Ookla Analysis: London Slips to Last Place Among 18 European Capitals for Median Mobile Download Speed

London has fallen to the bottom of a recent ranking of European capitals for median mobile download speed, slipping from seventh place in 2021 to last out of 18 cities by 2026. This significant decline was detailed in an analysis by Luke Kehoe, a representative of the connectivity measurement firm Ookla, which was subsequently reported by Techmeme.

The shift in standing highlights a distinct deterioration in the UK capital’s mobile network performance relative to its European peers over a five-year period. While the broader European landscape saw various shifts, London’s specific trajectory moved it from the upper tier of the top ten to the final position in the dataset. The measurement focuses specifically on median mobile download speeds, a key metric for evaluating consumer connectivity quality.

Capacity Constraints and Adoption Trends

The primary factor cited for this decline is a mismatch between user adoption and infrastructure limits. According to the analysis by Luke Kehoe, the rapid uptake of 5G technology in London has outpaced the development of corresponding network capacity. This suggests that while more users are connecting to faster 5G networks, the underlying infrastructure has not expanded sufficiently to maintain the same per-user throughput levels seen in previous years.

This dynamic creates a scenario where increased demand strains existing resources, leading to lower median speeds for the average user. The report does not attribute the issue to specific technical failures or outages, but rather to a systemic capacity challenge driven by growth in 5G usage. Other factors such as weather, seasonal usage spikes, or specific carrier performance issues are not mentioned in the source material as causes for this long-term trend.

Impact on Regional Connectivity Rankings

The data places London at the very end of the list for the 18 European capitals included in the study. This represents a notable reversal of fortune for a city that previously held a strong position in the top seven. The comparison is limited to these 18 specific capitals, meaning the ranking does not account for smaller European cities or non-capital urban centers that may have different connectivity profiles.

The timeframe of the analysis, spanning from 2021 to 2026, provides a multi-year view of network performance changes. This longitudinal perspective allows for the identification of sustained trends rather than temporary fluctuations. The focus on median download speed ensures that the metric reflects the typical user experience, rather than being skewed by extreme outliers of very high or very low speeds.

What should you do?

Network administrators and enterprise IT leaders should monitor their own mobile broadband dependencies, as regional capacity constraints can impact remote work and cloud-based services. Users experiencing consistent slowdowns should test speeds at different times of day to identify peak congestion periods. Businesses relying heavily on mobile data for critical operations should consider implementing fixed-line backups or optimizing data usage during high-demand windows.

What to do and how to stay safe: Ookla

• Run periodic speed tests at various times of day to establish a baseline and identify peak congestion periods in your specific location.
• Review your organization’s mobile data usage policies to ensure non-essential high-bandwidth activities are minimized during peak hours.
• Consider deploying fixed broadband or Wi-Fi calling solutions for critical business communications to reduce reliance on congested mobile networks.
• Monitor official network status pages from your mobile carrier for any reported congestion or maintenance in your area that might explain localized slowdowns.

Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

Why did London's mobile speeds drop so significantly?

According to the analysis by Luke Kehoe of Ookla, the decline is attributed to 5G adoption rates surpassing the available network capacity in the city.

What was London's ranking in 2021 compared to 2026?

London fell from seventh place in 2021 to last place, which is 18th out of 18 European capitals, by 2026.

Did other European capitals improve their speeds during this period?

The source material does not provide specific data on the performance trends of other capitals, only London's change in relative standing.