report highlights significant gaps in 5G availability and speed.
What happened: MedUX urges policy reforms and investments to meet 5G goals
A recent study by broadband monitoring company MedUX has ranked London among the worst-performing cities for 5G connectivity in Europe. According to the report, London and Brussels are trailing behind other major European cities in key 5G metrics such as availability, speed, and reliability. The study, conducted in Q4 2024 across 15 major European cities, reveals that 5G connectivity in both cities is inferior to other capitals.
While London and Brussels struggled, cities like Porto and Stockholm stood out for their strong 5G performances. Porto led in data and over-the-top (OTT) experiences, while Stockholm achieved the best overall network performance and streaming quality. The report also revealed that across Europe, users in major cities are connected to 5G just 65% of the time, with inconsistent service quality remaining a major challenge.
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Why it’s important
The findings from MedUX underscore the significant challenges Europe faces in rolling out 5G, particularly in key cities like London and Brussels. The study highlights the uneven availability of 5G across the continent, with some regions failing to meet the expectations set by the European Commission’s Digital Decade programme, which aims for comprehensive digital transformation by 2030.
The report also reveals broader issues related to the deployment of standalone (SA) 5G networks, with Europe lagging behind countries like China, India, and the US. The delay in the rollout and inconsistent service quality could hinder Europe’s ability to meet its digital goals and remain competitive globally. To address these challenges, MedUX calls for policy reforms and renewed investment to ensure 5G infrastructure can be deployed more effectively across Europe.
