Tests show that nearly 40% of “5G connections” are actually 4G

This is because most devices show a 5G icon when the connected base station has 5G equipment potentially available. The actual connection may be 4G or 5G. [1]

On some devices, the icon becomes more distinct when an actual 5G connection is made, but on others, the same icon is shown whether 5G is merely available or whether it is actually connected.

As an illustration we carried out a detailed signal survey of Central London, testing all the UK networks. This shows actual 5G connections in red and 4G connections where the 5G icon is displayed in blue.

Actual 5G is about twice as fast as icon-only connections, averaging 49 Mbps compared to 27 Mbps in our tests.

Results for individual operators

Displaying the 5G icon when there is only a 4G connection is more common with some operators than others. For Three, the 5G icon means real 5G 94% of the time, while for Vodafone, the figure is 93%. For O2, 66% of 5G tests had a genuine 5G connection, but for EE, the figure was only 32%.

“This issue is not being clearly explained to consumers,” said PolicyTracker Managing Director Martin Sims. “Achieving a 5G connection everywhere may not be possible, and most people will accept this. But the public deserve clear information about what they are getting.”

“Mobile networks are an amazing engineering achievement,” he added. “The best way to get public support for optimising this incredible technology is to keep them fully informed.”

The research is based on over 11,000 tests carried out in the UK over the past two months using PolicyTracker‘s new app SignalTracker, which records signal strength, technology, connection speed and bands used. It also shows whether the connection is actual 5G or icon-only 5G.

SignalTracker allows you to save the results to compare networks and assess performance in a variety of locations. It is an Android app, available from Google Play. The app can also provide detailed spectrum usage data for commercial and regulatory organisations•

Notes

[1] 5G technology
Most UK actual 5G connections are 5G Non-Standalone (5G NSA). They connect to the existing 4G computer network using a 4G band but download data using a 5G connection. The technology’s next stage, 5G Standalone (5G SA), does not use the 4G network but currently has limited deployment.

On Android devices, the 5G icon is typically displayed based on the contents of this Override Network Type field, which indicates that 5G capability is present on the base station even if there is no active connection.