Crowdsourced coverage map shows which UK areas have the best mobile internet signal

One of the basic facts of modern life is that mobile internet is rather important, even if you rarely leave the house. The issue is that signal can be sketchy, and it differs from network to network. Fortunately there is an interactive map that will show you which places have the best 2G, 3G, and 4G signal.

The map itself has been created by retailer Mobiles.co.uk, and uses crowdsourced data to give an accurate reflection of mobile connectivity across the world. The map reveals that the UK has an average 4G speed of 14.7Mbps, and EE has the best coverage with 75% of the population covered. Sadly 4G is still mostly restricted to the larger cities and towns, meaning that people living in rural areas are forced to miss out.

While 4G infrastructure was slow to expand during 2013, competition between networks has increased that and consequently has brought contract prices down to as little as £10 a month. The number of 4G contracts has risen from 2% last April to 85% now, most likely due to the increased availability and low price. In fact, it is expected that next year there will only be 4G data options when purchasing a new contract.

Also the fact that smartphones are starting to support much faster speeds, that’s only a good thing as it means average speeds will inevitably increase. Sadly, though, the UK is still lagging behind places like Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, and Italy, which all have average speeds over 22Mbps.

In the meantime, you can keep using the map to keep an eye on what’s going on in the world of mobile signal to see which network and plans suit you most. Take a look at it here.