You might have been told your mobile network covers 99 per cent of the UK.
But new data reveals the truth about how good the quality of that connection really is in your local area.
A team from Which? have used real–world information from consumer mobile handsets to create a percentage score for how consistent the signal has been in each postcode area this year up to August.
Postcodes in Wales and the South West were rated as having the patchiest and most unreliable mobile experience in the UK.
Meanwhile areas in London and Nottingham enjoy the best.
‘This research shows just how dramatically the quality of mobile coverage can vary across the UK,’ Natalie Hitchens, Which? head of home products and services, said.
‘Choosing the right provider can mean the difference between seamless coverage or constantly battling to make a call from the comfort of your own home.’
So, does your postcode appear on the worst–affected list?
| Postcode district | Area name | Nation | EE | O2 | Three | Vodaphone | District average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SA70 | Swansea | Wales | 71% | 45% | 38% | 63% | 54.3% |
| LD1 | Llandrindod Wells | Wales | 49% | 66% | 41% | 63% | 54.8% |
| TA5 | Taunton | England | 63% | 47% | 58% | 56% | 56% |
| TR4 | Truro | England | 65% | 48% | 53% | 65% | 57.8% |
| DY13 | Dudley | England | 71% | 42% | 58% | 63% | 58.5% |
| SA31 | Swansea | Wales | 66% | 51% | 50% | 73% | 60% |
| ME19 | Medway | England | 77% | 67% | 62% | 37% | 60.8% |
| TR27 | Truro | England | 82% | 49% | 50% | 62% | 60.8% |
| TR18 | Truro | England | 77% | 50% | 43% | 73% | 60.8% |
| IP17 | Ipswich | England | 71% | 51% | 50% | 73% | 61.3% |
The team said their findings reveal the quality of mobile coverage can vary widely across the UK (file image)
Analysis revealed the postcode SA70 in Tenby – a popular Welsh seaside tourist destination which sees thousands visit during the summer – was the worst postcode for mobile network quality.
Mobile users only experienced a good connection 54.3 per cent of the time, which dropped to just 38 per cent of the time for Three customers.
At the other end of the scale, EE and O2 customers enjoyed the best mobile quality in Tenby – with scores of 71 per cent and 63 per cent respectively – meaning customers of these networks had a good experience around two–thirds of the time.
LD1 in Llandrindod Wells was ranked the second–worst postcode for mobile network quality, with a score of 54.8 per cent overall.
Three was the worst network in Llandrindod Wells with their customers experiencing a good connection just 41 per cent of the time. O2 customers enjoyed the best experience, with a score of 66 per cent.
In England, TA5 in Taunton and TR4 in Truro had the worst postcodes for network quality – with scores of 56 and 57.8 per cent respectively.
O2 was the patchiest network in both areas while EE provided the best connection. Two other postcodes in Truro – TR27 and TR 18 – were also in the bottom 10 postcodes.
The research found that those in bigger cities – including London, Nottingham and Glasgow – enjoyed the best mobile coverage.
| Postcode district | Area name | Nation | EE | O2 | Three | Vodaphone | District average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE11 | London SE | England | 90% | 85% | 86% | 90% | 87.8% |
| NG3 | Nottingham | England | 88% | 87% | 89% | 87% | 87.8% |
| RM5 | Romford | England | 90% | 86% | 84% | 90% | 87.5% |
| IG2 | Ilford | England | 89% | 87% | 85% | 88% | 87.3% |
| WD24 | Watford | England | 89% | 90% | 83% | 85% | 86.8% |
| SW3 | London SW | England | 87% | 86% | 86% | 88% | 86.8% |
| SE27 | London SE | England | 91% | 87% | 81% | 88% | 86.8% |
| G13 | Glasgow | Scotland | 88% | 86% | 89% | 84% | 86.8% |
| BD3 | Bradford | England | 90% | 88% | 85% | 84% | 86.8% |
| SM3 | Sutton | England | 89% | 84% | 85% | 88% | 86.5% |
SE11 in London – covering parts of Kennington and Vauxhall and located just across the Thames from Parliament – and NG3 in Nottingham tied for the postcode with the best quality mobile coverage with a score of 87.8 per cent.
All the Big Four mobile networks delivered consistent connections in both areas, with scores of 85 per cent or more.
Two other London postcodes– SW3 and SE27 – also appeared in the top 10 best postcodes for mobile quality. Postcodes in Sutton, Romford, Ilford and Glasgow also rated highly.
These findings show that the quality of mobile coverage varies dramatically across the country, the experts said.
Choosing the right network for your area can make the difference between a seamless connection or a constantly patchy signal.
‘If you are unhappy with your mobile service, use Which?’s free mobile quality map to find the best connection in your area,’ Ms Hitchens said.
‘Vote with your feet by moving to a provides with better signal once your contract ends, and you could also stand to make a significant saving.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .