Pathetic 3G Coverage

[shaunandsherry]

Why can I not find out what O2 3G Network coverage is?

The coverage checker clearly says that 3G is shown as Mobile Internet and yet when you look at the coverage map it only shows 2G coverage.

Is this because their 3G network appears to be almost no existant now.

I use to be able to get a good mobile internet connection in pretty much every location I went to now I can only get it if im in  a town or city (where I dont need it because Wifi is everywhere)

Whats going on?

Ive got the iPhone 5 and instead of mobile internet getting better and better each year it gets worse.

[adamtemp64]

in the coverage checker you are switching between the types 3g 3g900 and 2g?

Just checked it and it shows correctly the type of connection available here and 5 miles north where 3g900 is

there is also the new my network app that also has 3 toggles under the i symbol

[shaunandsherry]

Thanks for that, you have to zoom right in before it tells you about 3G.

But what it does prove is that O2 3G is absolutely dreadfull.

The coverage map clearly shows that 3G coverage is a tiny radius in the centre of all the main towns and citys, and absolutely no coverage anywhere inbetween.

But what they seem to have down is almost switched of the old GPRS as on the iPhone this used to be perfectly adequate for basic browsing and emails, now its so sloe everything times out.

Looks like im going to have to switch networks for the first time in 20 odd years, because its outside of the towns and citys that I need the internet most people have wifi in the built up areas.

Why is it so bad, when Orange and Three have a superb coverage

[MI5]

What area are you talking about? I only go to one place, which is in the middle of nowhere with zero signal from any network, that I don't get 3g.... even then I still get a couple of bars of 2G if I try hard enough....

[shaunandsherry]

Dorset, I travel between Shaftesbury and Bournemouth and towards Ringwood regularly.

The 3G is non existent unless im in a built up area, the 2G phone calls works faultlessly in ALL areas, I couldnt ask for a better voice coverage, but Mobile INternet is useless, but it never used to be so something has changed in the last 6 months or so, its as if because the 4G is on its way they have turned off loads of 3G and slowed down the 2G

[MI5]

I don't get down that way much so I don't know for sure but it's possible that they are updating the masts in that area.

[Anonymous]

3G was never intended to cover all of the UK. I get that 3G coverage isnt particularly good in many areas but all networks have these blips.

orange and tmobile have a much better 3g network due to originally they were two companies and now they have a single network.

O2 and Voda are working to achieve a better coverage for 2G/3G but it will take time.

Moving on to 4G the freq O2 has should give a better signal in rural areas than any other network.

My advise would be to hold on till August when 4G is expected at the end of summer.

[adamtemp64 · Accepted solution]

well I live along the a30 at henstridge and 3g is getting better and closer. wincanton now has 3g and sherbourne all at 3g900 but the area to the south of the a30 is poor to the coast but arqiva has been given the task of erecting masts in non profitable areas and part of my route to dochester will be improved.

The whole of o2's network is being updated and when done all masts will have 2g 3g and 4g.

the arqiva project is detailed here https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/making-it-easier-for-the-communications-and-telecoms-industri...