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O2 and Vodafone to miss their own 98% 4G coverage target for 2015
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O2 and Vodafone are set to miss their own 98% 4G coverage target for 2015. Ofcom will not be to worried yet....
http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2015/08/o2-and-vodafone-uk-to-miss-98-percent-uk-4g-coverage-target-for-2015.html
The news is hardly surprising, not least because the operator with the most advanced deployment of 4G (plus nearly one year’s head-start on their rivals), EE, has already missed its original goal of putting the service within reach of 98% by the end of 2014. In fact EE only hit 90% last month and they might finally get close to 98% by the end of this year.
At the same time the most recent results from Vodafone reported that the operator had so far only managed to achieve a 4G outdoor population coverage of 68% (here), which is likely to be mirrored by O2 UK due to the presence of a network sharing deal (here). But Mobile News reports that indoor reception is even further behind at around 63%.
A Vodafone Spokesperson said:
“We recognise the importance of mobile connectivity which is why we spent more than £1 billion last year on our network across the country and will spend a similar amount this year. However, we are also very aware that in certain areas of the UK it may be more difficult to deliver the level of coverage our customers expect. This could be due to a number of reasons, such as the geography of the area and difficulties in finding sites following discussions with potential landlords.”
At this point it’s worth noting that O2 holds the official 4G coverage obligation lot for the 800MHz radio spectrum band (details), although they need not worrying because in reality Ofcom’s requirements for this are pretty weak.
For example the rule demands, “with 90% confidence“, that O2 be able to deliver “a sustained downlink speed of not less than 2Mbps when that network is lightly loaded” and bizarrely this can also be met by using “alternative mobile broadband technologies if they wish to” (it sounds as if they could probably use 3G to deliver the 4G obligation in some areas).
Since then mobile operators have also agreed with the government to improve their landmass (geographic) coverage (here) too, which will see voice and text (2G) coverage being boosted from 80% today to 90% by 2017 and 3G (data) coverage being pushed from 69% to 85% over the same period. Doing this is harder than the population goal, so the 2017 date sounds realistic.
http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2015/08/o2-and-vodafone-uk-to-miss-98-percent-uk-4g-coverage-target-for-2015.html
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Vodafone and EE are openly trialling small cell technology, its through this they will be able to scale coverage quickly. The only issue for Vodafone is they are loathe to use Openreach if they can avoid it. Now seeing as BT is buying EE I wonder if Openreach will follow suit in respect of Virgin Media?
98% coverage was always pie in the sky, if EE couldn't do it (and they have worked very fast), then neither could Vodafone or O2. The way the whole 4G upgrades is being handled borders on stupidity. There is Vodafone who doesn't want to use BT but its own fibre network. Then you have O2 who will gladly suck on the teet of any willing provider, Three is much the same. EE again has worked with BT and Virgin, along side a pending partnership with Hyperoptic (I think?).
Why is it so hard to agree on a package which benefits everyone but also having the potential to remove obstacles thus speeding up rollout?
Competition is increasing slowly, however I doubt EE have anything to worry about for the forseeablye future.
It appears that VF have to wait for the fibre to reach an area before they can set about doing any site. This must be slowing them down loads.
For example, the M18: I must have been on GPRS for 85% of the time I was on that motorway before I went onto the A1.
Even Vodafone are better which begs the question: is this network sharing agreement actually happening or is it all just talk as I have seen very little evidence of O2 coverage improving.
There is for 4G, but I get the impression that areas that don't have 4G aren't having any upgrade until 4G arrives.
Out of the eight shared 'proper' towers I currently have entered into my database and have visited:
Three are identical to Vodafone, having 2G/3G/4G (Shalford, Horsham road, Spectrum Athletics)
Two have O2 2G/4G, with Vodafone additionally having 3G (Elstead, Thursley)
Three Have Vodafone 2G/(3G)/4G and only O2 GPRS. (Midhurst UHF, Chalton, Gomshall) Also, Bramshott appears to be Vodafone all, O2 2G only. O2 is the South downs is basically 2G only, with EE and 3 primarily being 3G and Vodafone seering away with 4G in really quite a lot of places now.