Broadband News

Ofcom maps mobile broadband ‘not-spots’

Thursday, 09 July 2009

Garnet Roach garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

Large parts of the UK are not covered by a mobile broadband signal, according to new coverage maps from Ofcom.

The telecoms provider showed that large rural areas of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the north of England were not covered by 3G mobile broadband services.

So called “not-spots” found in the southwest of England and east Anglia were also highlighted by the maps, which showed mobile broadband coverage from the five main providers; 3 Broadband (www.Three.co.uk), Orange Mobile Broadband (www.Orange.co.uk), O2 Mobile Broadband (www.O2.co.uk), T-Mobile Broadband (www.T-Mobile.co.uk) and Vodafone Broadband (www.Vodafone.co.uk).

“For 3G network coverage there is still a noticeable difference between rural and urban areas, and also between different parts of the UK, with coverage problems a particular issue in the devolved nations,” said Ofcom.

“2G coverage is unlikely to be extended much further than it stands today, leaving a number of ‘not-spots’ across the UK, including but not limited to remote locations.”

Ofcom added that it would research the quality of the service provided by devices such as mobile broadband dongles and USB modem sticks, though recent research has shown that actual average speeds are less than 1Mb.

All of the five big providers offer coverage to at least 80 per cent of the UK - as required by their 3G licences - though the maps suggest that 3 and Orange have the widest network coverage.

The Government is looking to mobile broadband to help it achieve its target of broadband speeds of at least 2Mb to all UK homes by 2012, and is looking to make more mobile spectrum available to ISPs.

While Ofcom said that it would help with this, it added: “Given the nature of cellular technology, it is also difficult, if not impossible, to provide 100 per cent, seamless geographic coverage across the country.”

Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “Unfortunately, many of the mobile broadband ‘not-spots’ are in rural areas that already suffer from slow fixed-line broadband speeds.

“Anyone looking for a mobile broadband deal should check coverage in their home and in areas they regularly visit with each provider before signing a contract,” he advised.

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