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Articles for Category Tag - Mobile Broadband

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Ofcom Updates on UK Satellite Broadband Fees and Project Kuiper

1st July, 2025 (0 Comments)

The UK communications regulator has today published a shotgun blast of new satellite broadband consultations, which cover everything from changing satellite gateway fees to introducing another new gateway licence for Amazon’s future Project Kuiper network. Ofcom has also proposed short duration licences for mobile (4G/5G) networks in the lower 2.3GHz band.

AST Space Mobile Satellites Over UK and Europe with Vodafone

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile Prep Satellite Based Mobile Broadband for 2026

30th June, 2025 (8 Comments)

Mobile operator Vodafone UK has issued an update on their Joint Venture (SatCo) with satellite operator AST SpaceMobile, which is in the process of launching a space-based 2G, 4G and 5G mobile (mobile broadband) service that can connect with regular Smartphones around the world. The first commercial services are expected to launch in 2026.

O2 Confirms UK Mobile Boost as 78.8MHz of Spectrum Acquired from Vodafone

30th June, 2025 (20 Comments)

Mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) has today revealed the details of their spectrum transfer agreement with Vodafone UK (VodafoneThree), which follows last year’s network sharing deal. This will see VMO2 acquiring 78.8MHz of spectrum for an investment of £343m to “materially enhance” their 4G and 5G mobile (mobile broadband) network.

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A Year Early – £1bn SRN Project Delivers 95 Percent UK Cover of 4G Mobile

30th June, 2025 (5 Comments)

The Government has announced that the £1bn industry-led Shared Rural Network (SRN) project, which aimed to extend geographic 4G mobile (mobile broadband) coverage to 95% of the UK (aggregate) by the end of 2025 (5G also benefits from the new infrastructure), has “achieved its overarching target a year ahead of schedule“. But there’s more work left to do.

Bin Lorries to Help Map Mobile Network Coverage in Tees Valley

27th June, 2025 (0 Comments)

The Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) in North East England, which covers several council areas (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees), has signed a new deal with digital mapping specialists Inakalum to deploy special kit on local bin lorries (refuse collection trucks) to map local 4G and 5G mobile (broadband) coverage.

Vodafone UK Boost 4G Data Allowances on SIM Only Basics Plans

27th June, 2025 (0 Comments)

Mobile network operator Vodafone UK has significantly increased the bundled 4G data allowances (mobile broadband) on several of their SIM Only Basics plans for new customers. For example, the cheapest entry-level package will now give you 21GB (GigaBytes) of data for just £7 per month (up from 6GB).

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Streetwave Test Mobile Data Performance of Jubilee Line Tube Trains UPDATE

27th June, 2025 (6 Comments)

Network analyst firm Streetwave has today shared the results from a recent survey they conducted, which tested the coverage and performance of 4G and 5G mobile (broadband) networks – including EE, Three UK, Vodafone and O2 – while travelling along the entirety of the Jubilee Line (London Underground) from Stratford to Stanmore.

Vodafone UK Tests Photonic Processor to Boost Mobile Network Signals

26th June, 2025 (2 Comments)

Mobile operator Vodafone is working with the Photonics and Radiofrequency Research Lab at the University of Málaga (Spain) to develop a new computer chip design, which can help to direct a wireless mobile signal straight to a user’s smartphone using microwave photonics (i.e. optical beamforming to process, steer, and precisely focus mobile traffic).

Project Reach Launched to Fix Mobile Signal Notspots on UK Rail Network

26th June, 2025 (9 Comments)

The UK Government’s Department for Transport (DfT) has today taken the wrappings off Project Reach, which reflects a public-private partnership that will deploy “ultra fast fibre optic cable” across 1,000 kilometres of major rail lines to help “eliminate mobile signal blackspots” in tunnels on “key rail routes” up and down the country.

Ofcom Launch Improved UK 4G and 5G Mobile Speed and Coverage Checker

26th June, 2025 (17 Comments)

The UK communications and media regulator, Ofcom, has today launched an overhauled mobile network coverage checker, which includes enhancements that are intended to better match people’s real-world experiences, particularly of modern 4G and 5G (mobile broadband) service performance and signal strength.

VodafoneThree Sign Outside UK Office Building in June 2025

Opensignal Compares 4G and 5G Performance of Three UK and Vodafone

25th June, 2025 (13 Comments)

Network benchmarking firm Opensignal has today published an updated study that compares Vodafone and Three UK’s mobile broadband performance in terms of 4G Download Speed and “Excellent Consistent Quality“, which is intended to help provide an indication for how the recently completed merger might impact things.

The Confusing State of 5G and 4G Availability in London vs Birmingham

24th June, 2025 (13 Comments)

A new study from SignalTracker, which operates a popular Android mobile app (but not iOS) for monitoring and examining mobile phone reception, has compared the quality of Vodafone’s 5G between Birmingham and London to find that the former is falling considerably behind. Furthermore, 72% of tests on Vodafone’s flagship 5G plan were actually 4G quality.

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Vodafone Uses Satellites to Help Align Mobile Network Antennas

24th June, 2025 (4 Comments)

One of the problems that UK mobile network operators, like Vodafone (VodafoneThree), often have to contend with is the issue of ensuring that their land-based 4G and 5G (mobile broadband) antennas are precisely positioned in order to deliver the best signal. But satellite guided sensors are now being tested to help change that.

Vodafone Clarifies Plans for Joint Network Roaming with Three UK

22nd June, 2025 (54 Comments)

Mobile operator Vodafone (VodafoneThree) has revealed a little bit more information about how their new “Access to roam” feature will work. This will shortly become one of the first major benefits of their recently completed merger with Three UK (here and here) – allowing 27 million customers to roam across both networks at no extra cost.

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The H1 2025 Top Fastest UK Mobile and Home Broadband ISPs

21st June, 2025 (1 Comment)

ISPreview has today published our latest biannual study of how the United Kingdom’s broadband download and upload speeds have changed across the fastest nationally available fixed line ISPs, mobile network operators and Starlink (satellite) services since the end of 2024. But this time we’ve made some changes to the structure of our top lists.

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Ofcom Set Final Rules for 5G UK Mobile Auction of 26GHz and 40GHz

20th June, 2025 (3 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today set out the final regulations for their plan to auction off a large chunk of millimetre wave (mmW) radio spectrum frequency in the 26GHz and 40GHz bands, which will come into force on 30th June 2025. The spectrum will be used by mobile network operators to deliver faster 5G data (broadband) services.

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Boost for Broadband and Mobile as UK Sets 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy UPDATE

20th June, 2025 (6 Comments)

The UK Government has published its Infrastructure Strategy for the next 10 years – backed by £725bn in long-term funding for maintenance and major projects, which promises to “transform how infrastructure projects are planned and delivered” in order to “deliver stability, investment and national renewal“. And there’s some good news for broadband and mobile networks.