UK ranks behind Estonia and Peru for 4G availability, figures show

Mobile 4G connection "varies wildly" across the UK, which lags behind Estonia and Peru for overall availability, latest figures show.

Middlesbrough is the best city for 4G access with 83% availability, while Bournemouth is the worst at 68%, the report from consumer group Which? and independent mobile coverage analyst OpenSignal found.

The average overall 4G availability across the UK is 65%, meaning mobile users can only access 4G nearly two-thirds of the time.

This ranks the UK at just 54th in the world, behind Estonia and Peru, according to a previous report published by OpenSignal in November.

The comparison of 20 of the biggest cities across the UK placed London at 16th on the table, above Nottingham, Cardiff, Southampton and Bournemouth.

Glasgow and Edinburgh came 9th and 10th respectively.

The report also looked at average 4G download speeds across the UK, finding Stoke-on-Trent to be the fastest city and Brighton the slowest.

Which? is calling on the next government to work with Ofcom and mobile providers to ensure that "critical" reforms are made to the market that deliver better performance and service for customers.

The OpenSignal study analysed more than 500 million data readings from mobile phones taken from more than 30,000 users between December 1 and February 28.

Alex Neill, Which? managing director of home products and services, said: "These latest findings underline the need for Ofcom to keep the pressure on mobile operators, so that every part of the country gets a decent service on their mobile phone.

"Our mobile phone is central to how we live our lives and that is why it is so frustrating when we can't access emails or browse the internet on the go."

OpenSignal chief executive Brendan Gill said: "The mobile data experience isn't the same in every city for UK consumers.

"OpenSignal users found 4G signals more often in Middlesbrough than in Manchester and faster 4G connections in Stoke than in London."

An Ofcom spokeswoman said: "We agree that mobile coverage must improve and understand the importance of having reliable mobile broadband, wherever people live and work.

"Ofcom rules mean that virtually all UK premises must receive a 4G signal by the end of this year.

"We're also making available valuable new airwaves to boost mobile broadband, and have challenged mobile operators to explore how to reach all remote areas and transport lines."