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Vodafone and O2 4G experience thread


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Old 15-01-2016, 23:14
lightspeed2398
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Just noticed that Vodafone Deutschland have lowered their PAYG prices. 750mb for a month for £7.50, from what I know of the German market that's actually quite cheap so I wonder if we'll see a push on the British side to get an increased PAYG market share. If 3o2 were to merge we would see Vodafone UK in a similar situation to Vodafone DE so I wonder if in one way at least the 3o2 thing would shake up the market.
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Old 15-01-2016, 23:16
Pedro_C
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On the A281 in Surrey, there was a Vodafone mast doing 900/900/2100 and an O2 mast 600 Metres south doing 900/900.

Now the North, prev Voda, one carries 900/900/2100/800 for both
South, prev O2, now 900/900/800 for both.

The bit between the two mast frequently hits the 800MHz speed max. Aside from that having both masts is very advantageous because Voda/O2 are determined to not touch any masts in Godalming town so having a big tower (the prev O2 one) is critical for coverage.
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Old 16-01-2016, 09:53
mrgs12
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Vodafone have planning permission to 4G my local mast, and today was the day, according to their website, that there'd be "disruption to calls, texts and data from 8am to 10pm" - so all day. So, a big upgrade. Was very excited, surely, this is it!

Nothing happened.
The parish council asked for an update in my area for a proposed upgrade to a Vodafone 2G mast to become 4G O2 etc since 18 months had passed, they were told the mast is no longer required so it's stays 2G only. So clearly were not in the 98% Coverage obligation.
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Old 16-01-2016, 10:02
mobilecentre
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I suppose it's possible that a leased line for a cell site, and fibre for BT's broadband network might need to go through the same ducts but I wouldn't count on it being down to this. Often the delay for BT's rollout is down to something else, like not being able to put a cabinet where they want to, or arranging a power supply for the equipment inside (I know of one place where the cabinet was installed, but it didn't get powered up for the entire year I lived in the area)

I live in an area which even has BT fibre to the premises for some people in the middle of nowhere, but there's no Vodafone 4G upgrade yet - we don't even have proper Vodafone 3G (it exists, sort of, but there is very poor performance which would probably be due to poor backhaul)
These areas do not have any cabinets at all enabled - so my thought was that maybe the exchange itself needed a better link before fibre could be rolled out which in turn meant fibre to the mast would have to wait until the exchange was "enabled" if that is the right term to use!
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Old 16-01-2016, 10:04
mobilecentre
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VOD have PLANNED more coverage in Torquay. In the next 3 months. That's like March or so. I fully expect to see it go unplanned about Feb time. Jokers.

Just get it done VOD. Stop pissing about and turn some stuff on. Idiots.
Locally to me the pattern seemed to be put in a planning app and at the same time update the map as planned. Then remove the planned coverage irrespective of if the application was granted or not.

Maybe planning put it on then engineering who do the work take it back off as they know it will be a years till they actually do it!
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Old 16-01-2016, 10:14
mobilecentre
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Vodafone have put quite a lot of new planned coverage for south Staffordshire, Shropshire and around Worcester, a few areas in these parts dissappear and then reappear a week later, battlefield areas of Shrewsbury is one that's been doing this since October, it's annoying but at least we can see where there looking to add service, something O2 don't do.
My issues with the roll out so far is they seem to be actively avoiding main centre of town masts and doing edge of town masts instead, which leaves patchy coverage in the centres and back on legacy masts..
Stafford,Penkridge,Eccleshall,market Drayton, Telford, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent just to name a few off the top of my head.
Also in these parts, virtual no O2 masts are being touched for some reason.
Redditch for example is finally getting the centre fully 4G'd up in the next few weeks after starting a year or more ago, but around none of the others such as Evesham, Alcester, Pershore, Stratford upon Avon, Tewksbury have nothing apart from rural masts serving the fringes with the main "town" masts left.

Another poster on here is Northants way where places like Stamford, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough and so it is the same rural masts only
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Old 16-01-2016, 10:51
jaffboy151
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I'd like to think these main masts are not online yet due to the complex task of getting backhaul up to them, which can't be easy because of some of there locations, but Vodafone put some applications around here in at the end of 2013 I think, should be enough time to get at least a few upgraded by now.
Ive also seen plenty of streetwork notices on roadworks.org throughout last year which suggest work going on to put fibre into a number of centre masts including 1 in Telford, 1 in Staffordshire, 2 in Newcastle-under-Lyme I can think of, yet no upgrade or switch on.
I understand the argument for not wanting these big masts swamped with users but thishappens to the edge of town masts just the same.
There's about 2 dozen masts I've got my eye on to see any movement on this front this year from cornerstone, some 2g only and some 3g
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Old 16-01-2016, 10:57
jaffboy151
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The parish council asked for an update in my area for a proposed upgrade to a Vodafone 2G mast to become 4G O2 etc since 18 months had passed, they were told the mast is no longer required so it's stays 2G only. So clearly were not in the 98% Coverage obligation.
Bit concerning that..
My nearest 3 rural masts has only 1 with a planning application in, due to geographical reasons only 1 really effects me and that's the one with an app to upgrade, but if the other 2 were left 2g only there would be a sizable area of no data still.
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Old 16-01-2016, 11:06
mobilecentre
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I'd like to think these main masts are not online yet due to the complex task of getting backhaul up to them, which can't be easy because of some of there locations, but Vodafone put some applications around here in at the end of 2013 I think, should be enough time to get at least a few upgraded by now.
Ive also seen plenty of streetwork notices on roadworks.org throughout last year which suggest work going on to put fibre into a number of centre masts including 1 in Telford, 1 in Staffordshire, 2 in Newcastle-under-Lyme I can think of, yet no upgrade or switch on.
I understand the argument for not wanting these big masts swamped with users but thishappens to the edge of town masts just the same.
There's about 2 dozen masts I've got my eye on to see any movement on this front this year from cornerstone, some 2g only and some 3g
Pretty much the same here
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Old 16-01-2016, 11:45
clewsy
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Maybe one to watch but I wonder if Tesco Mobile is due to be sold? My local Tesco has stripped all the display of Tesco Mobile and now selling off all the old stock they have.

Seems a bit fishy to me. I could be barking up the wrong tree, but seems to have happened the week BT are taking over EE. Maybe Sky or O2 are going to purchase the customer base?
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Old 16-01-2016, 12:49
mrgs12
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Bit concerning that..
My nearest 3 rural masts has only 1 with a planning application in, due to geographical reasons only 1 really effects me and that's the one with an app to upgrade, but if the other 2 were left 2g only there would be a sizable area of no data still.
Probably down to money I suspect same as others no profit in coverage to one A road and 4 to 5000 population and major objections in the past .
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Old 16-01-2016, 12:55
M1kos
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The VOD/O2 masts on BT exchanges often in the middle of towns have only recently began upgrading probably due to having to sort out the lease issues of amalgamating the two providers essentially into one. About five around me have had new gear installed recently and three of them are now live 4G
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Old 16-01-2016, 13:31
InfamousTeal
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I suppose it depends on just how distant the two masts in question are. If they're both serving Limavady town with some element of overlap but otherwise different areas, then both sites could end up being upgraded. However if the coverage is largely similar then I doubt both will be upgraded.

Where I live, the distance between the original O2 2G mast and the Vodafone 2G mast is nearly 2km. The O2 mast was upgraded for CTIL use and in service from early March 2015 giving additional 3G & 4G coverage for both O2 & Vodafone. The Vodafone 2G mast OTOH was also having a planning application submitted for CTIL upgrade but had its application withdrawn in January 2015 not because they said 3G & 4G coverage was adequate, but that the application was likely to be refused. At the same time a new PP application was made to replace the Vodafone mast with one further back from houses but also taller than the current one. This got passed, while the time difference between that new submission and the O2 site getting sorted was around 6 weeks, so I'd be confident that they submitted this application for the Vodafone site while preparations were being made to upgrade the O2 mast. At present however the current Vodafone mast is still standing - I don't know wherever they will replace it with the new pole but the main advantage the Vodafone site has compared to O2's is that it is right next door to the local telephone exchange, making getting the mast fibred up a heck of a lot easier!

Anyway, enough of that. If the Vodafone mast is selected to be upgraded for integration into CTIL first, then the 2G signal will go down while the upgrade is taking place (likely involving new antennas being installed as well as feeders, cabinets, equipment and so on) while the 2G signal from the O2 mast will continue as normal. When the upgrade on the Vodafone mast is completed, the 3G and 4G base stations will be brought online by the respective networks in due course - they might come on at the same time, one might switch on 3G before 4G etc. And Vodafone's 2G will come back, more than likely EDGE enabled if it was not beforehand. However the O2 2G signal will likely not come the Vodafone mast, instead it will remain at the present O2 mast for the time being at least. Maybe at a later date O2 2G will be decommissioned from the current site and then come from the Vodafone site. Presently where I am, O2 2G, 3G & 4G come from the 'O2' site, Vodafone 3G & 4G come from the 'O2' site but Vodafone 2G remains, GPRS & all, from the 'Vodafone' site.

My opinion is at the moment that if you're on either Vodafone or O2 with just a 2G phone, it could be well worthwhile to get a new phone that includes 3G (one that covers 3G 900MHz in particular as well as 2100MHz, though nearly all new ones do now anyway) as in some places where one network might have been weak or non-existent on 2G may now have improved coverage through 3G as its coming from the site of the other operator whose 2G coverage beforehand was the better of the two. In my local case, customers on Vodafone whose 2G service was iffy/weak whereas the O2 2G service was better can now get an improved service on Vodafone provided that they have a handset capable of 3G in the 900MHz band.
Thanks Redcoat, never even considered one not having 2G. Still don't actually know which mast they're planning to 4G, both have benefits.

Voda one is further away from the town, but a lot higher up (25m), so much better coverage generally. O2 is close to the town, but lower down (13m) and near trees.

I just hope whatever they're doing, they do it soon, poor Limavady town is surrounded by 4G on the coverage checker, just none in the town
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Old 16-01-2016, 15:51
Skippy2005
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FaceTime is just data, if you have included data it would be in that data.
Thanks just thought I'd double check.
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Old 16-01-2016, 15:54
Skippy2005
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The VOD/O2 masts on BT exchanges often in the middle of towns have only recently began upgrading probably due to having to sort out the lease issues of amalgamating the two providers essentially into one. About five around me have had new gear installed recently and three of them are now live 4G
Ours was done in August, what a difference it's made too, only two more legacy ones around Wakefield centre to do as far as I'm aware and its completed. None have 2.6ghz live but doesn't mean it's installed I suppose.
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Old 16-01-2016, 15:56
Skippy2005
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Maybe one to watch but I wonder if Tesco Mobile is due to be sold? My local Tesco has stripped all the display of Tesco Mobile and now selling off all the old stock they have.

Seems a bit fishy to me. I could be barking up the wrong tree, but seems to have happened the week BT are taking over EE. Maybe Sky or O2 are going to purchase the customer base?
I doubt o2 will buy the customer base as this will increase market share even further, this will probably be a bad move for the 3/o2 merger.
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Old 16-01-2016, 15:58
Thine Wonk
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Maybe one to watch but I wonder if Tesco Mobile is due to be sold? My local Tesco has stripped all the display of Tesco Mobile and now selling off all the old stock they have.

Seems a bit fishy to me. I could be barking up the wrong tree, but seems to have happened the week BT are taking over EE. Maybe Sky or O2 are going to purchase the customer base?
I think they are hatching a plan with Hutch if it goes through, as part of the closed doors negotiation to get the deal to go through. I know Tesco are keen to sell and as I mentioned before, things like this and others are more likely to get the sale approved.

If they sold to Virgin then it would be win win all around.
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Old 16-01-2016, 17:27
Pedro_C
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So I get a text from vodafone acknowledging the issue at my postcode and to check the status checker for updates. Status checker still says no problems. The mast is very clearly off for all frequencies and technologies.
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Old 16-01-2016, 17:31
Thine Wonk
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So I get a text from vodafone acknowledging the issue at my postcode and to check the status checker for updates. Status checker still says no problems. The mast is very clearly off for all frequencies and technologies.
Happens on all networks, they did text you which is good, often the coverage maps aren't synced well on all, however Vodafone have a forum with a list of postcodes and outages which they post updates on, I'd recommend looking there.

Local site issues seem to crop up for all users from time to time. Do Vodafone have a wifi calling app to use in this eventuality so that you can still gets texts / text back and receive calls?
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Old 16-01-2016, 17:57
beans0ntoast
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Redditch for example is finally getting the centre fully 4G'd up in the next few weeks after starting a year or more ago, but around none of the others such as Evesham, Alcester, Pershore, Stratford upon Avon, Tewksbury have nothing apart from rural masts serving the fringes with the main "town" masts left.

Another poster on here is Northants way where places like Stamford, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough and so it is the same rural masts only
I can comment that Rushden has been quite a strange one though. The main Vodafone mast in the center of Rushden, which used to be Voda 2G/3G, is now CTIL 2G900/3G900+2100/4G800. More recently, some of the more rural masts have been upgraded, for example, the O2 mast near Waitrose/Fayre & Square/Lidl etc used to be 2G900 only (I think?), now it is CTIL 2G900/3G900/3G2100/4G800. The O2 mast by the railway track, near the A45 junction in Irchester was 2G only, now it is 2G900/3G900/4G800. So things are improving.
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Old 16-01-2016, 18:03
InfamousTeal
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Happens on all networks, they did text you which is good, often the coverage maps aren't synced well on all, however Vodafone have a forum with a list of postcodes and outages which they post updates on, I'd recommend looking there.

Local site issues seem to crop up for all users from time to time. Do Vodafone have a wifi calling app to use in this eventuality so that you can still gets texts / text back and receive calls?
Could you please link to that? Can't seem to find it.
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Old 16-01-2016, 18:05
Gigabit
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Could you please link to that? Can't seem to find it.
Would also like a link please
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Old 16-01-2016, 18:54
Thine Wonk
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Could you please link to that? Can't seem to find it.
Would also like a link please
Was referring to this

https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Netw...p/usingnetwork

I admit though it's not quite as I remember it, I'm sure there used to be more to it than that and updates on some of the faults.
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Old 16-01-2016, 19:08
Pedro_C
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I'll probably ask on there.
The only reason I got a text was because I made it very clear to 191 that I'd seen tens of devices were affected and there was total loss of service.
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Old 16-01-2016, 19:09
lightspeed2398
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Looking on that forum I got reminded of one of the sagas from a few weeks ago. On this one https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Netw...S/td-p/2464715 I got the very distinct impression on the second post the the "Community Champion" was a Vodafone employee until I read his signature.
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