Appalling 3G Coverage

[Anonymous]

I have recently renewed my o2 contract for a further 2 years (which I am now seriously regretting) and have noticed the 3G coverage is utterly appalling. To be honest it has always been poor but my patience is running thin. I also requested 1GB of data as part of my new contract - pointless.

Does anybody else have this problem?

In an age where the majority of mobile phone use is spent online a networks 3G coverage should be vital.

My friends that hold contracts with other networks, notably '3', do not have this issue. In fact most of them have 3G even in the most remote areas.

[Bambino]

Signal strength should always be the main consideration. It isn't O2's fault that Virgin Mobile didn't have the phone you wanted. Did you check what the reception would be on O2 before you switched or were you so blinded by the thought of an iPhone that you jumped without looking?

[perksie]

---

@MarkTadley wrote:

In an age where O2 promise good service and great reception - its all a lie and once you are in a contract you are caught until the end.

---

It seems a little silly to criticise O2 when you have a very good reception from Vodafone or Virgin, I would have stayed with one of them!

The 3G is not good in that area, hopefully the network upgrades will inprove that, but to change network for the sake of a phone doesn't seem a good idea:

Live results for Tadley, Berks

• 

  Our network is currently working fine

  If we're doing work on the phone masts near you we'll tell you about it here.

  Updated 14:00 (refreshed hourly). Recent faults might not show yet.

• 

  Normal coverage for Voice, text and email (2G)

  Making calls, sending texts, using email on your phone.

  Good indoors and outdoors.
• 

  Normal coverage for Mobile internet and voice (3G)

  Fast networking. For smartphones, dongles and tablets.

  OK outdoors. Patchy indoors. Not good for mobile broadband.

  I don't remember O2 making any promises about full coverage for the UK though.

[MI5]

Same for Tadley in Berkshire too 

Live results for Aldermaston, Berkshire

• 

  Our network is currently working fine

  If we're doing work on the phone masts near you we'll tell you about it here.

  Updated 15:00 (refreshed hourly). Recent faults might not show yet.

• 

  Normal coverage for Voice, text and email (2G)

  Making calls, sending texts, using email on your phone.

  Good indoors and outdoors.
• 

  Normal coverage for Mobile internet and voice (3G)

  Fast networking. For smartphones, dongles and tablets.

  OK outdoors. Patchy indoors. Not good for mobile broadband.
• 

  Normal coverage for Mobile Internet (4G)

  Seamless connectivity and mobile internet.

  Sorry, we do not have coverage here.

[perksie]

Too many Tadleys obviously!

[MI5]

Tip, don't live in any Tadley if you're on O2

[MarkTadley]

Yep I moved cause I wanted an iP5 and yes, i shouldve checked coverage by different PAYG sims but I checked the same O2 site you have all got showing regarding coverage and signal strength.

It shows good for 2G coverage and 2 bars 'maybe' for 3G. Well, it certainly isn't good coverage for 2G at all.

As I have said, it's absolutely shocking. No service at all means no service to even make a call on 2G which is the opersite to what those indicators are saying on the O2 site regarding coverage.

[MI5]

They are really a guide only as many geographical factors can have an influence on signal.... Maybe even your AWP could be having an effect, but I'm sure you know this already......

[adamtemp64]

you have tried turning 3g off in settings> mobile ?

[Anonymous]

I too regret renewing with O2. There maps would have you think they have coverage almost everywhere. Blatant lies. That they know they can get away with. Just upped to 4G in the hope of getting a better signal. I commute into London where you would imagine there would be good coverage. Not a chance. Been with O2 for years and for the life of me don't know why. Easier not to change I suppose, which again they rely on. Poor O2. Very poor. Have been through the monotonous help process with the script reading professional. They blame the phone, the weather, the government, anyone but their poor network. Changing next time for sure. Crap.

[Anonymous]

Network coverage is a funny old beast. My findings from Nottingham.

I was with EE previously and I always had 4 odd bars and it seemed decent enough.

4G was pretty snappy too around the city, except for at work which is where I wanted it to be decent. 

I would also get regular drop outs and black spots.

Since i've been on O2, although I appear to have less bars I find the service more consistent and with less drop outs in this area.

4G isn't great in the areas I frequent, 1 or 2 bars, but it is still pretty rapid. 

Vodafone I found to be the worst of the bunch which surprised me.

There really is no way to know until you grab a sim and try it.

EE did have an advantage while they had all of the T-Mobile and Orange masts still in operation, but they have been shutting them down now so it has started to even off.