Mobile data use hits record high as Gen Z shuns broadband
Mobile data usage in the UK has reached a record high, with Gen Z increasingly favoring mobile internet over traditional broadband. Ofcom reports a monthly usage of 1.2 billion gigabytes, a 20% increase from 2024. Despite 78% of UK homes having access to full-fibre broadband, only 42% have adopted it. The decline in broadband subscribers and the rise of alternatives like Starlink and Fixed Wireless Access highlight a shift in consumer preferences. Network operators are expanding 5G coverage to meet growing demand, though the UK lags in 5G download speeds compared to G7 countries.
Britons are burning through mobile data at record rates amid growing signs that Gen Z is shunning conventional broadband.
Mobile data use in the UK topped 1.2 billion gigabytes each month this year, up by almost a fifth from 2024 and a new record high, according to figures from Ofcom.
That is the equivalent of streaming 400 million football matches in HD, watching 315 billion TikTok posts or sending 1.3 quadrillion text-only WhatsApp messages.
While 4G still accounts for the majority of mobile data traffic, 5G use rose by more than half this year.
The figures highlight how the dominance of smartphones has left data-hungry Britons more reliant on mobile internet than on fixed broadband alternatives.
The rollout of full-fibre broadband has continued at pace, with 78pc of UK homes now able to access the service, up from 69pc last year.
However, just 42pc of households with access to full-fibre broadband have taken it up. While that is up from 35pc last year, it means millions of people are still shunning faster, more reliable connections.
Separate research by analysts at New Street Research forecasts the number of broadband subscribers across the UK will fall by 250,000 this year – the first decline in history.
BT and other broadband providers are facing growing competition from satellite alternatives such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, which promises coverage in even the most remote rural areas via a network of satellites in low earth orbit.
Starlink topped 100,000 customers in the UK for the first time this year, according to the Ofcom report.
A growing number of customers are also opting for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), a form of broadband that uses mobile signals rather than fixed infrastructure. This is expected to be a significant growth target for VodafoneThree following the £15bn merger of the two mobile networks.
Meanwhile, some Britons are shunning broadband altogether and simply tethering laptops or TVs to their smartphones. This is thought to be particularly prevalent among Gen Z students living in short-term accommodation.
Initiatives to keep up with demand
The growing dominance of mobile internet has left network operators racing to keep up with demand.
Outdoor 5G coverage is available across 97pc of the UK from at least one provider – up from 95pc last year.
But research shows Britain ranks lowest for 5G download speeds in the G7, and MPs have complained that patchy coverage is harming productivity.
BT-owned EE, O2 and VodafoneThree are all deploying so-called “standalone 5G” – an upgraded form of current 5G networks – in a bid to provide faster and more reliable signals.
The Ofcom data showed that 83pc of the UK now has access to standalone 5G from at least one provider.
Natalie Black, Ofcom’s head of connectivity, said: “The UK’s demand for data continues to grow as we live increasingly connected lives.
“For years, operators have been delivering 5G services while using old 4G networks to do most of the legwork. But now, the race to deliver the UK’s full 5G future is on.”
