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Ofcom panel blasts mobile coverage

By Barry Collins

Posted on 6 Oct 2009 at 07:42

Britain's mobile operators are being urged to improve their network coverage by Ofcom's Consumer Communications Panel.

The Panel's research claims that 56% of consumers and 91% of small businesses have difficulties with mobile coverage, such as making simple voice calls. A third of those surveyed said they regularly encountered problems.

The Panel accuses the mobile networks of running before they can walk. "While all the focus is on rolling out new services like mobile broadband, our research reveals that large numbers of consumers and small businesses are still having problems making even basic voice calls," claims Anna Bradley, chair of the Communications Consumer Panel.

It is essential that consumers aren't trapped into contracts that don't give them the coverage they need

Bradley is calling on mobile networks to offer a trial period at the start of a contract, so that a customer can assess the strength of the network at their home and workplace. "It is essential that consumers aren't trapped into contracts that don't give them the coverage they need," she says.

Mobile customers shouldn't hold their breath, however. The Panel - then called the Ofcom Consumer Panel - recommended that fixed-line broadband customers should be able to leave their contracts without charge if actual speeds were "significantly lower" than those advertised by their ISP. However, the Panel's recommendation was ignored by Ofcom when it drew up its code of conduct for ISPs.

The Consumer Communications Panel is described as the regulator's "independent, policy advisory body on consumer interests". However, its chairman is appointed by the regulator and its entire staff are Ofcom employees. The previous chairwoman of the panel, Colette Bowe, is now chairman of Ofcom itself.

3G coverage maps published by Ofcom earlier this year showed that O2 had the patchiest coverage of Britain's mobile phone networks, with vast swathes of the country left in 3G deadspots.

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User comments

Coverage is terrible

About 2 years ago, I ended my mobile phone contract because all I ever seemed to say was 'You're breaking up, I'll call you back on the landline' and their customer service staff were hopeless when calling about anything.

I lived quite happily free from the annoyance of terrible mobile phone call 'quality'

I have recently been tempted to rejoin the mobile owning masses by Nokia's N97 (I'll not go in to the buggy firmware), but I wish I hadn't becasue I think Vodafone's cell network seems to have gotten worse over the last 2 years instead of better.

I was very pleasantly surprised by their Customer Service and Ordering phone lines when I rejoined so they're doing something to move their business forward.

I think the article's comment about running before walking is about right.

They can't offer cell coverage for voice, so they decide to roll out mobile broadband that they can't get anywhere near the advertised speeds.

I think they need to remember their core business and address the shortcomings there before anything else.

By iwilson on 6 Oct 2009

I'm sure the network operators will say their coverage is unlimited.

By peterm2k on 6 Oct 2009

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