Britain’s 5G networks face an AI stress test as performance lags: Report

Britain's mobile networks rank 57th in the world for performance, worse than every EU nation and every other G7 country, according to a Which? analysis of Opensignal data. Telecoms executives now warn that gap could cost the UK dearly as artificial intelligence use explodes.

Andrea Donà, networks director at VodafoneThree, didn't mince words. "I am embarrassed today at the level of quality of our networks," he said, arguing that the UK's fixed-line broadband has improved dramatically while 5G has lagged behind.

He compared the coming strain to the signal blackouts fans experience at Wembley or Silverstone, except permanent, once AI tools become embedded in everyday devices.

There has been quite a lot of talk about AI infrastructure in relation to datacentres and the water and energy resources required for cooling.

However, little has been said about the networks delivering that traffic to customers even though they now face the "shift from 'nascent' to 'national competitiveness' in just a few years", according to a senior executive at a leading telecommunications company.

Vodafone Three has already committed £11bn to upgrade its network and reduce the number of masts it owns by 30%.

According to Donà, 96% of upgrades are planned using existing infrastructure, but over 50% of them still need planning permission.

Donà pointed to newly installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham's growth agenda as an opening. "Planning reform is the lowest possible cost growth policy; it doesn't require any government money," he said, calling it a potential early win.