LARGE areas of Oxford are blighted by a weak mobile phone signal and ‘dead-spots’, according to data provided by Ofcom, the Government’s telecoms regulator.
The data covers predicted ‘indoor’ phone signal based on EE, O2, Vodafone and Three coverage maps and actual measurements across the country.
Large areas of the city are covered only by ‘possible’ mobile coverage with EE and Three both having gaps in north Oxford receiving no signal at all.
Some of the most badly affected areas include Kidlington West, Wolvercote and St Mary’s wards.
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In Summertown, 55 per cent of postcodes covered by EE ‘may experience difficulties’ when trying to make calls, falling to 48 per cent when using data services - and 10 per cent should not expect a 4G signal at all. Users of the Three network also struggled, with 11 per cent of postcodes in the same area having no voice signal and 28 per cent only have ‘possible’ coverage.
Stuart McMillan, a manager at Thirty Eight restaurant in Summertown, said: “The network service is awful - on Vodafone I get one bar.
"Some customers complain a bit because they have to go outside to make a call but it just depends what network they’re on.”
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Areas with the strongest signal include Cowley, Carfax and Headington Hill with most postcodes receiving ‘Good’ signal for both voice and data. Earlier this week, more than 40 MPs from the All-Party Parliamentary Committee on Rural Business wrote to Ofcom to highlight the need for greater 4G coverage.
The Country, Land and Business Association represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses and runs the #4GForAll campaign.
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CLA deputy president Mark Bridgeman said: “Ofcom have made great strides in this area and it would be a shame if they did not take the simple step to give themselves the tools to publicly keep mobile operators to their word on expanding rural 4G coverage and ending the ‘digital wilderness’.”
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