Campaigning for 4G in rural areas

Hi,

There's quite a lot of information for the public nowadays on finding out when a particular area is going to have its BT cabinet upgraded to a fibre FTTC, but I'm struggling to find any info on mobile phone masts and when/if they will be upgraded to transmit UTMS or 4G.

Does anyone know or have experience in this? My mother's very rural area has this year been upgraded to fibre, and the mobile phone masts sit very near the exchange, which seems a perfect fit to plug them into the backbone.

I've looked at Ofcom's sitefinder, but it would be great to know if there are any plans to improve coverage and, if not, campaign for it - anyone know how I can do this?

Thanks

Will

4G coverage is currenty being rolled out by all the major networks.

Most have a 90% geographic coverage goal, so things should improve over the next few years without the need to campaign. Where and when it happens appears to us to be rather random (as some major masts feed others, and some could be upgraded but waiting for backhaul) and it also depends on the network in question. As an aside, UMTS is an old standard which networks are replacing with HSPA+.

Networks don't necessarily use BT for backhaul anyway. Some use competitors, Vodafone has its own, and they also can use microwave rather than a fibre link. All depends on the area.

A good way to discover whether 4G is coming is to check your local council's planning website, as networks require this to upgrade masts.

This link gives details of the progress - or lack of it.

Buying a 4G phone is easy. Getting a 4G signal to use it with is a problem.

I hope the 02 and three merger takes place. I see one decent network as being of more use than two lesser ones.

A little harsh - EE's on course for 98% population coverage by the end of the year, which isn't bad.

The other networks are further behind, with Three trailing in last place.

Of course - this is a major undertaking for all of the big four networks, requiring replacement of a lot of equipment and better backhaul provided to the sites (especially for Voda and O2).

In reply to a post by de525ma:

A little harsh - EE's on course for 98% population coverage by the end of the year, which isn't bad.

I just wonder how many of them have to be outside to get a signal.

Ah great. Good idea re planning appcs. Thanks

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

In reply to a post by de525ma:

A little harsh - EE's on course for 98% population coverage by the end of the year, which isn't bad.

I just wonder how many of them have to be outside to get a signal.

Not very many when I've been in rural areas, EE beat O2 and Vodafone quite comprehensively. It will depend dramatically on a) where you are, b) if sites have been upgraded, and c) backhaul network availability.

O2 have stated that rural 4g coverage will now be the focus as per this article http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/networks/broadband/o...

Remember only o2 have to cover the 98% requirement for 4g

But as usual no network makes it easy to find out when a particular area will be covered.

What concerns me is the levels of coverage, not the speed necessarily. There are still gaping blackspots in Britain where no reception can be gained, which, in 2015, is a bit of a concern when a lot of people are ditching their landlines.

Maybe its the difference between population coverage and geographic coverage

i.e. who pays for a mobile most to cover an area of land that has no premises (commercial or residential in it). Wireless propagation and geography means if people want 100% geographic coverage this is going to have to happen and nimby issues will be a serious problem in some area.

I was looking at coverage for our rural area recently and saw good indoor coverage locally - except where there are any houses! Indoor coverage in fields is fine; human activity appears to degrade the signal.
Why aren't those maps getting any better? Don't the mobile phone companies have any way of improving their accuracy - eg more sampling or customers like me submitting reports?