Mobile broadband supposing by O2 loads webpages quicker than any other UK network, investigate by Ofcom has found.
The regulator carried out 4.2 million speed tests opposite the country.
It found the median download speed opposite all networks was 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps), taking flight to 2.1Mbps in improved coverage areas.
The inform mentioned speed sundry severely depending on location, and that consumers should examine coverage before signing up to tariffs.
Orange fared worst in the investigate with its median download speeds slower than any other network.
T-Mobile moreover came out slower than Vodafone, 3 and O2.
O2's arch technology executive Derek McManus said: "Our customers are saying the gain from the outrageous investment you have done in the network. We always target to broach the most appropriate network experience for the customers and these results are other indicator that you are carrying out only that."
Everything Everywhere - the name since to the partnership between T-Mobile and Orange - declined to criticism on Ofcom's findings.
The report, carried out in conjunction with monitoring specialists Epitiro, ran from September to December final year and dealt with datacards and dongles, but not smartphones.
Ofcom mentioned it hopes to run tests on smartphones soon.
As good as achieving success in the download speed tests, O2 moreover available a descend median latency than 3, Orange and Vodafone.
Latency is distributed by the time it takes for a information parcel to journey from a user's Personal Computer to a third-party server and back again.
Ofcom arch executive, Ed Richards said: "This investigate gives consumers a clearer photo of the opening of mobile broadband dongle and datacards as consumers use these services to element fixed-line services or infrequently as their leading means of accessing online services."
Consumer investigate showed that 17% of UK homes are right away using mobile broadband to access the internet.
Of these, 7% use it as their only means of getting online - a 4% way up since 2009.
The investigate detected the median download speed for consumers was 1.5 Mbps, that constructed an median bucket time of 8.5 seconds for a "basic" webpage.
This compared to an median of 6.2 Mbit/s for prearranged line broadband, Ofcom found.
However, in areas with good 3G coverage, Ofcom found the median mobile speed rose to 2.1Mbps, dropping to 1.7Mbps at the summit times of between 8-9pm.
On the whole, city areas achieved improved than farming areas due to improved 3G availability.
The inform remarkable that coverage in cities was rarely non-static "with no pledge of good performance" in city centre locations.
Hamish Macleod, chairperson of the Mobile Broadband Group, told the BBC that he feels the inform paints an unjust photo of mobile broadband by comparing it to prearranged rate speeds.
"We recognize this is a utilitarian exercise for Ofcom to do.
"Where I am at situation with Ofcom is the way they have done title comparisons between prearranged broadband and mobile broadband only by using averages.
"It's coherent from the investigate that mobile broadband is a good service, that particular customers can possibly use it as a element to prearranged broadband or otherwise as a arguable mount alone service."
But not everybody concluded that mobile broadband is a viable substitute to prearranged line services.
Charlie Ponsonby, arch executive of more aged service SimplifyDigital said: "The Ofcom inform confirms what the customers discuss it us every day - that mobile broadband is no great substitute for home broadband.
It is on median about 3 times slower than a typical home broadband connection and frequently offers really paltry information usage, relations to a home broadband connection."
Mobile broadband speeds will sojourn good next that of prearranged broadband speeds until the next era of mobile coverage - 4G - is rolled out opposite the UK- a routine is approaching to start in 2013.
Everything Everywhere will start the initial open hearing of 4G in September this year.
Consultation has started in to how the 4G network will be allocated to operators, with an auction due to open early next year.
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