Why London's 5G is the Worst in Europe (But It Doesn’t Have to Be)

London, the capital city of a G7 nation, a global financial hub, a tech startup hotspot... and, apparently, the worst place in Europe to use 5G. According to a recent benchmark study by MedUX, London came dead last in a 30-city test of 5G performance across Europe.

If you felt your phone crawling to load a webpage somewhere in Zone 2 and thought, "Surely this isn’t the future we were promised," you’re not wrong.

The Numbers Behind the Embarrassment

The study tested 5G across several European capitals and major cities, analysing real-world user experience. London ranked last in overall performance, with poor scores in both outdoor and indoor 5G connectivity.

It turns out that when it comes to delivering on the 5G hype, London’s stuck somewhere between "almost there" and "still buffering."

The analysis covered:

• Download and upload speeds

• Latency (response time)

• Session reliability

In every major metric, London fell short. It wasn’t just marginally behind – it was firmly planted at the bottom.

Not Just a London Problem

Are we finally over the whole 5G scaremongering nonsense from five years ago? You remember it: conspiracy theories about microchips, melting birds, and mind control. Thankfully, most of that noise has faded into the background. Now, the conversation has shifted to what actually matters – speed, coverage, and consistency.

I’ve been on the road a lot more than usual lately, and if there’s anywhere you’d expect solid mobile signal, it’s along the UK’s motorway network. But even there, 5G is unreliable at best. Dropped calls, buffering maps, and sluggish downloads are far too common. These are the places where connectivity should be strongest – critical transit routes, service stations, logistics hubs. And yet, they’re not.

Are we finally over the whole 5G scaremongering nonsense from five years ago? You remember it: conspiracy theories about microchips, melting birds, and mind control. Thankfully, most of that noise has faded into the background. Now, the conversation has shifted to what actually matters – speed, coverage, and consistency.

Before we throw the entire city under the double-decker, it’s worth noting this isn’t a uniquely London issue. Across the UK, 5G coverage is best described as patchy. Yes, the technology is there. Yes, the telcos are marketing it like it’s everywhere. But the actual experience? That depends a lot on where you are and what you're doing.

It’s not unusual to have full bars of 5G and yet struggle to load a simple YouTube video. Or worse, to have your phone flip-flop between 4G and 5G like it can’t decide which generation it wants to live in.

Where 5G Shines in the UK

Here's the thing: when 5G works in the UK, it really works.

In parts of Manchester, Birmingham, and Belfast, 5G performance has been benchmarked to rival or even exceed that of cities on the continent. High-speed, low-latency connections are making things like remote collaboration, cloud gaming, and HD streaming not just possible, but seamless.

And in smaller towns where infrastructure rollouts have been focused and centralised, the story is surprisingly positive. In some cases, these places have become proof-of-concept hubs for what 5G could look like if it were done properly.

The technology isn’t broken. The execution is.

Why the Patchiness?

So, what’s causing the inconsistency? There are a few culprits:

1. Planning Permissions and Bureaucracy

Getting the green light to install new 5G towers or small cells in the UK is not exactly a swift process. Councils often drag their heels, worried about aesthetics or public concern over EMF (electromagnetic field) exposure.

2. Focus on Coverage, Not Quality

Telecoms providers are keen to show off big numbers: "We cover X% of the population!" But that metric doesn’t measure how well the network performs. You can technically be covered by 5G and still have a poor user experience.

3. Too Many Devices, Not Enough Infrastructure

Urban density is another challenge. London is a data-hungry beast. Simply having 5G in an area doesn’t mean it can handle the load of tens of thousands of users at rush hour.

4. Vendor Variability

Different networks use different suppliers for their 5G hardware. Not all kit is created equal, and implementation quality varies wildly between operators.

5. Mobile Network to Mobile Network Variance

Not all mobile networks are created equal. One provider might offer consistently high-speed 5G in a particular area, while another can barely maintain a stable connection. Factors like spectrum allocation, mast placement, and network management all play a role.

Is There Hope?

Yes. Absolutely. While London sits at the bottom of the leaderboard, the UK isn’t technologically incapable. The problem isn’t a lack of potential – it’s one of coordination, investment, and follow-through.

The good news? Some telcos are stepping up. Vodafone and Three, for instance, are investing in shared infrastructure to reduce duplication and increase coverage efficiency. EE and O2 have been rolling out ultra-fast millimetre-wave 5G in certain high-footfall areas. Progress is happening – just not fast enough.

So What Can Be Done?

Here’s a four-point reality check:

1. Focus on performance, not just coverage maps. A shaded-in blob on a telco map doesn’t mean good service. Benchmarking should include latency, jitter, and real-world throughput.

2. Invest in backhaul and edge computing. 5G isn’t just about the last mile – it’s about how data gets processed and sent. Without solid backend infrastructure, 5G becomes 4G in disguise.

3. Pressure councils to simplify planning rules. We can’t have every new mast stuck in six months of red tape.

4. More independent testing. Let’s see more reports like MedUX’s to hold networks accountable. When the data is out in the open, the pressure to improve ramps up.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not All Doom and Gloom

Yes, London has some serious catching up to do. Being bottom of the list is not a great look for a city that prides itself on innovation. But the situation isn’t irreversible. Other UK cities are getting it right, proving that with the right investment and strategy, 5G can deliver.

What we need now is follow-through. Less hype, more action. Less PR spin, more performance. Because 5G isn’t a luxury anymore – it’s the baseline for what modern connectivity should look like.

So the next time you’re staring at your phone on Oxford Street wondering why your signal is slower than dial-up, take heart: things can get better. But only if someone picks up the pace.