Are uk mobile networks atrocious everywhere?
Posted by Gold-Primary3660@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 19 comments
[removed]
Posted by Gold-Primary3660@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 19 comments
[removed]
McLeod3577@reddit
What network?
Traditionally Vodafone and O2 (formally BT Cellnet) had the best coverage as they were the oldest networks.
Along came Orange and then T-Mobile (who combined to form EE). Together you would think they provided the best coverage, however many cell sites would just be duplicates. They also operated on a higher frequency than Voda/O2, so these worked less well indoors. Three came along and didn't even use the original base networks, they started from scratch and so have been the worst overall coverage, as they always play catchup.
With the switch to 5G, this operates on an even higher frequency so indoor penetration is even worse, and all the cell sites need upgrading/replacing. This was initially hampered by the first wave of Covid nuttcases.
The hope is that the 3/Voda merger goes ahead as I think this will result in solid coverage, but in general I would say that Vodafone probably edges the rest in terms of coverage.
Sheroman@reddit
This is not an issue anymore.
See https://www.reddit.com/r/london/comments/1idqn9a/comment/ma7rtbq/
Source: https://mastdatabase.co.uk/gb/spectrum/
Beartato4772@reddit
Yes, less competition will definitely give them the incentive to invest.
McLeod3577@reddit
There will still be competition from 2 other networks. Voda and 3 probably have the least duplicated of coverage across their frequencies. In theory it should give better coverage.
Kolo_ToureHH@reddit
I was with Tesco (who piggy backed on O2's infrastructure) for years and the service got progressively worse.
Switched to EE 18 months ago and can't say I've experienced any issues. Get full 5G pretty much everywhere I go, even in the parts where the Tesco/O2 service was crap.
I think the biggest advantage that EE have over their competitors right now is that they now have teams of BT engineers, nationwide, who install and maintain their physical infrastructure, whilst all the other providers still sub-contract the work on their physical infrastructure to smaller companies.
Hungry-Falcon3005@reddit
I’m in an area that’s in the middle of Durham, Sunderland and Newcastle and 4G is atrocious. It never works. 5G won’t work with one bar either. It’s not my phone as I have one right up to date
JamesTiberious@reddit
UK mobile networks are notoriously poor for coverage and performance.
You could pick EE, often cited as best for coverage and speeds, but find your local town or city is oversubscribed and it just doesn’t really work. Or, find it works great at home, but not at your office or around your friends/family homes.
If you follow the history and money trails - it boils down to decades of lack of regulation. The larger parent companies have been allowed to gouge UK customers while reinvesting very little.
Melodic-Lake-790@reddit
Actually, it boils down to Huawei being booted out of the market in 2020.
JamesTiberious@reddit
I would agree, except other nations have banned Huawei equipment too without the service being as patchy and degraded.
We’re a relatively densely populated country, providing good mobile signal should be easiest here.
Melodic-Lake-790@reddit
Our network relied heavily on them.
We had no alternatives and the cost of removal left a lot of firms unable to replace it.
https://www.eureporter.co/business/digital-technology/2024/02/15/since-huawei-was-banned-is-the-uks-5g-service-the-worst-in-europe/#:~:text=Huawei%20equipment%20was%20removed%20from,on%20users%20in%20the%20UK.
For what it’s worth, I’m with three and they’re pretty decent. The only place I’ve struggled was at Boardmasters festival, but I’m pretty sure they were blocking the phone signal to make you purchase a Vodafone mobile hotspot. I was at Silverstone and able to stream the race live while there, I don’t tend to lose signal or if I do, it’s for a matter of second.
DearDegree7610@reddit
In Manchester and surrounding countryside, 4/5G widely available. Even when it drops to 3G and gprs can still load maps and eventually Facebook but would probably struggle with YouTube to be fair.
Where are you? What network?
Beartato4772@reddit
There’s very, very little 3G now. Only o2 has any of note and they’re switching it off this year.
fiddly_foodle_bird@reddit
Have a think why this might not work...
DearDegree7610@reddit
Phones still pick it up and it’s still sent out all over the show: why not?
non-hyphenated_@reddit
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/3g-switch-off/
non-hyphenated_@reddit
More and more devices are connecting to the network which adds to the problem. My car, washing machine (I know, right), watch and tablet all contain a SIM card. We are chronically online.
Add to that the issue of networks having to replace Huawei infrastructure rather than upgrading their network and you have a perfect storm.
Leonichol@reddit
I travel quite a bit internally.
5G is bad for coverage. Almost universally unavailable. Lucky if you can get it. But when you can it seems to work well and be fast.
4g signal is weak. But quite ubiquitous. No problems loading things. Calls etc. Even when hanging on by 1 bar. But if in a heavily populated area, it goes south quick.
epicmindwarp@reddit
It's a combination of more people using the same number of access points i.e. masts.
They can't increase the masts because of nimbys protesting against having them installed.
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