LONDON: UK government decided and has finalised a landmark deal with four mobile network operators which they will deliver better mobile coverage and put an end to not spots areas where no mobile coverage is available for the whole country. Deal that will include legal requirements to improve poor signal
Whilst there was uproar on one of our most covered stories, the O2 and Three merger and also BT purchasing EE. The UK government was dealing with all the networks and signing a “landmark deal.” Something that will have more to do with your mobile than any merger but it did still cost billions of pounds.
Not Spots
UK culture secretary Sajid Javid announced the deal that will include legal requirements to improve poor signal. This deal also attempts to tackle what he calls “partial not-spots,” or areas of the country that are unable to get any mobile signal at all. Possibly even more important, this deal will address areas where only one network can provide signal, limiting customer choice – something extremely bad for customers.
“For far too long, too many parts of the UK have regularly suffered from poor mobile coverage leaving them unable to make calls or send texts. Now at last we have progress that will give the UK the world-class mobile phone coverage it needs and deserves.” – Sajid Javid, UK Culture secretary
Each network must now provide consistent signal across the whole area they provide service to. If they don’t deliver on signal strength or quality, this legally binding contract means the government’s regulator Ofcom will be able to enforce improvements. All networks will be monitored regularly by Ofcom, and will be expected to meet interim goals by 2016.
