Survey reveals four in 10 struggle to access mobile signal in the UK

A new survey by YouGov suggests that UK citizens are getting frustrated due to poor connectivity or mobile signals in different regions.

The study reveals that more than four in 10 people across the UK struggle to access 4G or 5G on their mobile devices for at least half the time they are on the move, according to a survey that highlights the poor state of the country’s digital infrastructure.

The poll of more than 2,000 users of digital devices found that 45% felt frustrated with mobile connectivity outside the home at least once a week.

And among 18 to 24-year-olds, that figure rose to 57%.

Connectivity problems were less common at home, but more than a quarter, or 27%, of respondents were frustrated with their Wi-Fi connection at least once a week.

The study, which was commissioned from YouGov by the property consultancy Cluttons, comes after a steep decline in the UK’s position in a global league table of mobile download speeds.

The UK is ranked 44th in the world for fixed-line download speeds.

Some city center broadband speeds are among the slowest in the UK because of the congestion of utilities, while in rural areas the longer distances between homes carry an extra installation cost.

Successive governments have urged telecoms providers to accelerate the rollout of superfast broadband and mobile connectivity, and some elements of the network measure up to the coverage in other European countries.

Critics argue that the digital network in the UK has largely been rolled out in areas that are easier to access and therefore more profitable.

“Digital connectivity is fundamental to the UK’s economic growth, acting as the backbone of a modern, productive economy,” said Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat MP who chairs the digital communities all-party parliamentary group.

She said poor connectivity constrained productivity and competitiveness, adding, "This is particularly serious in rural areas, where businesses report lost income, operational delays, and reduced efficiency.

The rollout of digital infrastructure is therefore critical. Investment in full fiber and mobile networks is not just about faster speeds but also about enabling wider economic transformation," she added.