Mobile Connectivity Data for Worcestershire

Mobile Connectivity Data for Worcestershire

It has been revealed that mobile connectivity across Worcestershire is significantly worse than previously reported. Find out more here.

Find out more about the issues with mobile connectivity in Worcestershire, the data we found, what we are doing about the issues and how you can contribute to our survey.

What is the issue

Mobile connectivity across Worcestershire, the wider region, and the UK, is significantly worse than we are lead to believe by both OFCOM and the mobile operators.

Research has been gathered using the UK’s largest street-level mobile data collection survey, and shows that mobile coverage in Worcestershire is over 1,000 times worse than Ofcom and mobile operator data suggests.

The research is supported by the River Severn Partnership’s Advanced Wireless Innovation Regional Funding. It involved measuring signal strength and performance across all major networks (EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three) and all generations of mobile connectivity (2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G).

Data was collected by Streetwave mobile network performance mapping specialists, using the County’s waste collection lorries. The lorries were fitted with advanced signal tracking technology, which ensured a high level of accuracy.

Official Ofcom data states that only 0.01% of Worcestershire postcodes lack access to a usable mobile signal. However, real-world measurements from the survey found that 10.03% of postcodes have no usable signal.

The switch-off of 3G networks has worsened the situation, particularly in rural areas where 3G provided better coverage over long distances. Many older mobile devices can no longer be used, forcing users to upgrade, but poor 4G and 5G signal strength means even new devices struggle to connect reliably.

Poor mobile coverage is having a major economic impact, with the county losing an estimated £226 million per year due to lost productivity and communication failures, with the national figure as much as £29.8 billion.

Residents and businesses are regularly reporting dropped calls, poor signal strength, and unreliable data connections, particularly in rural areas but also in town centres.

Find out more about how we collected the data here: County Council on a mission to improve mobile connectivity across Worcestershire

More of our findings and what we plan to do with the data can be found in the video below of media briefing from Councillor Adam Kent, our Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Skills, on 14 March:

What we are doing about the issue

To address the mobile connectivity issue, we are:

  • empowering people to make the best decisions now by providing the facts through the Mobile Coverage Checker
  • encouraging local residents and business' to ‘report’ their issues in Worcestershire by completing our: Mobile Connectivity Problems Survey
  • lobbying Ofcom, MNOs and Government to improve data accuracy now and actual coverage as soon as possible
  • supporting the ecosystem – working with planners, making best use of our sites and assets, engaging with the industry
  • the wider River Severn Partnership is rallying MP support, locally and nationally, to address the local and national issue in parliament

Contribute to our survey

To contribute to the survey, use the link below:

Contribute to the survey

Check coverage in your area

You can check coverage in your area based on the data collected here: Mobile Coverage Checker

You can compare with the coverage checkers below to make an informed decision on what provider is best for your needs:

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