Will 2G-only masts be upgrades to 4G?

[Anonymous]

Using the O2 coverage checker there are lots of places (mainly in the sticks) where there is good (allegedly) 2G coverage, but the masts themselves dont offer 3G. 

Will only 3G masts be upgraded to 4G... or all of them?

I'm assuming this is a much longer job since presumably if these masts could offer 3G cost-effecitvely today - they would already. So I'm not holding my breath to see 4G in the countryside.

[adamtemp64]

o2 has committed to 98%population indoor coverage on 4g. by 2015

[Anonymous]

hmm. dont they claim 90%+ for 3G? Coverage outside towns simply SUCKS.

Not holding out much hope things will improve. Which is a shame since 4G was touted as having much greater range than 3G and the "cure" for no 3G.

They should start quoting coverage by area also.

[adamtemp64 · Accepted solution]

if you look at the o2 website the commitment of 98% indoor is also 2g and 3g and I thought it previously was only outdoor % by population quoted as all networks would not commit to indoor coverage.

Ofcom have raised the bar and o2 have taken the challenge

[Anonymous]

At the moment O2 has 98% INDOOR/outdoor on 2G.
At the moment O2 doesn't have 98% INDOOR but has 98% OUTDOOR on 3G.
At the moment O2 has 0% INDOOR/OUTDOOR for 4G.

A massive mast update is coming, to be completed by 2015. On each mast update 3G and 4G equipment is going on.

So, by the end of 2015 it will be 98% INDOOR AND OUTDOOR coverage for 2G, 3G and 4G.

[ewanrw]

Remember as pointed out by Adamtemps, the figures refer to population, so rural areas could still have issues, however the further coverage clause is that they must also cover 95% of the Scottish, English, Welsh and Northern Irish populations individually. 

ewan