Analysis: London fell from 7th to last place out of 18 European capitals for median mobile download speed from 2021 to 2026; 5G adoption has outrun 5G capacity

Mobile download speeds in London have fallen behind other major European capitals, impacting connectivity for users.

London has experienced a significant decline in median mobile download speeds, dropping from seventh to last place among 18 European capitals between 2021 and 2026. While its median download speed increased nearly sevenfold to 109.43 Mbps by Q3 2026, other capitals improved at a faster rate. Since early 2023, London has also recorded the slowest median upload speed and the highest latency under load for the worst 10% of samples quarterly. The rapid adoption of 5G has outpaced the expansion of network capacity. London's median 5G download speed fell from 200 Mbps in Q2 2021 to 133 Mbps in Q3 2026, as the proportion of tests conducted on 5G nearly doubled to 80%, resulting in the slowest 5G median speed among the surveyed capitals. Network congestion is evident, particularly during weekday lunchtimes in business districts, where download speeds are significantly slower and latency increases.

London's mobile network performance degradation is largely attributed to 5G adoption outstripping capacity expansion, exacerbated by difficulties in deploying new infrastructure. Strict planning regulations, particularly in conservation areas, and a reduction in rental income for rooftop sites have significantly slowed down the addition of new masts and small cells. This infrastructural bottleneck, combined with the high density of users in central business districts during peak hours, leads to congestion and a noticeably slower user experience. The data indicates that while overall mobile data usage has surged, the network's ability to scale has not kept pace, a trend reflected in other large UK cities as well.

The findings suggest a critical need for updated urban planning strategies that accommodate telecommunications infrastructure growth alongside population and job density increases. The current regulatory environment and landowner disputes are hindering the necessary investment and deployment, directly impacting the quality of mobile services. This situation poses a challenge for London's reputation as a global hub and may necessitate innovative solutions, such as streamlined permitting processes or revised economic incentives for site hosts, to improve future network performance and ensure competitiveness with other European cities.