One in three get no signal or a rubbish reception at home

For me it’s not too surprising. While networks concentrate on pushing out 4G networks, they do so from existing masts, so the actual coverage doesn’t really change a great deal.

Sure, you could argue that the different frequencies used by some networks for their 4G signals has improved coverage a bit (O2, Voda and Three all have 800MHz signals in some areas), but it could still be better. Just a few weeks ago I got a little wound up after losing all signal just a few metres outside a network store. Major towns have no signal in certain areas, and if you live in certain housing estates, you simply can’t get a phone signal in your own home.

If you live in the sprawling Darwin Park (above), which is not far from me, you have no 2G, 3G or 4G coverage when you go in your house on Vodafone…

Now, after a survey of more than 2,000 people by uSwitch.com, it’s become apparent that the problem is quite widespread. They found that 62% of mobile users have patchy call quality and half experience calls cutting out while indoors. Strangely, although it’s our capital city and undoubtedly has the best coverage, Londoners suffer the worst indoor mobile reception – 42% reporting poor or no coverage at home.

As a get-around, most are resorting to their landlines (39%), whilst 30% go outside and 27% head to Sjype, Whatsapp or Facetime over WiFi.

Strangely, when switching, it seems that people just aren’t doing their research – 64% didn’t check the coverage map before signing up and, unbelievably, 18% were unaware this is possible.

The figures also show that not much is changing to improve coverage – 57% of respondents state that the poor coverage has always been that way, with 19% saying that the problem only started when they switched network.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, says..

Decent mobile signal at home isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s absolutely essential for the growing numbers who choose not to have landline phones and rely on mobiles to avoid isolation, or vulnerability in emergencies.

In a bid to avoid the plague of poor signal, mobile users should check coverage maps, which you can find online, for where they live, work and socialise before joining a network. And, if you find call reception gets worse over time, double check it’s not your handset or a faulty SIM card that’s the problem before you look to change networks.

It’s worth letting your provider know right away if you’re experiencing issues as it might be something that can be fixed with a signal booster. Failing that, you might want to look at switching networks but do keep a log of any call reception issues, and note the dates you contact your network to report them, so you can build a watertight case to switching away mid-contract if needs be.

Signal-boosters are something that a lot of our readers will be familiar with, and many networks offer apps and WiFi-calling functionality as a way around these in-home issues, but I’m still doubtful that coverage will ever improve quickly enough to satisfy our ever-increasing demand for blanket mobile connectivity. The planning legislation and cost tends to hold things back.

Full details below..

Show Press Release (858 More Words)

NEVER MIND 5G: ONE IN THREE UK MOBILE USERS GET PATCHY OR NO CALL RECEPTION IN THEIR OWN HOMES

More than six in 10 (62%) mobile users suffer patchy call quality and half (50%) experience calls cutting out while using mobiles indoors at home^[1]
Regionally, Londoners suffer the worst indoor mobile reception, with 42% reporting poor or no coverage at home^[2]
O2 customers are most likely to rate their indoor mobile coverage as ‘excellent’ (67%), while Three customers are least likely (60%)^[3]
Of those struggling with their home mobile coverage, 39% rely on landlines, 30% head to the garden, 27% Skype, Whatsapp or Facetime using their home Wi-Fi and 11% resort to leaning out of a window^[4]
Almost two thirds (64%) of mobile owners did not check their current network’s coverage map before signing up, with almost a fifth (18%) unaware this is possible^[5].

Over a third (34%) of UK mobile users – more than 17 million people – get poor or no mobile reception in their own homes, according to new research by uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service^[6]. In addition, more than six in 10 (62%) mobile users currently suffer some patchy call quality and half (50%) experience calls cutting out while using mobiles indoors at home^[1].

UK mobile users say that, on average, more than a fifth (21%) of all calls they make or take on their mobiles at home are patchy, while the voice on the end of the line cuts in and out in around one in six (17%) calls^[1]. These two issues affect around one in 10 customers in at least seven in 10 calls made or taken on their mobile at home^[1].

Of the third of UK mobile users struggling with indoor mobile reception, more than half (57%) say the issue has plagued them since they moved into their current property, while almost a fifth (19%) say the problem started when they switched to their current mobile network^[7]. Another 12% have had reception problems since they bought a new handset, while 5% believe the problems began when they, or their neighbours, had structural work completed on their property^[7].

Although those living in rural areas are the most likely to get poor, partial or no reception inside their homes (52%), those living in the city are next in line for poor indoor coverage with 41% of city dwellers reporting poor, partial or no mobile coverage^[8]. Conversely, those in suburbia are most likely to rate their indoor mobile coverage as ‘excellent’ (72%)^[8]. Regionally, Londoners suffer from the worst indoor mobile reception (42%), followed by those in the South West of England (41%)^[2].

Across the big four mobile networks, O2 customers are most likely to rate their indoor coverage as ‘excellent’ (67%), while Three customers are least likely (60%), as shown in the table below:

Table one: Percentage of customers who rate their indoor mobile reception as ‘excellent’ or ‘poor/partial/no’ reception

Network	% reporting ‘excellent’ indoor mobile reception	% reporting poor/partial/no indoor mobile reception
EE	65%	35%
O2	67%	33%
Three	60%	40%
Vodafone	64%	36%

Source: uSwitch.com

Of those who get poor or partial mobile coverage in their homes, 39% rely on landlines, 36% have to use their mobiles while rooted to the same particular spot, 30% go out into the garden and 27% rely on home Wi-Fi to make calls through Skype, Whatsapp and Facetime^[4]. More than one in 10 (11%) even resort to leaning out of windows^[4].

Only 5% reported that their previously poor reception at home is now excellent^[9]. The majority of those that rectified the situation did so by switching networks (38%)^[10].

Almost two thirds of mobile phone owners (64%) did not check their current network’s coverage map before signing up to see if they could get indoor signal in their area, with almost a fifth (18%) completely in the dark about their ability to do so^[5].

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, says: “Decent mobile signal at home isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s absolutely essential for the growing numbers who choose not to have landline phones and rely on mobiles to avoid isolation, or vulnerability in emergencies.

“Those in rural areas are being failed simply because the mobile networks have not yet extended their coverage to the furthest reaches of the UK – although the passing of the Digital Economy Bill may mean networks can be fined if they fail to meet their obligations. We hope this provides significant incentive to improve matters here.

“Meanwhile, those in built-up urban areas may find signal affected by numerous issues including construction materials, home extensions, and even cranes.

“In a bid to avoid the plague of poor signal, mobile users should check coverage maps, which you can find online, for where they live, work and socialise before joining a network. And, if you find call reception gets worse over time, double check it’s not your handset or a faulty SIM card that’s the problem before you look to change networks.

“It’s worth letting your provider know right away if you’re experiencing issues as it might be something that can be fixed with a signal booster. Failing that, you might want to look at switching networks but do keep a log of any call reception issues, and note the dates you contact your network to report them, so you can build a watertight case to switching away mid-contract if needs be.”