Keeping our network reliable
Maintaining the reliability and capacity of our network is our number one priority during the COVID-19 outbreak
Why?
Because Umlaut, an industry leader in mobile data performance benchmarking, say so. They tested the latest 5G phones on London’s networks. When it came to things that users love doing every day – from browsing to watching videos on YouTube – no network performed better.
Take a look at the results:
5G |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average download rate | 215.2Mbps | 182.8Mbps | 109.2Mbps | 147.1Mbps |
| Average upload rate | 29.5Mbps | 32.3Mbps | 10.6Mbps | 15.2Mbps |
| Web page link opened successfully | 100% | 97.6% | 92.6% | 95.7% |
| Time to download a 5MB file (an average 3 min song) | 1.1s | 1.7s | 3.4s | 2.3s |
| Time to upload a 2.5MB file (an average social media photo) | 1.8s | 2.2s | 4.4s | 2.5s |
| YouTube successful open and playback rate | 99.8% | 95.2% | 93.9% | 81.0% |
The highlights
Our data performed best in all measured data services
Our network was the most reliable, at an incredible 99.6%
We were top in 2.5MB upload speeds – perfect for uploading photos to social media
We were top in 5MB downloads too – our 5G offers the fastest music downloads
London’s Best 5G: based on Umlaut London 5G June 2020 drive test report. Umlaut tested performance of data services across major UK networks using 5G capable smartphones. The report shows that Vodafone leads competition in London, across 5G key performance indicators.
5G: To use 5G you'll need a 5G phone, a 5G plan, and be in an area covered by our 5G network. Coverage may be affected by several factors. Visit our 5G page for more.
Our response to COVID-19
Now more than ever, we know that our customers need our network to stay connected to loved ones and emergency services. Supporting you with this is our main priority.
We’re working hard every day to continue to deliver a reliable network. As and when we have any updates on the status of our network and what we’re doing, we’ll share this information with you here.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen a huge change in behaviour for our voice and data traffic – with a 30% increase in internet traffic, more than 25% increase in landline calls, and 42% increase in mobile voice traffic. Find out more
To overcome these new challenges, we’ve changed the way we manage our voice and data traffic and added more capacity to our broadband. This will improve our network performance and avoid connection speeds slowing down during busy times.
Plus, we’re extending WiFi Calling to all our customers over the next three months. So you can stay connected in your home at all times using your home broadband connection. Find out more
Stay home, stay connected
You can rely on our network to keep you connected at home. Our low frequency spectrum travels further and passes easily through walls, providing excellent indoor coverage – with indoor voice coverage across 99% of the population.
Struggling to get signal at home?
If you’re experiencing weak signal or indoor blackspots, you can use our WiFi Calling or 4G Calling services to make and receive calls – at no extra cost.
WiFi Calling makes calls using your internet connection instead of the mobile network, while 4G Calling keeps you on 4G during calls for clearer connection.
Calling friends and family overseas
Staying in touch with the people you love abroad is important right now. That’s why we want to make sure your calls to other countries are as easy as they are in the UK. With our choice of international Extras, you can save money on international calls.
Find the right package for you by searching for the country you wish to call.
Are you abroad right now?
If you’re a UK customer currently abroad in any of these 52 destinations, staying connected during the COVID-19 outbreak won’t be a problem. As it doesn’t cost any extra to use your usual allowance of data, minutes and texts.
And if you have an Unlimited Max plan, you can use your home plan at no extra cost in a total of 81 destinations, which means we’ve got you covered in more places than any other network.
Check our network and coverage
We're committed to giving you the best possible service, but we know that our signal can sometimes dip or slow down. If this ever happens, the chances are we're already aware of it and doing all we can to get it fixed.
Check the status of our network and see what coverage is available in your area, including 5G, with our Network Status Checker.
We’re an award-winning network
We’ve recently been awarded the UK’s best mobile data network by nPerf, and the Best SIM Only Network by Uswitch.
We’re also the most improved network in 2019, according to umlaut’s definitive benchmark of the UK’s mobile networks – succeeding as the most reliable network when on the go around UK cities, from stations to shopping centres.
nPerf results 2019
UK Operators | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Success ratio | 93.70% | 89.29% | 89.56% | 88.83% |
| Download bitrate | 50.35Mb/s | 37.79Mb/s | 21.56Mb/s | 17.55Mb/s |
| Upload bitrate | 13.66Mb/s | 10.69Mb/s | 7.87Mb/s | 6.25Mb/s |
| Latency | 43.99ms | 43.57ms | 63.61ms | 56.02ms |
| Browsing | 70.55% | 70.56% | 66.14% | 67.69% |
| Streaming YouTube | 83.92% | 84.89% | 81.14% | 75.47% |
| 2G/3G/4G/5G Score nPerf* | 78.284 nPoints | 73.917 nPoints | 57.223 nPoints | 53.445 nPoints |
We're the UK's best mobile data network as awarded by nPerf. With leading scores for data performance across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G - including download speeds and upload speeds.
*The formula for calculating the score has changed since 1 January 2018, so the values are not comparable with those of previous publications. See details in the publication.
For the full report on the award, see here
We're happy to announce we're in the running for Best Network in the Trusted Reviews Awards, but we need your votes to win! It's super-quick, you'll be done in seconds.
Our 5G network is growing
We have 5G in more places across Europe than any other network, unlocking a world of exciting opportunities.
Simply get a 5G ready phone with us, and start exploring the future of 5G today.
Why choose Vodafone?
Join the World’s second-biggest network
With great reliability and improvements in speed, we’re firmly on the map. We’re always improving our network, putting in £1bn every year. We want you to rely on us – to keep you connected to the people and things you love, wherever you are.
Based on nPerf testing during 2019, Vodafone was awarded: Best 2019 Mobile Internet Performance vs EE, O2 & Three. Results based on 35, 664 tests carried out on the nPerf app in the UK. As of January 2020, for full verification see here
The 2019 umlaut connect Mobile Benchmark in the UK consists of drive tests and walk tests conducted in November 2019. Find out more
Vodafone 5G is in a total of 114 places across EU (44 UK locations and 70 locations across Germany, Spain, Italy and Ireland) vs EE (71 UK locations and no locations across EU), Three (66 UK location and no locations across EU), O2 (30 UK locations and no locations across EU). As of 5th March 2020, see vodafone.co.uk/network/5g for coverage and terms.
Available on Vodafone Red plans (5GB of data or more) and Unlimited Max plans. Speed may be affected by a number of factors.
You can experience 5G in many ways, such as faster speeds, greater network capacity and lower latency.
You must have a 5G enabled device on the Vodafone 5G network, a Vodafone 5G plan and 5G coverage in the area that you are in. Coverage may be affected by a number of factors. See for details vodafone.co.uk/network/5g