Legal Research

3G coverage maps reveal what we already know - coverage still poor

By scott

Ofcom has published copies of 3G coverage maps for each of the UK’s 5 national 3G licence holders ? 02, Vodafone,T-Mobile, Orange, and H3G.

It makes for a very entertaining read for such a short doc. Ofcom can’t state enough that you really shouldn’t rely on these maps for anything, all but saying they are worthless.

“coverage maps are based on theoretical predictions”

“The shaded areas on the maps indicate areas where customers have the possibility of making and receiving a call outside over a 3G network (but with no guarantee of being able to do so).”

” they are not suitable for assessing the quality or depth of coverage within the indicated areas”

” the data used to generate the maps was not collected for the purpose of examining detailed mobile coverage therefore the availability or quality of mobile services cannot be assumed from these maps”

And just in case you have not got the picture yet …

The maps are provided without any representation or endorsement made and without warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy.

Ofcom also point people to the mobile operators own websites saying that all operators produce their own coverage indicators which are likely to provide more reliable guidance to network availability in any given area.

Having looked on the operators’ sites it looks like Ofcom’s maps are fairly spot on. It is true you need to go to your mobile operator’s site to drill down to place/postcode coverage, but Ofcom’s maps do seem fairly accurate at showing how piss poor 3G coverage still is in the UK ? especially if you haven’t decided to live in a city, or England actually. Frankly if you live in most parts of Scotland or Wales, the good news is you don’t need a 3G phone! And as for a 3G iPhone … on 02? hahahahaha.

Vodafone
02
Orange
T-Mobile
3

Full post as published by Information Overload on July 08, 2009 (boomark / email).