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Mobile data demand in London outstrips capacity, study finds
Overview
A study by data firm Ookla released by City Hall reveals that mobile data demand in London is outstripping network capacity, with every tested area failing to meet regulatory response time targets. The report highlights issues such as high-rise buildings blocking signals, low approval rates for new masts by London councils, and a fragmented planning process across 33 boroughs. Recommendations to improve connectivity include installing more masts, improving fibre links, and better coordination between councils and mobile networks.
Key points
- Research by Ookla tested 19 outdoor locations in inner London and found all had slower network response times than Ofcom's 50-millisecond target.
- Eversholt Street in Camden and Dalston in Hackney were identified as the worst-performing areas, failing all four tested categories.
- City Hall forecasts that London's mobile data demand will increase fourteenfold over the next decade.
- London approves fewer than 40% of mast applications compared to over 80% in other major UK cities like Manchester, Leeds, and Edinburgh.
- Nearly two-thirds of floor space in London buildings of 13 storeys or more lack reliable indoor coverage due to high-rise obstructions.
- International comparisons rank London poorly, placing 17th of 19 cities for download speeds and last for upload speeds.
- Proposed solutions include appointing council mobile connectivity leads, reviewing rejected mast applications, and exploring shared network infrastructure models used in cities like Stockholm.