Huawei swap-out blamed as London 5G lags UK rivals

London’s 5G performance has slipped behind other UK cities as mobile operators work through the removal of Huawei equipment from public networks, according to analysis and commentary from connectivity specialist Ben Poskaitis of NetCov.

The UK Government issued a legal notice in 2022 that required Huawei technology to be removed from the UK’s 5G public networks. The work must finish by the end of 2027. The move followed security concerns around the supplier’s role in national telecoms infrastructure.

Industry replacement work has taken longer than expected. Poskaitis said vendors have struggled to swap out equipment at pace. He linked the disruption to slower network upgrades and weaker user experience in some areas, with London among the locations feeling the impact.

Median 5G download speeds in London stand at about 115 Mbps, compared with Glasgow at 185 Mbps, according to the figures cited. London also ranked below the top 10 UK cities for “consistency” of 5G performance. The list placed London at 74.7% consistency. Glasgow led at 85.3%.

London variation

The data also pointed to sharp differences within the capital. East London’s E20 postcode recorded a reliable connection 74.8% of the time in the figures cited, compared with an average of 85% or higher in many other London postcodes.

Several factors influence how 5G performs on a given street. Operators often rely on a mix of spectrum bands and site types across boroughs. Dense building layouts, transport corridors, and varying mast placement can all affect signal strength and indoor coverage. Network congestion also rises as more devices connect in areas with heavy footfall.

Poskaitis pointed to user devices and mobile operators as further variables. “With more and more people relying on mobile networks in their day-to-day lives, it's essential to have a strong mobile connection. Around 35% of mobile users complain about consistently poor connectivity, network dropouts, and network outages. Not only is the device you chose important, but the network you opt for can have an impact on your signal strength,” said Ben Poskaitis, Founder and Director, NetCov.

5G versus 4G

Another factor cited in the material relates to how handsets display 5G availability. Nearly 40% of the time, a phone may show a 5G symbol while using a 4G connection, according to the figures referenced. That can happen when 5G coverage exists in the area but the device cannot sustain a 5G connection, so it falls back to 4G.

The material also referenced “standalone 5G”, a configuration that does not rely on older 4G infrastructure for core network functions. Roll-out in the UK has been uneven. Where operators still depend on non-standalone deployments, network performance can vary by location and by device.

Some users experience this as fluctuation rather than an outright loss of service. In busy areas, a handset can connect to 5G intermittently while shifting to 4G for stability. That can make speed tests and app performance feel inconsistent, particularly for video calls and real-time services.

City rankings

The figures cited ranked Glasgow first for 5G performance consistency at 85.3%. Birmingham followed at 79.5%, with Cardiff at 79.4% and Bristol and Manchester both at 79.1%. Sheffield, Leeds, and Edinburgh each sat in the high 78% range. Liverpool recorded 78%, with Belfast at 76%.

London’s position below Belfast on the same measure will concern operators that have marketed 5G as a cornerstone of urban connectivity. The capital also faces a combination of high data demand and challenging planning environments for new sites, which often shape densification projects.

Checking coverage

NetCov pointed consumers towards Ofcom’s mobile coverage checker as a way to compare local network performance. The tool allows users to enter a postcode and review coverage estimates for the four major UK networks: Three, Vodafone, O2, and EE.

The advice reflects a long-running feature of the UK mobile market. Operators’ network strengths differ by region. Coverage and speed can look very different across postcodes, even within the same city. Switching provider can change user experience, particularly in areas that sit on the edge of a mast’s coverage footprint or where indoor signal penetration is weak.

NetCov operates in the indoor connectivity segment and installs signal boosters in commercial buildings. The company said it works with Ofcom-compliant equipment that can be deployed without a licence.

With the Huawei removal programme running through to 2027, operators face a multi-year period of replacement work alongside continued 5G expansion, with London’s network experience likely to remain under close scrutiny from consumers and businesses.