EE has come out on top of the 2014 Rootmetrics performance that measures mobile internet, call, and text performance across the main networks.
The mobile analytics company drove more than 25,000 miles across the UK testing the metrics of 920,000 test samples - accounting for one sample for every 100 mobile phone contracts in the country. It also tested more than 1,200 indoor locations, which is 20 per cent more than it has trialled in previous studies.
Scores in England for all tests across all networks were higher than those in Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, showing there's some work to be done by all operators in rural areas.
Three matched EE's performance in both Northern Ireland and Scotland, while it also ranked first in network reliability in both Northern Ireland and Scotland. In Wales, EE and Three shared the top rank for network reliability, meaning you're less likely to lose signal if you're on one of those two networks in the countries.
Vodafone came last in all but one of Rootmetrics' tests, except call quality where Three took bottom place.
Rootmetrics also tested the networks in the biggest 16 metro areas in the UK, where Three and EE were top performers. However, both O2 and Vodafone also showed strong results in the cities, further demonstrating rural mobile networks is where the most mobile infrastructure improvements are needed.
RootMetrics CEO and President Bill Moore said: "Our mobile phones have become an essential part of our everyday lives, but determining which network performs best seems to have become more difficult.
"We conducted such a large-scale study on mobile network performance to provide depth and transparency around how the networks truly perform. We firmly believe consumers deserve clear, unbiased, and accurate information in order to make the most informed decisions to improve their everyday mobile experience."
