Mobile Signal Issues Impact Tenby Residents and Visitors
Tenby, one of Wales' most frequented seaside towns attracting thousands of tourists annually, is facing significant challenges due to poor mobile phone signal quality. This issue is causing frustration among both locals and visitors.
The town's postcode was identified by consumer group Which? as having the worst mobile network quality in the UK for 2025. The situation worsened following the decommissioning of a local phone mast earlier this year, which has affected customers of O2, Vodafone, and Three.
"When you're in the town you might put your phone in front of the door to keep it open because that's all it's good for,"said Steven Roberts, a local taxi driver who has worked in the area for three years. Steven described Tenby as a signal "dead zone," noting the impact on his ability to receive bookings and process payments.
Steven demonstrated the poor signal by driving into Tenby's town centre. While in the car, he received a booking via Facebook but explained he would be unable to respond until leaving the town centre.
"Luckily it's one of my regulars so they know the issue,"he said, expressing concern that new customers might not be as understanding.
"They'd probably think 'oh he hasn't responded, I'll go somewhere else'."
He also highlighted difficulties in accepting card payments due to the unreliable signal.
"You can be there for 10 minutes trying to get a signal and then that delays you for your next call. I've started putting posts on social media saying it's cash only."
Steven acknowledged the challenges this poses, as not all customers carry cash or bank cards to withdraw money.
"It's a case of gritting your teeth, asking them nicely if they don't mind taking cash out, then you've got to wait for them to get to the cash machine and that knocks on your next call. It's like you're swimming against the current."
He urged mobile network providers to address the issue, especially during peak summer periods when Tenby's population can exceed 50,000.
"We pay enough money for our mobile contracts but they're not upholding their side of the deal."
Local Businesses Affected by Poor Connectivity
Guy Manning, owner of an art shop in Tenby, also described the situation as frustrating for businesses.
"People don't understand" how difficult it is, he said. "It's difficult for me because people don't always want to get cash. It can be difficult to take card payments because of the bad signal,"adding that he had "definitely" lost customers due to these problems.
"People are on holiday, they've got family with them, and they've got an itinerary in their head. So they think 'well we'll come back' but they don't always do that. Or they ask 'have you got a website?', and you know then they're not going to come back."
Visitor Experiences Highlight Signal Challenges
According to 2024 research from Visit Pembrokeshire, nearly six million people visit the county annually, with Tenby being a top destination.
Paul Wiston, visiting from Cheshire, expressed concerns about returning due to the signal issues.
"I'm self-employed so there's nothing worse when people can't get in touch with you,"he told the BBC.
"I can't even get the weather forecast up - it's frustrating. I mean it's a lovely place but just terrible signal. We walked home last night because we couldn't call a taxi."
Joe and Martin Harrison, visitors from Birmingham, said they brought extra cash anticipating the signal problems.
"It is a bit frustrating when people need to contact you and you haven't got access to the phone, but I wouldn't say that it affects us that much."
Ralph Dunne, visiting from Rotherham with his wife, commented on the limited usability of the signal.
"We've got a little bit of signal but nothing you can actually do anything with. We haven't used our phones or the internet the whole time we've been here."
Some visitors found the lack of signal to be a positive aspect of their stay.
"We're only away for a few days anyway so I tend not to use my phone so much for some peace and quiet,"said Lynne Cornish from the Rhondda Valley.
"We've come here to get away from all that so it's not too bad,"added Frankie Bennet from London, who was on holiday with her partner.
Network Providers Respond and Plan Improvements
Which? reported that mobile users in Tenby experience a good connection only 54.3% of the time, the lowest in the UK.
An O2 spokesperson acknowledged the issue and apologized for the inconvenience.
"We're aware of the signal issues in Tenby and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. This is due to a local mast in the area being decommissioned. Our infrastructure partner, Vodafone, who manages the site, is working as quickly as possible to locate and install a replacement. Other masts in the area have been optimised to help minimise disruption."
A spokesperson for Vodafone and Three also expressed regret for the service issues.
"We're sorry to Vodafone and Three UK customers in the Tenby area who are experiencing issues with their service. We are working with our infrastructure partner on a longer-term solution and are exploring temporary options to help restore coverage as quickly as possible."
EE, which was not involved in the mast decommissioning, stated it is actively seeking ways to improve connectivity in Tenby and the surrounding area, including upgrading an existing mast site in Penally.
