Ofcom has
published (3rd June) research done for them by Streetwave:
New research reveals mobile performance was poor on between 58% and 83% of tests carried out on trains, depending on mobile network
Watchdog calls for mobile companies, local authorities and others to step up as part of national effort to enhance the quality and reliability of mobile service across the country
Mobile networks typically offer a poor-quality service to train passengers, according to new research from the regulator Ofcom, which has today called for a nationwide effort to improve the state of mobile service in the UK▸ .
Ofcom’s research measured mobile performance across 24 segments of key railway lines covering England, Scotland and Wales, making it the most comprehensive dedicated study available on the subject to date. It looked at how often a phone could achieve good performance, defined as minimum download speeds of 5 Mbits per second, upload speeds of at least 1.5 Mbits per second, and a response time of 50 milliseconds or less, which would typically let people make video calls, stream content or scroll social media [1].
The research found that EE met those standards on 42% of the segments of railway lines that were measured, Three on 21%, O2 on 20% and Vodafone on 17%.
The results, which reflect the reality for passengers on lines up and down the country, show that for too many people, stepping on board can mean going off grid.
The research highlights the core problem that mobile signal from masts on the ground often isn’t strong enough around train lines and that some carriage types are difficult for signals to pass through.
On-board Wi-Fi provided by train companies was also measured and performed well just 1% of the time. This was largely due to outdated technology delivering the service, as well as speed caps.
Separately, alongside the research, Ofcom has also today published Connectivity You Can Count On, a report on overhauling the quality of mobile service in UK wherever people live, work or travel.
It looks to build on the merger of Vodafone and Three, which has an important role in driving better outcomes, identifies areas for improvement, and calls for mobile companies, local authorities, big developers, Government and others to take coordinated action.
Today’s report is the latest move by Ofcom to push for better quality mobile service, following its role advising the Competition and Markets Authority on the approval of the merger, and the launch of its own Map Your Mobile coverage checker last year.
They link these results with other work they are doing on improving service quality information, as well as a bit of general arm-twisting about improving services.
There is a full report, which is rather technical, and full of numbers.
Because the report is essentially about the measurements, it does not really address the "who" and "why" questions (though some aspects are assumed). So nothing about
DfT» 's role: since they have directly controlled spending since Covid, and micromanaged it before that, as well as defining service requirements, what we have got is what they asked for. Nor do they pose the question of whether or in what way the MNOs and users think about trains as just a part of the world the networks should serve, or something else, and whether wifi is seen as a fundamental human right or a service to be paid for.
