EE And Vodafone Are The Best Mobile Networks At Wimbledon 2016

EE and Vodafone deliver mobile coverage aces at Wimbledon, but O2 is outplayed at SW19, says RootMetrics

Andy Murray tasted glory at Wimbledon for the second time on Sunday, but it was EE and Vodafone who jointly picked up the trophy for best mobile network at SW19, according to independent research firm RootMetrics.

His opponent in the final, Milos Raonic, recorded the fastest serve of the tournament at 147mph, but it was EE who delivered the quickest mobile download speed at the All England Club (AELTC) with 131.1Mbps and the most rapid upload speed of 45.2Mbps.

Vodafone served up 96.4Mbps download and 39.7Mbps upload, but it fared better in the median stakes. EE’s 16.6Mbps was the quickest download speed, but its 8.5Mbps median upload was dwarfed by Vodafone’s 15.2Mbps.

Read More: Why is there no Wi-Fi at Wimbledon?

Wimbledon mobile coverage

Wimbledon 2Three reached 52.7Mbps upload and 29.5Mbps upload, leaving O2 trailing in fourth with 25.7Mbps and 17.4Mbps respectively. Three’s median 6.9Mbps download and 6.4Mbps upload also beat O2’s disappointing 2.1Mbps and 3.3Mbps upload.

The performance of mobile networks at Wimbledon is all the more important given the lack of Wi-Fi at the venue – something which the AELTC told TechWeekEurope is unlikely to change anytime soon.

And with more than 400,000 people attending the site each year, the operators need to have the capacity in place to support such a peak in demand.

Read More: How does RootMetrics test UK mobile networks?

IBM Wimbledon Bunker 2014 (1)Tournament organisers actively work with the operators to improve coverage as they want spectators to share their experiences on social media and using the official application. EE can download the app within 5.2 seconds, Vodafone 6.8 seconds, Three 11.9 seconds and O2 23.6 seconds.

EE’s upload speeds mean a picture can be shared on social media within 1.3 seconds, Vodafone 1.4 seconds, Three 1.6 seconds and O2 2.1 seconds.

The BT-owned mobile operator has consistently been named London’s best mobile operator by RootMetrics’ tests, with the other three major operators tied for third place in the most recent rankings.

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