To be sick of the piss poor phone signal across UK

[itwasnevermine]

I'm sick of it.

I'm in a place I've been to a million and one times. It's usually got amazing signal but this time I can barely get 3G! I was down in Cornwall the other month and despite having full 5G it wouldn't even send a text!

It's shocking, what am I even paying for with my phone contract at this point

Anywhere around the Pennines is terrible. I had to stand in a cupboard in the day ward at my local hospital as it was the only place, apparently, to get a signal to call someone to pick you up. In my old office, anyone on EE had to go outside to get a signal.

Lots of so-called third world countries have great mobile coverage.

One of my colleagues says he gets better reception in most of India than he does in south London.

I know where that is. The Nero drives me mad - can't open in the app inside but can just by the door outside

O2 and Virgin Media merged a couple of years ago and 02’s infrastructure just can’t cope. Mobile signal is the worst it’s ever been, especially if you’re on O2. There’s vast swathes of the country side ( where I spend a lot of time) with no signal at all and the town I work in, which is only of the largest in the midlands, has some massive signal black spots. It’s inexcusable, really.

I had no signal at the 02 arena in London, the last two times I’ve been which is pretty ironic.

I completely agree, OP. I live on the Derbs/Staffs border and my entire commute is a signal black spot. How? How in 2024 can we put a person on the moon but signal is still beyond us?

Yep I’m on o2 and for signal is poor the majority of the time. Husband is on EE and his is generally fine. I can’t get any signal at home if I’m not connected to the WiFi!

I have noticed that my mobile signal is almost non existent in large areas of the town and surrounds,Here on the south coast. this has got substantially worse recently. I am with O2. It is driving me mad as I use my phone a lot and no longer have a landline, so rely heavily on my mobile😡

I thought it was my phone. I’m on Vodafone

I'm in zone2 central london. EE. I need to leave my house to make a phone call over phone network or 4g. It's been like this for months. EE says all is fine.

Rail companies and airlines come to mind.

I read an article a couple of months ago that said part of this is linked to Huawei being told to fully leave the the UK by 2027. This includes their infrastructure and masts etc which has had a huge knock on impact on other networks

www.lightreading.com/5g/huawei-swap-out-in-uk-has-become-a-costly-and-tortuous-slog

This is related to the government and the available spectrum for providers. 3G signal required a certain mast spacing, 4G requires a different mast spacing, and 5G (guess what?) requires yet another mast spacing.

So, as we "upgrade", signal coverage can get worse until infill masts are erected.

What network you on? I’m with EE and never any issues

I'm vodafone. It used to be great, but over the last year or so it's been shit.

Yes. I thought it was just me. It's gone downhill a lot over the past 2 years.

Abroad you roam, so have the pick of networks.

I really don't get why we can't have the choice to roam between networks here too.

But yes, i'm on Three and its fucking awful, was on O2 and that was also terrible too.

My company phone was Vodaphone, just awful in different places.

SW England.

Our town has now changed all parking meters to either card payment or app only....great....but never any signal, the machine constantly time outs, and the app won't work. It's so incredibly frustrating, especially as the parking warden is extremely officious. I've now given up and drive a further seven miles down the road to the next town.

Yep, my Vodafone signal has got worse since the start of the year. I used to be able to listen to Radio 4 via the Sounds app while I walk the dog round the woods, now I'm lucky to hear the odd minute before it cuts out again. I frequently find I have a 4G signal when out and about (rural area) but nothing will actually load or send.

Never used to have problems like this, I deliberately chose Vodafone a decade ago when I moved to the area as they had great signal here. Not any more 🤬

My other half was a telecoms network engineer, he was made redundant aged 58, 61 now, can only get the odd labouring or grass cutting job... too old apparently, companies say they need skilled people but only those under 50 need apply.

29 of them lost their jobs at the same time, only the younger ones got similar work, one fills drinks machines, another delivers cars, most don't work.

Same. Always SAYS 4g but no data at all. I'm annoyed I just renewed my contract with them

O2 is absolute shit; I'm in the southwest, and used to have pretty good signal everywhere. Over the past 5 years, it's been reduced and reduced and plenty of places where I used to get signal there's now none (including my home), and even out and about signal is hit and miss from day to day. As others have said, I complained to o2 and they told me it was my phone (it's not) and that they haven't changed anything (clearly they have!).

They've shut off the 3G where I am and put up a bunch of new masts but the signal still isn't great. So what are these masts being used for if not for signal?
Police radio? Something else? Who knows. I just wish I'd get more than two bars. While on 100% battery. Annoying.

It's shocking what's wrong with it. It seems to be worse than it was.

I was recently in Ireland and Italy. Mobile phone coverage was amazing on my UK phone.

I came back to the UK. My phone is not working in so many places.

One thing which puzzles me back in the days before 4g, 3G was considered quite ok for a bit of internet browsing. Better than E or H. Now if I’ve only got 3G I can’t open a single webpage.

Same issue here. I'm on 02 due to it being the only network that works in my house. It used to be great but turned to crap 2 years ago. Most of the time I have no data signal whatsoever and calls and texts are hit and miss, I get the 'emergency calls only' notification regularly.
I live in a busy tourist village in West Yorkshire and have no idea how visitors manage, especially if their provider is 02.