The UK cities most reliant on mobile data according to Uswitch study

by | May 30, 2023

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Uswitch mobiles latest analysis looks at where in the UK people require internet access, the reliability, and availability of mobile data and broadband to them. 

While the majority of the population relies on fast and reliable internet access, in some areas broadband providers are few and far between. Therefore, mobile data reliance can become essential, with network coverage becoming a valuable perk of areas throughout the UK in order to carry out day-to-day work and stay connected to the outside world. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF 5G COVERAGE ACROSS UK CITIES

Data reliance amongst cities will fluctuate, due to many factors including the quality of broadband coverage, commuting time and how many people visit the area, who will naturally not have a wifi connection or be relying on non-secure or poor hotel wifi connection. In areas with slower broadband speed and fewer providers such as Newry in Northern Ireland, ensuring the best data coverage to stay connected is essential. 

 
 

Therefore, out of all 10 of the cities ranked as the lowest data reliant cities in the study, Stirling is the only city that currently offers 5G coverage by all four of the major networks. While the max broadband speed for 7 of 10 of the cities is below 1000 Mbps, by focusing on coverage in these cities, residents will naturally become more data reliant, being able to replace poor broadband speeds with data when needed. 

The study’s rankings were based upon the percentage of residents who access internet, availability of 5G coverage, availability of broadband providers and the average speed of broadband connection in each location. 

BRIGHTON AND HOVE REVEALED AS MOST DATA RELIANT CITY

 
RankCity% of population that used internet in past 3 monthsNo of 5G networks availableMax broadband speed (Mbps)Typical speed range (max) (Mbps)Typical speed range (min) (Mbps)No. of available broadband providersData reliance score (out of 100)
1Brighton & Hove97.70%31763193462786.2
2Coventry96.80%43657148461982.1
3London (inc. City of)94.90%45156191487981.8
4Portsmouth96.50%41136225611881.0
5Oxford96.50%33014161423280.3
6Southend-on-Sea96.30%44560201411577.5
7Bristol94.70%41511214532475.7
8Chichester96.70%41144124363274.8
9Winchester95.70%41143144393973.2
10Dundee96.10%4942203451371.1

 With 97.7% of the population using the internet in the past three months, yet a lower available number of broadband providers, Brighton & Hove residents rely on mobile data coverage more than anywhere else in the UK, based upon their data reliance score.

Similarly, Coventry is the second most data-reliant city. Residents have fewer broadband providers to choose from and lower maximum speeds, despite 96.8% of the population relying on the internet. However, residents in Coventry have access to 5G coverage from the main four network providers (O2, Vodafone, Three and EE), which is still not fully available at a national scale across the UK.

Dundee is the only Scottish city to appear in the top ten most data-reliant cities. With only 13 available broadband providers and a lower than average maximum broadband speed, residents of Dundee have a high demand for internet access but good availability of 5G coverage across the four major providers.

 

STUDY REVEALS THAT DURHAM IS THE UK’S LEAST DATA RELIANT CITY

RankCity% of population that used internet in past 3 monthsNo of 5G networks availableMax broadband speed (Mbps)Typical speed range (max) (Mbps)Typical speed range (min) (Mbps)No. of available broadband providersData reliance score (out of 100)
1Durham84.90%39417333159.9
2Stirling86.50%493766251110.1
3Armagh85.50%2932141391313.0
4Perth86.50%31135131321215.4
5Hereford89.50%294071331817.5
6Truro90.00%294274301819.4
7Newry90.40%2927136321221.4
8Exeter89.20%21105101322321.6
9Lincoln87.60%31109101332321.6
10Wrexham90.20%2937139351322.4

With the lowest percentage of the population using the internet in the past three months, Durham is the least data-reliant city in the UK. Despite low demand, internet connectivity in Durham ranked as some of the poorest, with low broadband speeds and a small number of available providers compared to the rest of the country. Although Durham is a bustling university town, the average age of residents is one of the highest in the country with 21.3% of the population in retirement age[2].

Ultimately, for the majority of Brits, internet connectivity for both broadband and mobile varies greatly depending on location. For cities with a huge demand for fast and reliable internet, availability of 5G coverage on mobile is more important to ensure residents can maintain a reasonable connection.

 

In locations such as Truro, Cornwall, the maximum broadband speed on average is under 1000 Mbps (megabytes per second) and only two of the major networks (EE and Three) offer 5G coverage at present. Whilst the population is one of the lowest in terms of internet usage, that’s still below average connectivity for 90% of Truro’s population who are more regular internet users.

If you have a handset that’s 5G compatible and live in a 5G coverage area, one of the best current deals on Uswitch for 5G coverage is from Three. It offers 25GB of data for £8 a month

Uswitch’s mobile expert Rehan Ali comments: 

 

“Brighton & Hove has emerged as the most mobile data reliant city in the UK, with its residents relying heavily on the internet for work, leisure and communication more than anywhere else in the UK. With a thriving digital economy it’s no surprise that demand for the internet surpasses many other towns and cities around the country. 

Our findings show that a larger percentage of residents in Brighton will rely on mobile data more than others. Whilst the city has been quick to adopt 5G coverage, providing its residents with faster and more reliable connectivity, it still doesn’t have full coverage across the major providers.”

On the other hand, Durham, which has been ranked as the least data reliant city, still lags behind in terms of broadband speeds and access to 5G coverage. The study found that a lower percentage of residents in Durham accessed the internet compared to other cities and the average speed of broadband connection is slower than the national average. 

 

This research highlights the urgent need to bridge the digital divide and ensure equal access to fast and reliable connectivity across the country. Despite being the city with the least requirement for internet access, it’s vital that no one is left behind due to their geographical location, cellular infrastructure or broadband availability and affordability.”

To look for the best coverage possible, there are multiple affordable SIM only deals offered by the main providers. Three and O2 offer 5G coverage across the majority of the UK, with most locations having at least two providers offering 5G.

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