5G GLOBAL MOBILE NETWORK EXPERIENCE AWARDS 2022


September 2022

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Independent
Real-world experience
Scientific analysis
Author
Sam Fenwick
Senior Analyst

Key Findings

T-Mobile U.S. is the 5G Global Winner for both 5G Availability and 5G Reach

This means that our 5G users on T-Mobile U.S. spent the largest proportion of time with an active 5G connection, and they also found a 5G signal in the highest proportion of locations. T-Mobile U.S. wins 5G Availability with a score of 40.4% and 5G Reach with 7.8 points on a 10 point scale. The operator also saw the second greatest improvement in 5G Download Speed between the first half of 2021 and 2022 — an increase of 98.9%, 5.2 percentage points behind the front- runner, Croatia’s HT.

SK telecom users clock up the fastest 5G Download Speed in the world

Our users observed the fastest average 5G download speeds using SK telecom with an incredibly fast 469.6 Mbps. Both South Korea’s other operators. LG U+ and KT, are 5G Global Leaders for 5G Download Speed, with scores of 429.6 Mbps and 381.9 Mbps, respectively.

The best 5G Games Experience was on SK telecom and KT

KT and SK telecom are 5G Global Winners for 5G Games Experience with statistically tied scores of 90.5-90.9 points on a 100 point scale. Fellow South Korean operator LG U+ is a 5G Global Leader for multiplayer gaming using 5G and is in joint third place, alongside Switzerland’s Salt, T-Mobile Czech Republic and Hong Kong’s csl.

Two out of three 5G Global Winners for 5G Video Experience are Swedish

Due to a three-way statistical tie, our users had the best 5G video streaming experience using Tele2, Telia — both from Sweden — and on Slovenia’s Telemach. Therefore, the three operators are 5G Global Winners for 5G Video Experience with statistically tied scores of 82.8-84.1 points on a 100 point scale.

Telia Sweden users had the fastest 5G upload speeds in the world

Telia is the sole 5G Global winner for 5G Upload Speed with a blisteringly fast score of 50.9 Mbps. The operator wins by an impressive margin of at least 7.5 Mbps ahead of five operators sharing second place — Czech Republic’s T-Mobile, Norway’s Telia and Telenor, Swedish Tele2, and the Netherlands’ KPN — with statistically tied scores of 41.1-43.3 Mbps.

Only four operators’ users saw 5G Download Speeds over 1000% faster than 4G

5G has had an incredibly positive impact on users’ average download speeds. Our users on Israeli operator Hot Mobile reported the most impressive improvement — 1183.3% — in their average download speeds with 5G compared to 4G, followed by those on Chile’s Movistar (1084.5%), the UAE’s du (1051.9%) and Israel’s Partner (1014.7%).

Five operators place in the top 30 for all four measures of 5G Global Impact

5G Global Impact is the percentage improvement users experienced with 5G compared with 4G. Five operators have managed the impressive feat of being recognized in all four 5G Global Impact categories: Israel’s Hot Mobile and Partner, Globe and Smart in the Philippines, along with the UAE’s du. All ranked in 5G Global Impact for Download Speed, Upload Speed, Video Experience and Games Experience.

Globe Philippines users had the largest improvement in Video Experience with 5G

Our Globe users saw the largest uplift in their experience when streaming video on 5G compared with 4G (Video Experience — 5G Global Impact). Their video experience score improved by 89%. In addition, Globe had the second highest Games Experience — 5G Global Impact score, with users experiencing an improvement of 39.6% with 5G.

Japan’s NTT docomo and SoftBank are 5G Global Rising Stars in four categories

NTT docomo and SoftBank are the only operators to have placed as 5G Global Rising Stars across four categories. This means our users saw a tremendous improvement in 5G experience between the first half of 2021 and 2022. They are both rising stars for 5G Availability, 5G Reach and 5G Games Experience. In addition, NTT docomo is a 5G Global Rising Star for 5G Download Speed, while SoftBank is one for 5G Upload Speed.

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