Research reveals mobile network performance ‘sweet spot’

GWS combined controlled scientific network testing with a deep analysis of consumer behaviour and expectations of performance. Its engineers collected data and voice task tests on iOS and Android devices, Jigsaw Research conducted nationwide focus groups, and it polled over 2,000 smartphone users through YouGov.

The report identified that the ‘sweet spot’ of network speed is between 4-6 seconds as nearly 8 out of 10 deem this to be an acceptable time to wait to complete mobile based activities such as loading news and other websites. Using this metric as a benchmark, GWS then tested data across the UK and found that operators are reaching this speed 96% of the time.

Despite this, online consumer polling from YouGov found that 56% of consumers reported ‘usually’ encountering problems with their mobile network. The issues people regularly encounter with their network included: websites and apps failing to load (30%), poor voice quality (21%), calls not connecting (19%) and calls dropping mid-call (19%).