While all major UK carriers are set to introduce 5G by the end of this year, nearly a third of the country is still frequently forced to rely on the 3G network.
5G is set to be launched initially in urban areas, with London and Cardiff being offered four 5G networks, while customers in Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester will have the choice of three providers.
The new networks may take some time to come to more rural areas of the UK, especially considering that the limited range of the technology renders it less suited for broad coverage than previous generations.
Only 28 per cent of the country will have 5G by the end of 2019, with 72 per cent of the population left without access to fifth-generation connectivity in the near future, uSwitch said.
The digital divide is highlighted by the low 4G availability figures in rural areas, despite 4G having first launched in 2012. The UK’s major cities all have more than 80 per cent 4G availability...