Progress of Britain’s 5G Rollout Analysed for Businesses Ahead of PSTN Switch Off | WED 28 JUN

New Analysis Reveals the Best UK Regions for Businesses to Access 5G As PSTN Switch Off Looms

• London, Yorkshire and East Midlands boast the best scores for business 5G connectivity.

• Yet, only 51% of major UK towns and cities have full 5G coverage, showing rollout progress is slow.

• Businesses concerned about 2025’s Switch Off are urged to keep one eye on 5G availability as it offers promising solutions for the future.

London, UK, 28 June 2023: Today, cloud-based business phone system, CircleLoop, releases a snapshot analysis of Britain’s current 5G availability that shows, despite slow progress on the Government’s rollout pledge, the UK is making headway with 5G that businesses can look to capitalise on.

The data analysis ranks major towns and cities with a ‘Business Connectivity Score‘ based on their 5G availability from each of the UK’s four major phone networks: EE, Three, Vodafone, and O2. As one of the main alternative solutions available to UK businesses following the PSTN switch off in 2025, following the progress of 5G could support major business decisions over the next 18 months.

Despite the Government’s pledge to ensure every home and business in the UK has gigabit-capable broadband by 2025, later reduced to pledge 85% of premises, the analysis finds that the UK still has a long way to go if it is to support businesses following the Switch Off. Only 51% of major towns and cities analysed are currently receiving full 5G coverage from all 4 UK mobile networks. More concerning still is that 6 of the 119 towns and cities analysed are still found to have no 5G connectivity at all. This includes Dorchester in the South East and several towns in Scotland.

However there is positive news for UK Businesses. Circleloop’s ‘Business Connectivity Score’ was calculated using network data from 119 major towns and cities across England, Scotland, and Wales, highlights some of the best regions in Britain for 5G where startups or businesses looking to expand operations will find the best network to support their digital future.

Best Regions for 5G in Britain

1. Greater London – Business Connectivity Score: 96 out of 100

2. Yorkshire – Business Connectivity Score: 86 out of 100

3. East Midlands – Business Connectivity Score: 85 out of 100

Regions with the Least 5G Service in Britain

1. Scotland – Business Connectivity Score: 52 out of 100

2. Wales – Business Connectivity Score: 65 out of 100

3. South West – Business Connectivity Score: 69 out of 100

Damian Hanson, Co-Founder & Director of CircleLoop, said: “The way we communicate and work from anywhere will continue to take significant leaps with 5G. This is good news for businesses, as the impending PSTN switch-off will push us towards wireless options, of which 5G offers many possibilities. Our 5G analysis aims to provide reassurance to businesses reliant on office hardware as well as guidance to entrepreneurs seeking to launch or expand their operations using the new 5G capabilities.

“While the 5G rollout is going slower than originally planned, the UK has made a promising start that businesses factor into their long-term plans. The implications of 5G for business are exciting, representing a significant unlocking of potential around digital transformation, enhancing agility, upgrading technology stacks, and diversifying customer offerings. There has never been a  better time for leaders to keep one eye on 5G availability as the Telecoms industry prepares to undergo a major shift.”

The latest figures highlight how the majority of the worst connected places in the UK for 5G are devolved administrations such as Scotland and Wales. With 18 months left until BT’s UK PSTN switch-off, businesses are compelled to consider 5G solutions as a vital lifeline when wired connections are extinct. The integration of 5G will become a necessity for business communication in the not too distant future.

BT’s “Big Switch Off” affects businesses using copper-wired connections like PSTN for landlines, fax machines, and payment terminals. While 5G won’t replace existing networks, it provides faster and more reliable connections as an additional or alternative layer. Cloud-based phone systems and internet tools using VoIP are the best alternatives, making 5G highly beneficial for businesses embracing this evolution.

5G offers 100x faster speeds than 4G, increased flexibility, lower latency, and seamless integration of internet-linked devices. Embracing 5G in communication tools is a wise decision, given customers’ expectations for rapid responses and the industry’s transformation due to the PSTN switch-off.