Mobile coverage improving but rural Wales lacks decent service
15 December 2017
Mobile coverage is improving, but the rate of improvement is slow
Superfast broadband is available to 89% of premises in Wales
Consumers can check for broadband and mobile problems using enhanced app
Mobile coverage in Wales has improved in the past year, but there is a lot more work to do before voice and data services match those available in other parts of the UK.
The findings are part of Ofcom's Connected Nations 2017 report an in-depth look at telecoms and wireless networks in the UK and its Nations. This year's report continues to show good progress on the availability and take-up of communications services, which are crucial to people's personal and working lives.
Ofcom has changed the way we measure mobile coverage, to reflect the growing usage and expectations of smartphone users. Today's devices receive far more data, but also require stronger signals, than older phones.
We have raised our requirements for what constitutes coverage[1], using new crowd-sourced information from thousands of handsets to capture mobile users' real experiences.
This means people can get the most accurate ever picture of mobile coverage, using Ofcom's interactive maps and smartphone app, which have been updated today. These tools provide clear, detailed information on the availability of mobile calling, text and data services in different parts of the country.
Outdoor premises voice coverage by all four operators has reached 93% in Wales (98% UK) from 89% in 2016 (96% UK), while geographic voice coverage by all four operators increased to 62% (88% UK). Geographic all-operator data coverage has increased by 25 percentage points to 52% (63% UK).
People in rural areas still struggle to get a strong signal, and Wales has the biggest urban-rural divide for outdoor geographic voice coverage in the UK. Urban areas show some 93% of urban landmass is covered but only 58% of rural Wales. The divide gets bigger for 4G coverage where 62% of urban Wales is covered, a rise of 35 percentage points from 2016, but only 19% in rural areas.
Today's report contains data on the availability of mobile service on some key Welsh roads. Voice coverage on the A470 is 49% well below the UK average for A and B roads (68%). Coverage for mobile data services is 29% below the UK average of 58%. The A483 has above-average voice coverage (65%), but significantly below average data coverage (38%).
There remain areas in Wales with no mobile coverage at all. In geographic terms, 9% of Wales is not covered by a data service from any operator, and 8% is without a voice service from any operator.
Rhodri Williams, Ofcom's Director in Wales said Our findings show that plans to improve mobile coverage in Wales needs to gather pace. It's important everyone who has a part to play in the process of improving mobile coverage work together so that consumers in Wales get the mobile services they expect and that are comparable to the rest of the UK.
Given Wales' topography and population distribution, there are unique requirements for network infrastructure that must be met for Wales to keep pace with the rest of the UK.
While these figures show improvements, we are calling for further investment from mobile providers to improve coverage.
Ofcom is also taking direct action, including:
Setting new requirements in operators' licences. Early next year we will consult on detailed plans to improve coverage in rural areas, by setting coverage obligations on mobile airwaves being released in future. The requirements would be written into licences of operators who are awarded 700 MHz' frequencies, which are suitable for providing strong coverage over very wide areas.
Enforcing existing obligations. Mobile operators are already required to provide calls-and-text coverage to 90% of the UK landmass by the end of this month, while O2 must provide an indoor 4G signal to at least 98% of premises by the same time. We will report on mobile companies' compliance with these obligations early next year, and any possible enforcement action if they fall short.
Increasing network capacity. In July, we announced plans to auction more airwaves this year to improve current mobile capacity, as well as frequencies for future 5G services. The auction is currently subject to legal appeal by BT/EE and Three, which we hope can be resolved promptly in the interests of mobile users.
Helping to improve coverage on trains. Ofcom has recently installed equipment on Network Rail's engineering train. This will build a detailed picture of actual mobile reception across the UK's rail network, informing our work with Government to help improve coverage.
Working with Government. We are also helping to implement new planning laws that will make it easier for mobile operators to improve coverage by sharing and installing equipment, such as mobile masts.
Extending use of signal boosters. In October we decided to allow controlled, unlicensed use of mobile phone repeaters', which amplify signals between a mobile phone and the operators' transmitter. The changes come into effect early next year.
Superfast broadband is available to 89% of premises in WalesThree years ago, superfast broadband - defined by Ofcom as a download speed of 30 Mbit/s or more was only available to 55% of premises in Wales the lowest of any nation in the UK, and 20 percentage points lower than the UK average at the time.
This figure now stands at 89% of premises in Wales, compared to 85% in 2016 and to the UK figure of 91%. This follows the Welsh Government's Superfast Cymru programme, which has received financial support from the UK Government and the European Union.
The Welsh Government is considering options for further investment to
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
06/05/2024
By Ilyse McKimmie
Now, more than ever
That's a phrase so often used in the last few years that I've come to dread seeing it in notes like this one. A...
06/05/2024
alt= class=wp-image-12099 data-lazy-src=/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Blog-Exabyte-Storage-Demand-960x540-1.jpg/> Demand for storage solutions has reached unprece...
06/05/2024
Around the world, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists continue to impact mu...
06/05/2024
Spotify is making it easier for booklovers to count down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until a new audiobook releases. With Countdown Pages for audioboo...
06/05/2024
Get Ready to join Dan Hong as he hits the streets in his ultimate culinary journ...
06/05/2024
In this video, cinematographer Simon Rowling welcomes viewers behind the scenes as he lights a daytime-interior scene inside a coffee shop. Shooting on Panavisi...
06/05/2024
L3Harris is well positioned to support the complex and multifaceted nature of special operations forces in all domains through our agile and responsive technolo...
06/05/2024
OAKVILLE, Ontario As part of Emergency Preparedness Week, Alert Ready, Canadas national public alerting system, will be distributing a test alert to Canadians i...
06/05/2024
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. Horowitz Research has released a new study on the viewing and media habits of U.S. Hispanic/Latine audiences that shows a dramatic decline in...
06/05/2024
RE:Vision Effects Autograph 2024.4 released! 50% Off Through May 9th
Brie Clayton May 6, 2024
0 Comments
New game-changing motion graphics & VFX featu...
06/05/2024
NBC has renewed Night Court for a third season. The courtroom comedy was on the network from 1984 to 1992, and NBC rebooted it in early 2023....
06/05/2024
ABC has revealed its summer schedule. The Bachelorette gets going Monday, July 8, with Jenn Tran the star in season 21. Celebrity Family Feud starts up Tuesday,...
06/05/2024
It's almost go-time for the Holly Springs Salamanders! The season opener is ...
06/05/2024
For years, radio stations have used on-premises servers to broadcast content and manage automation, traffic, and billing systems. As technology continues to adv...
06/05/2024
06 May 2024
AI and Big Data Take the Centre Stage in Central Asia at Beetech 20...
06/05/2024
FIRST LOOK AT JIM PARSONS & MAYIM BIALIK REPRISING THEIR ROLES FROM THE BIG BAN...
06/05/2024
NBC Sports and Churchill Downs Extend Historic Partnership, Kentucky Derby to Be...
06/05/2024
Beverly Hills Aerials, LIV Golf Make Australian-Broadcast History by Flying Live...
06/05/2024
Back to All News
Watch the Trailer for A Part of You - Felicia Maxime, Edvin Ry...
06/05/2024
Leadership in 12G-SDI for low impact migration to 4k production...
06/05/2024
Press release - 6 May 2024 07:31
STATEMENT CONCERNING EUTELSAT GROUP'S GROUND NETWORK Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Download as PDF
Paris, 06 May 2024 ...
06/05/2024
Tyngsboro, Mass. - May 6, 2024 - Join us at InfoComm 2024 to experience the latest advancements in live production technology. From June 12-14, 2024, at the Las...
06/05/2024
To champion global movements to protect and advance equality for LGBTQ+ communities, Apple is introducing a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop, ava...
06/05/2024
Actress Matseliso Mohale has joined Muvhango'Talented actress Matseliso Mohale has joined SABC2's soapie Muvhango' as Vhangani's lover and a c...
06/05/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Leroy refuses to give up fighting to bury MthethoDon't miss Monday, 6 May's riveting episode of South African soapie Smoke...
06/05/2024
Intrinsic, a software and AI robotics company at Alphabet, has integrated NVIDIA AI and Isaac platform technologies to advance the complex field of autonomous r...
06/05/2024
Cybersecurity experts at the RSA Conference this week will be on the hunt for ways to secure their operations in the era of generative AI.
They'll find man...
06/05/2024
1) What is the rationale of the transaction? What is the benefit for SES shareholders?
This combination creates a stronger and more competitive multi-orbit ope...
05/05/2024
A special evening performance by multiplatinum singer Becky G will provide a memorable conclusion to TeievisaUnivision's Casa Cultura upfront event on May 1...
05/05/2024
Giant media buyer Publicis is telling network sales executives that it does not think Nielsen's new panel-plus-big-data currency is ready for this upfront....
05/05/2024
WASHINGTON Glenn Kirschner, legal analyst at NBC News, blasted the media for referring to the New York trial of former President Donald Trump as a hush-money ...
05/05/2024
Catchy Comedy's weekend marathon sees The Beverly Hillbillies on the weekend of May 4-5. The event kicks off Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. ET, and runs through...
05/05/2024
NBC Sports has the 150th Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 4. The coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock and the feature race at Churchill Downs in Louis...
05/05/2024
Back to All News
Netflix Announces New Comedy Series Roosters, Starring Jeroen ...
05/05/2024
Back to All News
Showdown Alert: Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura' Drops Electr...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
04/05/2024
New faces and new storylines': What to expect on Izingane ZeS'thembu...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
Mobile coverage improving but rural Wales lacks decent service 
