Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Poor O2 Network Coverage Revealed - UK
- Thread starter m477h3w
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
In my experiences, Vodafone have always had the best coverage. Statistically (in 2008 at least when I worked for them) that was correct.
I left them to move to O2 and am very disappointed at the coverage in some areas...only in central towns and cities do I seem to get full 3G coverage...luckily there's wifi everywhere else.
Orange signal was poor too - I guess they all have their good areas and poor areas.
I left them to move to O2 and am very disappointed at the coverage in some areas...only in central towns and cities do I seem to get full 3G coverage...luckily there's wifi everywhere else.
Orange signal was poor too - I guess they all have their good areas and poor areas.
The maps are (possibly) misleading.
The orange map shows 'internet' coverage, whilst the O2 map shows 'broadband' coverage. Does that mean GPRS vs 3g or is it just The Sun being their usual wonderful selves in the relm of reporting?
The orange map shows 'internet' coverage, whilst the O2 map shows 'broadband' coverage. Does that mean GPRS vs 3g or is it just The Sun being their usual wonderful selves in the relm of reporting?
I see what you mean, I just assumed The Sun was using different words for each picture, but meaning the same thing. Quite misleading though
The maps are all 3G coverage
Original source: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/...and/cellular/3g/maps/3gmaps/coverage_maps.pdf
I read somewhere that O2 and Vodafone have entered into a tower sharing agreement so hopefully O2's coverage will improve shortly...
Personally I've had a good experience with O2 in terms of coverage, Vodafone were fine too and I suffered a bit when I was on Orange. But I'd happily trade a bit of coverage for decent customer support, which is what you get with O2, and Vodafone/Orange lack. I can't speak for 3 and T-Mobile.
As for increasing coverage, I work for a company that manufactures and sells base stations and repeaters, for cellular and many other purposes. Sometimes it's just not practical. The main issues being planning permission, NIMBYs and the cost trade off of installing a new base station/repeater where only 3 people live and the amount they'd earn in a rural area... simple economics.
As for increasing coverage, I work for a company that manufactures and sells base stations and repeaters, for cellular and many other purposes. Sometimes it's just not practical. The main issues being planning permission, NIMBYs and the cost trade off of installing a new base station/repeater where only 3 people live and the amount they'd earn in a rural area... simple economics.
I live in Central London and although I have perfect phone reception (5 bars) I have no 3g access on my iphone. Have tested it on 3g and 3gs phones but no luck. 1/2 mile down the road and its fine.
I've been on O2 contract for years but recently changed to Orange and got the Nokia N97 and i must admit, Orange's mobile network is much much faster and seems a lot more reliable, i travel between Manchester and London so probably two good areas for signal but even still my O2 struggled to get GPRS in the hotel i usually stay in.
Apparently this is true.
We are looking to purchase quite a few iphones for work and the regional sales manager told us this.
No wonder he didn't complete my request at the second meeting of me asking him to produce a map of areas where O2 "struggle" with data coverage.
Mind you, I think these maps can look misleading unless overlaid onto a an actual road network map, chances are all providers may be ok unless you are based out in the "sticks".
3's customer support is about as worse at it gets, O2 is actually pretty good, and Vodafone, a typical 3 phone call goes something like this
"Good Morning Sir, I'm calling from Internet Service Providings to a Provider that Provides faster service of Internet Service Providings than your current Provider".
3's customer support is about as worse at it gets, O2 is actually pretty good, and Vodafone, a typical 3 phone call goes something like this
"Good Morning Sir, I'm calling from Internet Service Providings to a Provider that Provides faster service of Internet Service Providings than your current Provider".
This person speaks the truth. O2's customer service is about as good as it gets these days in my experience.
General coverage isn't as important as specific coverage... what I mean by this is that I don't care who has the best coverage statistically when they don't cover my house.
O2 and Vodafone are the only networks that give consistent coverage in my house. Orange works if you leave the phone by a window and the others just don't work at all.
O2 and Vodafone are the only networks that give consistent coverage in my house. Orange works if you leave the phone by a window and the others just don't work at all.
This information, is the most accurate, and comes directly from Ofcom, regarding the 3G coverage in UK by top leading mobile providers:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/broadband/cellular/3g/maps/3gmaps/
Worth noting that I live in the very south, beach only 5 mins away from me, and I don't even get EDGE :/
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/broadband/cellular/3g/maps/3gmaps/
Worth noting that I live in the very south, beach only 5 mins away from me, and I don't even get EDGE :/
I'm afraid it isn't - there is an existing agreement to share cabinet space in some tower cells between Vodaphone and O2, and this is in the process of sharing some equipment now too. But not the actual radio towers, just things like air-conditioning units and power supplies.
Nice cost savings for the networks, but this was presented in the media as having any reception effect whatsoever, which was totally wrong.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/24/vodafone_o2_fud/
Phazer
3's customer support is about as worse at it gets, O2 is actually pretty good, and Vodafone, a typical 3 phone call goes something like this
"Good Morning Sir, I'm calling from Internet Service Providings to a Provider that Provides faster service of Internet Service Providings than your current Provider".
HAHAHAHA Free Ring Dings!!