Phone Signal Quality on Trains in Britain
The phone signal on trains across Britain is frequently inadequate for activities such as scrolling through social media or streaming videos, according to the media regulator Ofcom.
Ofcom reported that Vodafone met its standards for "good performance" only 17% of the time. EE was identified as the best-performing network, yet it still achieved these standards just 42% of the time.
Mobile UK, the organisation representing major phone providers, acknowledged the "unique structural and capacity challenges" involved in maintaining strong signal coverage on trains.
Ofcom emphasised the need for mobile networks and local authorities to "step up" efforts to deliver more reliable services nationwide.
Research revealed that some local authorities had rejected over 90% of applications for new or upgraded infrastructure within the past five years.
Mobile UK, representing EE, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, and Three, called on the government to "act now" by implementing planning reforms and increasing investment.
It stated that taxpayers should contribute to funding infrastructure required to address black spots, noting that "commercial rollout alone cannot bridge the gap on the rail network."
Ofcom's threshold for "good performance" was set significantly lower than average 4G speeds; nonetheless, mobile networks failed to meet these criteria most of the time.
Three met the standards 21% of the time, while O2 achieved them 20% of the time.
Ofcom remarked that "for too many people, stepping on board can mean going off grid." The primary issues identified were weak signals from phone masts near train lines and certain carriage types that impede signal transmission.
Testing commissioned by Ofcom covered phone signal quality on 24 track sections across England, Scotland, and Wales.
"Good signal" was defined as a download speed of five megabits per second, an upload speed of 1.5 megabits per second, and a response time of 50 milliseconds.
This benchmark was considered the minimum necessary to support video calls, social media browsing, or video streaming; however, mobile networks failed to consistently achieve it.
Train Wi-Fi performance was notably poor, meeting standards only 1% of the time. Train companies faced criticism for employing outdated technology and excessively throttling internet speeds.
In May, government sources informed the BBC of plans to enhance train Wi-Fi by enabling connections to low-earth orbit satellites in addition to 4G and 5G networks.
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced intentions to invest £57 million in this initiative. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to formally unveil the plans this summer.
Mobile UK highlighted the importance of balancing "the need for major investment with Ofcom's vital role in maintaining low costs for consumers."
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has been contacted for comment.
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