One-fourths of the UK ‘mobile broadband notspots’ says Ofcom
Around 87% of UK population can now access mobile broadband 3G services according to the latest Ofcom report on mobile broadband providers’ network coverage and mobile not-spots in UK.
However, in terms of geographic coverage, nearly one-fourths of UK are ‘Mobile not-spots‘ where people cannot use mobile broadband, the study reveals. London and most urban areas across the UK receive the best 3G coverage, while many parts in Scotland (41%), Wales (49%), the SouthWest of England (66%) have poor 3G network coverage and service quality according to the survey.
There is 100% 3G population and geographic coverage in London. By contrast, Northern Ireland which reports just 40% 3G geographic coverage, virtually has no mobile broadband access in rural areas.
2G Mobile network coverage UK. Source: Ofcom
UK Mobile operators (3 Mobile (Three), Vodafone, O2, Virgin Media, Orange and T-Mobile) tend to expand and upgrade their data services in areas of higher population density for commericial reasons like higher revenues and profits, says the telecom regulator.
3G not-spots are currently greater than those for 2G which use lower frequency (900MHz and 1800MHz) and have wider geographic coverage. The network operators will need to install more base stations to extend 3G coverage, the Ofcom study shows. 3G mobile data services currently use 2.1GHz frequency range.
The regulator suggests that 3G mobile broadband coverage can be improved by spectrum liberalisation that will allow 3G services to use some of the spectrum currently used for 2G.
“Furthermore, proposals to auction 800MHz by the end of the financial year 2011/12 may also help provide mobile broadband services using lower frequencies” Ofcom says.
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