How fast is 5G?

Contents list How fast is 5G? 5G network speeds Maximum 5G speeds EE 5G speeds Three 5G speeds Vodafone 5G speeds O2 5G speeds MVNO 5G speeds How to check 5G download speeds 5G latency Future 5G download speeds

5G is rolling out across the UK on every network, and brings with it far higher speeds than 4G with a theoretical maximum speed of between 10 and 50Gbps, according to the regulatory body Ofcom.

We’re not at that level yet, but reported peak download speeds have already reached at least 916.8Mbps (based on a RootMetrics report from the first half of 2025) and some networks claim that speeds of upwards of 1Gbps are already being experienced.

Average download speeds are currently up to six times faster than 4G and twenty-five times faster than 3G, and 5G is already faster than fibre broadband in many areas around the UK. 

1. How fast is 5G?

Network type	Average download speeds	Peak download speeds	Theoretical maximum download speeds
3G	7.4Mbps	~20Mbps	42Mbps
4G	36.4Mbps	90+Mbps	300Mbps
5G	90-240Mbps	916.8Mbps+	10-50Gbps

Based on the currently available data from RootMetrics, Speedtest, Opensignal and other validated tests, across the UK’s networks you can expect average 5G download speeds of between roughly 90Mbps – 240Mbps. The exact figures will vary from network to network and place to place, but the averages recorded will normally be in that range.

You can see both extremes of that across some recent reports. For example, there’s a January 2026 Opensignal report, which put Three’s average 5G download speed at 187.0Mbps, Vodafone’s at 130.9Mbps, EE’s at 92.2Mbps, and O2’s at 89.9Mbps.

We also have some median 5G download speeds, with RootMetrics finding in the second half of 2025 that the highest median was EE at 236.7Mbps, followed by Three at 198.3Mbps, then Vodafone at 144.3Mbps, and finally O2 at 111.0Mbps.

That same RootMetrics report also found that Three’s 95th percentile 5G download speed (so close to the highest reported) was 886.6Mbps. That was higher than any other network’s 95th percentile speed in this test, and is close to the highest verified speed we’ve seen — though Three achieved an even higher result of 916.8Mbps in the first half of 2025.

For the 4G and 3G average download speeds in the chart above we’ve used the highest average speeds on Opensignal’s Mobile Network Experience Report from October 2020. We’ve used this older report because newer ones don’t include separate 3G and 4G data. Note also that the UK’s networks no longer offer a 3G service, so this is just here for reference.

In any case, currently, you can expect 5G to be between around 3 and 6 times faster than 4G on average, but in some cases that difference is much greater.

And 5G is set to get faster as time goes on, with theoretical speeds that could be hundreds of times faster than 4G, based on the 10-50Gbps estimate from Ofcom.

2. 5G network speeds

2.1 Maximum 5G speeds in the UK

While 5G is fast, exactly how fast will depend in part on where you are and what network you’re on, but we’re now getting a good picture of the general speeds you can expect. Below you can see details of actual maximum speeds that 2020 tests by Point Topic/Thinkbroadband have achieved with each network, along with more recent 95th percentile speeds from RootMetrics, recorded in 2025.

Network	Maximum download speeds (via Point Topic)	95th percentile speeds (via RootMetrics)
EE	753Mbps	684.0Mbps
Three	473Mbps	886.6Mbps
Vodafone	415Mbps	456.8Mbps
O2	247Mbps	382.4Mbps

At the time of writing, the RootMetrics results in the chart above are among the highest 5G download speeds we’ve seen reported for each network.

That doesn’t mean they’re necessarily the fastest each is capable of, especially as the RootMetrics results here are the 95th percentile speed rather than the very top one (which wasn’t disclosed).

Still, these speeds should be towards the very top end of what you can expect from these networks at the time of writing.

And they’re notably a fair bit higher in most cases than the maximum speeds recorded in 2020, showing that progress is being made.

2.2 EE 5G download speeds

Average UK-wide 5G download speeds of 92.2Mbps – Opensignal
Median 5G download speed of 236.7Mbps – RootMetrics
Maximum 5G download speed of 684 / 753Mbps – RootMetrics/Point Topic
EE 5G coverage checker

When it comes to EE’s 5G speeds, Point Topic and Thinkbroadband have provided a maximum 5G download speed of 753Mbps for EE based on its tests. This is an older report from 2020 but it’s the highest speed we’ve seen for EE.

However, in a more recent 2H 2025 report, RootMetrics puts EE’s 95th percentile 5G download speed at 684Mbps. That same report found that EE’s median 5G download speed was 236.7Mbps.

Finally, Opensignal found in a January 2026 report that EE’s average 5G download speed across the UK was 92.2Mbps. For reference, its average 4G download speed during an earlier test was found to be 33.1Mbps, making 5G around three times faster in this instance.

These average and median speeds are broadly in line with what EE has said to expect.

So based on all the available data, we’d say that EE’s average 5G download speeds are in the region of 92Mbps, while its peak speeds are at least around 753Mbps.

2.3 Three 5G download speeds

Average UK-wide 5G download speed of 187Mbps – Opensignal
Median 5G download speed of 198.3Mbps – RootMetrics
Maximum 5G download speed of 916.8Mbps - RootMetrics
Three 5G coverage checker

Some of the latest data we have on Three’s 5G speeds comes from Opensignal, which in January 2026 recorded its average 5G download speeds as being 187.0Mbps, which is higher than any rival.

We also have 2H 2025 data from RootMetrics, which found Three’s median 5G download speed was 198.3Mbps, and its 95th percentile 5G download speed (which will be close to the highest) was 886.6Mbps. The latter is the highest on test, while the former beats all rivals except EE. And a slightly earlier RootMetrics report from the first half of 2025 put Three’s 95th percentile speed at an even higher 916.8Mbps.

Three itself hasn’t been very specific about what speeds you can expect on its network, but it has said that at the top end they could be up to twice as fast as rivals, due to it having both more 5G spectrum in total and more contiguous 5G spectrum. The above results in some cases live up to that claim.

Based on the data that we have then, Three’s recent average 5G speeds seem to be around 190Mbps, while its peak 5G download speeds are at least around 917Mbps, but likely higher. And with Three now merging with Vodafone, we could soon see even better performance.

2.4 Vodafone 5G download speeds

Average UK-wide 5G download speed of 130.9Mbps – Opensignal
Median 5G download speed of 144.3Mbps – RootMetrics
Maximum 5G download speed of 545.6Mbps – RootMetrics
Vodafone 5G coverage checker

For Vodafone, Opensignal found in January 2026 that the network had an average 5G download speed of 130.9Mbps, while RootMetrics found in the second half of 2025 that its median 5G download speed was slightly higher at 144.3Mbps. That RootMetrics report also put Vodafone’s 95th percentile 5G speed at 456.8Mbps.

There’s also an older RootMetrics report, which found that Vodafone’s top 5G download speed in London was 545.6Mbps, beating every other network, and also beating other peak Vodafone speeds we’ve seen in other reports.

Vodafone itself has said to expect average 5G speeds of 150-200Mbps, with peak speeds exceeding 1Gbps. While its peak speeds in tests don’t seem to reach that level, its average speeds do seem to be broadly in that range, albeit towards the bottom end of that.

Based on the data we have it seems Vodafone’s average 5G download speeds are in the ballpark of 130Mbps, with peak speeds of at least around 545Mbps, and possibly higher.

And Vodafone has now merged with Three, which could lead to speed improvements if and when the two networks fully combine their spectrum.

2.5 O2 5G download speeds

Average UK-wide 5G download speed of 89.9Mbps – Opensignal
Median 5G download speed of 111Mbps – RootMetrics
Maximum 5G download speed of 382.4Mbps – RootMetrics
O2 5G coverage checker

For O2, a January 2026 Opensignal report recorded an average 5G download speed of 89.9Mbps, which is lower than rivals.

O2 is also included in a 2H 2025 RootMetrics report, which found that its median 5G download speed was 111.0Mbps and that its 95th percentile 5G download speed was 382.4Mbps, which is one of the highest 5G speeds we’ve seen recorded for O2 in any tests.

O2 itself hasn’t yet said much about its 5G speeds, but based on this data it seems that you can potentially expect average download speeds of around 90Mbps, with peak speeds potentially being around 382Mbps.

2.6. MVNO 5G download speeds

MVNO Network	Core Network	Expected Average 5G download speed	Expected maximum 5G download speeds
1pMobile	EE	92Mbps	753Mbps+
Asda Mobile	Vodafone	130Mbps	545Mbps+
CMLink	EE	92Mbps	753Mbps+
Giffgaff	O2	90Mbps	382Mbps+
iD Mobile	Three	190Mbps	917Mbps+
Lebara	Vodafone	130Mbps	545Mbps+
Lyca Mobile	EE	92Mbps	753Mbps+
Sky Mobile	O2	90Mbps	382Mbps+
Smarty	Three	190Mbps	917Mbps+
Spusu	EE	92Mbps	753Mbps+
Talkmobile	Vodafone	130Mbps	545Mbps+
Tesco Mobile	O2	90Mbps	382Mbps+
VOXI	Vodafone	130Mbps	545Mbps+

As well as the main four UK networks, a number of MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) have also launched 5G services. At the time of writing those include Sky Mobile, Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Asda Mobile, iD Mobile, Lebara, Lyca Mobile, Smarty, CMLink, TalkMobile, 1pMobile, Spusu, and VOXI, among others.

Starting with 1pMobile, Spusu, CMLink and Lyca Mobile, while we don’t have much data on them, we can expect their performance to be similar to EE’s, since they share EE’s infrastructure. As such you can read EE’s section above for full details, but in short, their average 5G download speeds are likely to be around 92Mbps, with peak speeds potentially exceeding 753Mbps.

Sky Mobile, Giffgaff, and Tesco Mobile all use O2’s infrastructure, so check out O2’s section above for a picture of what you might be able to expect. Average 5G download speeds could be in the region of 90Mbps based on the data that we have, with peak speeds of at least around 382Mbps. Tesco for its part has said to expect average download speeds of around 200Mbps.

Then there’s iD Mobile and Smarty, which use Three’s infrastructure, and based on the various data we have so far these networks could have average 5G speeds of around 190Mbps, with peak speeds upwards of 917Mbps.

Finally, VOXI and Talkmobile are owned by Vodafone and therefore use that network’s infrastructure, as do Asda Mobile and Lebara. Based on the data we have for Vodafone then, you might be able to expect average 5G download speeds in the region of 130Mbps, with peak speeds of likely at least around 545Mbps.

Speeds in some cases could be higher though, as VOXI has mirrored Vodafone in claiming that its 5G download speeds average 150-200Mbps and top out at roughly 1Gbps.

We’d also take all these numbers with a pinch of salt, because – as the detailed main network sections above show – they’re extremely variable, even on a single network in a single city.

3. How to check 5G download speeds

Testing what 5G speed you’re really getting is easy, as a number of sites and apps will do the job. Before opting for any of them though make sure you’re actually connected to 5G rather than a Wi-Fi network or 4G. To do this, turn Wi-Fi off on your phone, and check for an icon saying ‘5G’ on your phone’s status bar.

Then, one of the simplest options to test your speed is simply to enter the address fast.com into your mobile browser. It will then instantly start a speed test. The main speed displayed is your download speed, but if you hit the ‘show more info’ button you can also see your upload speed.

If you’d rather use an app then one of the best options is Speedtest by Ookla, a popular app available on both iOS and Android. Once it’s up and running hit ‘Go’ and it will first test your download and then your upload speed.

4. 5G latency

Network Type	Milliseconds (ms)
3G Network	58.2ms (actual)*
4G Network	36ms (actual)*
5G Network	31ms (actual)** / 1ms (theoretical)
* Figures show the lowest average latency of any network according to April 2020 Opensignal data. ** Figure shows the median latency of the four main networks according to 2H 2023 Speedtest data.

Latency is how long it takes the network to respond to a request, which could be you trying to play a song or video or load a website for example. The network has to respond before it even starts loading, which can lead to minor but perceptible lag and is especially problematic for online games, as each input has a new response time.

Over 3G those response times are typically around 60 milliseconds (ms) and on 4G they’re around half that at roughly 35ms. The theory is that on 5G response times will ultimately drop to just 1ms, which will be completely imperceptible.

That will help with all the things we use data for now, but more than that it’s necessary for new mobile data uses, such as self-driving cars, which need to respond to inputs and changes in situation immediately.

As with speeds though, super low latency won’t be achieved on day one, with a 2023 report from Speedtest showing a median 5G latency of between 30ms and 33ms, for an overall median of 31ms. Specifically, EE had a median of 30ms, Three’s and Vodafone’s were 31ms, and O2’s was 33ms. 

5. Future 5G download speeds

We’re now seeing networks making good progress on rolling out 5G Standalone – which means removing 4G infrastructure from the network. This is already delivering improved speeds where it’s available, so as it rolls out more widely, we should see further improvements.

We’ll also see 5G speed improvements as more spectrum becomes available in future 5G spectrum auctions.

Looking ahead, estimates put download speeds at up to 1000 times faster than 4G, potentially exceeding 10Gbps, which would enable you to download an entire HD film in less than a second. Some estimates are more conservative, but even the most conservative put it at several dozen times faster than 4G.

Some incredible speeds well beyond today’s 5G speeds have already been seen. The UK’s 5G Innovation Centre achieved around 1 terabit per second (1Tbps) in a test environment. That’s roughly 65,000 times faster than typical 4G speeds and would enable you to download a file around 100 times larger than a full movie in just 3 seconds. However, such speeds are unlikely to be replicated in the real world.

Ofcom for its part sees 5G as achieving real world speeds of between 10 and 50Gbps, which is insanely fast whichever end of the scale it ends up at. These numbers are all very impressive, but what do they actually mean?

According to AT&T, at 1Gbps you can download 25 songs in under a second, a TV show in under three seconds, and an HD movie in less than 36 seconds. These rates are currently available over its fixed GigaPower ultra-fast internet service and it has indicated the same will be possible over 5G at 1Gbps. Qualcomm, on announcing its X50 5G modem in October 2016, said it would be able to download a 1.5GB film in two to three seconds, compared with 10 to 15 seconds at 1Gbps.

As speeds approach 10Gbps, film downloads will become near instantaneous, and with all this extra speed whole new use cases become far more viable, such as streamed console-quality games, 8K video, and even holographic content.

Even at the speeds people are getting now, 5G can rival fibre broadband, which is why we’re starting to see 5G home broadband services. Most conventional fibre broadband services only provide speeds of under 100Mbps, and even at the top end it’s rare to get more than 5G is theoretically already capable of, so based on the 5G speeds above, it’s a clear alternative.