Consumers need more help with mobile coverage problems according to a panel that advises Ofcom.
The Communications Consumer Panel says that one-third of consumers and small businesses regularly experience coverage problems and it recommends that networks should be forced to offer a “try before you buy” period when you sign up for a mobile phone or mobile broadband contract.
Despite widespread claims of 99%+ coverage from the operators this normally refers to population coverage not geographic coverage with coverage concentrated in areas with higher populations and substantial gaps in countryside. In practice coverage can vary widely depending on the building you are in, hills nearby and the exact location of the mobile phone base station. So you could be in an area with great coverage but have poor reception because of your exact location or thanks to a building blocking the mast.
Mobile broadband which relies on 3G coverage is notoriously patchy. 3G coverage is still lower than 90% of the population and the nature of the 3G phone signal means it can’t travel as far as the old 2G signal and has even more difficulty passing through walls.
Read our mobile phone coverage tips for some great advice.
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