UK Mobile Operators Offer Slightly Better Service than Cheaper Third Party Operators, New Report Finds
London, UK – On Monday, 15 September 2025, PolicyTracker, a partner service of spectrum policy experts, released a report comparing the performance of the UK’s mobile network operators (MNOs) and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). The report, based on 40,000 tests conducted using the SignalTracker mobile app, found that while MNOs generally offer slightly better service, most customers are unlikely to notice a significant difference.
SignalTracker compared the download speed (Mbps) of four MNOs – Three, O2, Vodafone, and EE – to four MVNOs – Lebara Mobile, LycaMobile, iD Mobile, and giffgaff. The tests were conducted in a range of urban, suburban, and rural locations across the UK.
The results showed that all networks consistently achieved download speeds of over 20 Mbps, which is considered sufficient for everyday usage. This means that consumers are unlikely to notice a significant difference between MNOs and MVNOs in terms of download speed, as the difference is often less than 10 Mbps.
However, the tests did reveal that Three and O2 were considerably faster than their partner MVNOs. In suburban tests, Three averaged 105 Mbps download speed, while iD Mobile only achieved 26 Mbps. Similarly, giffgaff fell short of O2’s performance, with O2 averaging 56 Mbps and giffgaff only achieving 41 Mbps. The fastest speeds were consistently seen on Three, while the slowest speeds were on iD Mobile.
The report also looked at reliability, and found that MVNOs were more likely to experience failed tests compared to MNOs. When taking this into account, MNOs were found to offer a better overall service, despite their similar download speeds.
For example, Vodafone had a 1% test failure rate across urban and rural areas, while its MVNO Lebara had a failure rate of 24% and 19% in the same areas. O2 had an average test failure rate of 4%, while giffgaff had a significantly higher rate of 43%.
The report also analyzed the mobile bands used by MNOs and MVNOs, but found that this did not significantly impact performance, except in the case of iD Mobile, which has slower speeds due to its lack of access to the best performing bands.
While MVNOs may offer better value for consumers, the report also considered the impact of 5G standalone (5G SA), the ultra-fast service offered by MNOs EE, Vodafone, and O2. Currently, no MVNOs have access to 5G SA, and when these results were included in the comparison, average download speeds exceeded 100 Mbps.
For customers who frequently stream, use VR and AR technology, or download large files, 5G SA provides a clear advantage over any MVNO.
To learn more about the report’s findings and methodology, please visit the link provided.
