Gov Reveal More on Ofcom’s Planned Change to Improve 4G Mobile Maps
The UK Government’s Minister for Telecoms, Sir Chris Bryant, this week provided more details to parliament on how Ofcom would soon improve the accuracy and relevance of their mobile coverage maps, which made particular reference to the minimum required 4G mobile broadband speed (currently 2Mbps) – this will shortly be more than doubled to 5Mbps.
A few months ago ISPreview reported on how Ofcom said they’d been “working hard to overhaul our mobile coverage checker” in order to better match people’s real-world experiences (here), particularly of modern 4G and 5G (mobile broadband) services. At the time, we noted that the regulator intend to launch the result of all their work “later this year“, but we weren’t given a solid date.
The regulator’s existing Mobile Coverage Checker is currently based on predictions from the mobile network operators themselves (EE, Vodafone, Three UK and O2). Such predictions are generated using computer programs that simulate the way mobile signals travel from mobile masts and are blocked by any obstructions such as hills, trees, and buildings. But as we all know, this isn’t always very reliable.
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At present, we already know that the improved checker will use higher signal strength thresholds when presenting local predictions, while also providing clearer explanations of the issues and the specific functions of the web-checker. Ofcom also intends to assess predicted signal strength information at a more granular level (50 or 25 square metres, instead of the current 100 square metres) to determine if it is possible to reduce the local uncertainty to some extent.
However, this week saw Sir Chris Bryant reveal that, from “about the middle” of June 2025, Ofcom would start reporting on mobile network coverage using a required minimum data speed figure of 5Mbps (Megabits per second).
Sir Chris Bryant said:
“Reporting of mobile coverage is something that frustrates many of us. The Ofcom site may say, “96% of all four networks available everywhere across the whole of your constituency,” but I say, “No, you can’t get a signal anywhere in Hannah Street in the middle of Porth—end of story.” I have been in discussion with Ofcom, and we have exchanged letters, which I have placed in the Library of the House of Commons, about how it is going to change its reporting.
That reporting has historically been based in part on two things: first, the coverage predicted by the mobile phone companies, which might not necessarily match people’s experience; and, secondly, 2 megabits per second, which frankly is of no earthly use to anybody — most of us now want 5 megabits per second.
From about the middle of June, Ofcom will be reporting across the whole of the country on 2 megabits per second and 5 megabits per second, so people will have a much clearer understanding of the situation on the ground. I hope that might drive further commercial investment from the mobile phone operators, which will say, “You know what? We need to make sure we have more masts in this area, because frankly it’s not good enough.””
Leaving aside the fact that “hope” is not a strategy (i.e. the reference above to all mobile operators boosting commercial investment in poorly served areas), the move to adopt both a 2Mbps and 5Mbps measure for 4G is useful, although even 5Mbps seems a bit archaic by modern standards. But it is important to reflect that this a minimum, and operators are still expected to do better.
The fact that the 2Mbps figure is still being retained may, however, cause some confusion for consumers. But we suspect they’re taking that approach in order to avoid changing the targets – mid-flight – for existing rules and programmes, such as the £1bn industry-led Shared Rural Network (SRN) project.
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Lest we forget that the regulator is also still examining the use of measured data, including crowdsource data, to build on these coverage predictions. Finally, once the new checker has launched, Ofcom will move to consider undertaking a larger scale performance measurement programme to complement coverage predictions and further enhance their mobile reporting.
As a side note, one MP also asked Chris whether the government planned to cut (i.e. in their future Spending Review) any of the £2bn that remains unspent within their £5bn Project Gigabit broadband roll-out scheme. But the minister did not know the answer to that as such things tend to be decided by HM Treasury.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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It’s actually unbelievable that after 4 decades they still are not using measured data to inform coverage maps rather than the industry reporting on it themsleves using clearly flawed methodology, as proven by any long suffering user who has looked at these maps which show they should have good coverage.
Across all industries, you will struggle to find an industry like the mobile operators who hold so much influence over government and regulator policy. (Presumably because historically they have been paying the government vast sums for exclusive rights spectrum)
Ofcom uses measured data when doing compliance checks (see here – https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/cellular-coverage), but it’s incredibly time consuming and difficult to get a complete map based on measured data!
And then by the time you’ve driven up and down every single road in the country (and been to every single house? Walked up every mountain?), the map will be out of date.
I’d settle for a ‘reasonably good’ coverage map (something which is possible) rather than so much money spent on drive testing
How do you propose Ofcom fund such measurements?
I look forward to all the extra planning applications for new masts that will be refused by local councils because people have objected to them being on their street.
Local Councils all across the UK are now having to invest in their own mobile coverage mapping with actual drive and walk testing (with companies like Streetwave), because the Ofcom coverage information is so woefully inadequate. For community support, for economic development, for planning, for growth strategies, for place planning – digital connectivity is vital for so many areas now, it is maddening that MNO’s can essentially report what they like. Good, reliable data is needed to make good, justified decisions. If Ofcom won’t commit to holding the MNO’s to account, and providing a real-world picture of actual 4G & 5G coverage, then what’s the point in having a coverage map, thats often incorrect?
Given that local authorities are struggling with funding core expenditure, it is difficult to accept that councils are funding such measurements. Which councils are you referring to?
Evidence please otherwise it’s just another fairy story.
@Fara82Light – I work for a Scottish Local Authority, and there are many now carrying out this type of project, using a range of funding sources (not just council money). Orkney, Highlands, Argyll & Bute, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Stirling, Glasgow City, Edinburgh, North Ayrshire, East Lothian – they are all moving forward with mobile mapping projects. There is a lot being done by Local Authorities in Wales and England as well, by companies like Streetwave. Yes, Council’s are incredibly tight in core funding right now, but when capital funding is made available, the use cases for economic development and regional growth are massive, IF we have accurate and reliable digital connectivity and infrastructure data. Ofcom coverage maps are simply not reliable enough for Local Authorities to build regional and community strategies with.
@ Ardacnet: Are these initiatives not all led by Streetwise and funded externally? The councils are hardly doing the work apart from providing access to the bin lorries.
@Ardacnet: These surveys are not capital investments. They will not deliver any service improvements unless they can either influence existing providers or provide evidence for opportunities for private investment, but the latter is very unlikely given the high upfront costs and the prevailing financing conditions; even the government will struggle to maintain its commitments.
“whether the government planned to cut any of the £2bn that remains unspent within their £5bn Project Gigabit broadband roll-out scheme.”
How about leaning in to spend that existing budget on reaching FTTP not spots in rural UK where no interest has been shown within existing plans…
In other words to get the job done!
3/5 done is not done…
To be honest 5G should of never been rolled out they should of focused on sorting out 4g to make sure it’s 100% coverage and improve speeds
Well Said! Agree!
Nonsense.
New coverage doesn’t have to be based around 4G and some areas were in need of extra capacity, so I disagree with that suggestion.
So basically Ofcom are planning on making their coverage checker more accurate by switching from using operator’s inaccurate predicted models to… still using operator’s inaccurate predicted models!
Mark – do you know whether this change in coverage boundaries for the coverage checker will also be reflected in the Connected Nations report coverage figures?
I’m not sure yet, we’ll find out soon enough.
Fara82Light – you work for Ofcom!
No, I do not. Neither do I live in a dreamworld.
There needs to be transparency on current capability and future work.
There also needs to be a way to contact those that can investigate issues and have them acted on and progress visible.
EE keep telling me my signal is fine because i can get the bare minimum in bandwidth, but ignored the metrics I gave them showing consistently bad latency as bad as 10,000ms (not a typo)
The “current capability and future work” unless funded by the government, is a matter for the respective businesses, not for the general public. You are already able to raise matters to Ofcom.
Nearly every person in this country has a mobile coverage checker in their pocket. M(V)NOs could quite easily implement measurements themselves by putting an SDK in their apps that periodically checks connectivity, but of course it’s not in their best interests as it’ll show their coverage predictions are likely wrong.
Ofcom should either mandate it or invest in companies already doing this, like ROAM (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.roamnetwork.roamapp&referrer=utm_content%3DSaolaBadlandsFicus%26utm_source%3Drefer).
those “pocket mobile coverage checkers” would have so much variance as to be useless. Rootmetrics and others make their money because they attempt to remove as many variables as possible.
Its the same reason why Ofcom relies on firms like Samknows on the fixed line side instead of simply looking at Ookla or Netflix league tables.
But if Ofcom really wanted that info, they don’t need apps or user co-operation. They could get it from the MNOs who already collect it from their network equipment to inform (but not dictate!) infrastructure planning.
Flamin’ Eck. What a lot of venting.
How about some suggestions for solving the problem.
E.g. ofcom COLLABORATE with an app developer to put out a mobile phone app that does a 7 day report that’s uploaded (virus scanned) and anonymysed .
Add user caveats to prevent ofcom being sued.
This’ll give ofcom the ammo to stuff in the faces of the network providers to improve or lose.
Yes, even I can see the flaws, but at least it’s better than sucking thumbs and doing nowt.