The annual Uswitch awards were recently presented at an extravagant ceremony in London’s Canary Wharf, revealing some unexpected winners. A panel of esteemed judges, including Mirror Online’s Technology Editor and input from the public, determined the recipients. Surprisingly, smaller mobile networks focused on value outshined the larger competitors in the 2026 Uswitch rankings.
VOXI, Tesco Mobile, Lebara, and giffgaff stood out by clinching titles such as Mobile Network of the Year, Best Mobile Network for Customer Service, and Best Mobile Network for Roaming. Additionally, EE, known for its mobile services, claimed the prestigious National Broadband Provider of the Year award.
Other notable winners in the broadband category included YouFibre, Plusnet, Vodafone, and Virgin Media. Ernest Doku, a telecommunications expert at Uswitch, emphasized that in 2026, consumers prioritize value over price when choosing services.
He highlighted the trend of customers favoring networks that offer the best return on investment. Doku stressed the importance of reliability in broadband services, especially for those working from home. The Uswitch Telecoms Awards aim to guide customers in finding the best deals tailored to their needs, whether focused on value or specific requirements.
The winners across different categories include EE for National Broadband Provider of the Year, YouFibre for Regional Broadband Provider of the Year, Plusnet for Best Broadband Provider for Customer Service, Vodafone for Best Value for Money Broadband Provider, Virgin for Most Reliable Broadband Provider, and Vodafone for Most Popular Broadband Provider.
In the mobile category, VOXI secured Mobile Network of the Year, Tesco for Best Mobile Network for Customer Service, VOXI for Best Mobile Network for Data, Lebara for Best Mobile Network for Roaming, giffgaff for Best Mobile Handset Contract Network, Three for Best Mobile Network for Perks, and EE for Fastest Mobile Network Overall.