Ofcom has launched a new mapping website to help consumers find out about mobile phone coverage and performance in their areas. Users can enter a postcode and will be shown a map which they can click through to see the level of 4G or 5G coverage available from the 4 main mobile network operators. It’s no longer possible to see 2G and 3G data from Ofcom, as this has been removed.
“Map Your Mobile shows detailed coverage and performance based on what smartphones need today. Put in your postcode and find out which mobile network is right for you.”
Natalie Black, Group Director for Networks and Communications, Ofcom
According to Ofcom, the new website uses predictive data from the UK’s mobile networks, which Government ministers have previously stated can be inaccurate, but also now uses crowdsourced data from Opensignal to help enhance this. Opensignal has an app that people can use to download, which will test their mobile connection from the location they are at. There is no data provided to indicate how many samples this data is based on, however.
Ofcom appear to be using the Opensignal data on the left of the map to provide a performance-based figure. The data drawn within the map is solely based on coverage predictions from the mobile networks. A word of warning to users, the performance data shown is based on the entire first half of the postcode (e.g. W12 for W12 7RJ), which in some rural areas can cover huge areas. IV27, the largest postcode district, covers 1,393 square miles. It’s unclear how giving a user performance information that covers such a large area could be in any way useful.
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Nothing to see there. No 4G Map, No 5G Map. Useless! Just awful bad designers!
I have to agree. Not that much use to most people.
“Error retrieving data”. Great job Ofcom 👍
An ashtray for a motorbike
Have they never heard of apps like what 3 words to aid accuracy of data that is input?
Slight side note, but what3words is known to be problematic in verbal communications due to collisions – similar words in an area which isn’t too far away. Be careful relying on this unless you send the words by copy/paste (verbal is the problem). If you can copy/paste then you can just send lat/long instead.
I have always said that about what3words. If your phone tells you a w3w coordinate it can give you a grid reference.
email to Ofcom today…..
Dear Ofcom,
This confuses me; when I search at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/mobile-coverage-checker for my postcode and address and check (specifically) the Vodafone coverage, the results returned tell me Vodafone have “Poor to none” coverage, yet Vodafone’s performance is the highest of any of the four operators at 79%. What am I supposed to make of that result – good performance but no service?
(plus some other stuff about declining local mobile coverage and a whinge asking why I should I pay for mobile connectivity that I actually receive by broadband from another provider)
Tried it. No option for mobile coverage. My area is appalling. Since last summer 4g data is at best flaky and mostly non existent. I complained to 3 and they said no problems. I showed them my This site cannot be reached, message. H, there’s congestion in your area. Try switching to 3G. 3G! Well I never. Supposedly it was switched off in September but no it does work, a little bit slower. This is the situation today. When will we get a proper 4g service? I have complained to my MP who is “speaking to the Telecoms companies” . If we travel out of this area magically my 4g service is fine.