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Ofcom to get powers to fine networks who fail to meet coverage obligations


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Old 17-09-2016, 19:35
Everything Goes
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Ofcom will get powers to fine network operators worth up to 10% of a company’s gross revenue if they fail to meet their coverage obligations. Serial offenders here are are O2 and Vodafone who have been warned in the past for failing to meet coverage obligations. Personally I have my doubts that O2 will meet its coverage obligations for the end of 2017.

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php...-coverage.html

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1937180
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Old 17-09-2016, 23:58
errea
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It'll need to get taken over by 3

Personally I have my doubts that O2 will meet its coverage obligations for the end of 2017.
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Old 18-09-2016, 00:07
pepstar
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EE will meet their coverage commitments, not sure about the others!!!
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Old 18-09-2016, 00:32
aurichie
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The true headline should be:
Ofcom to fine customers if struggling mobile providers fail to meet arbitrary coverage obligations
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Old 18-09-2016, 04:57
Everything Goes
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The true headline should be:
Ofcom to fine customers if struggling mobile providers fail to meet arbitrary coverage obligations
They know the license conditions before they bid for the spectrum. If they can't be bothered to meet the conditions of the licence then they shouldn't bother bidding for it. There is no need for silly excuses like the one that you just posted. Utter nonsense.
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Old 18-09-2016, 04:58
Everything Goes
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It'll need to get taken over by 3
The Three and O2 merger got rejected a few months ago and it's not going to happen.
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Old 18-09-2016, 08:38
Zebb
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The Three and O2 merger got rejected a few months ago and it's not going to happen.
Depends on the outcome of all the legal battles. Ofcom: who watches the watchers? They just make things worse all the time.
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Old 18-09-2016, 09:12
Everything Goes
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Depends on the outcome of all the legal battles. Ofcom: who watches the watchers? They just make things worse all the time.
It's over and there will be no going back. Telefonica are either going to sell O2 or float it. I made thread about this recently.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2178362
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Old 18-09-2016, 09:13
aurichie
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Depends on the outcome of all the legal battles. Ofcom: who watches the watchers? They just make things worse all the time.
Ofcom seem hellbent on helping BT establish a new monopoly this time over mobile. They are certainly not doing anything to help stimulate competition and private investment.

The owners of three want out.
The owners of o2 want out.
And Vodafone is in such a mess they almost don't matter.
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Old 18-09-2016, 12:32
aurichie
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This is a silly comment which seems to be a form of abuse handed out to posters to shame them because the person posting doesn't agree with the views posted.

This is a discussion forum not an EE shrine
Yeah I know EE has plenty of fans on here because I was one of them. I loved EE before the BT deal. Great service, brilliant speeds, and very reliable. BT are generally the enemy of the consumer. I can't have anything to do with the EE brand anymore.
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Old 18-09-2016, 13:13
Thine Wonk
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Am I correct in saying that all 3G networks now comply with coverage obligations and that the only 4G licence with coverage obligation went to O2?

Ofcom really screwed up (again) there by not putting in coverage obligations for all licences to make best use of spectrum.
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Old 18-09-2016, 15:48
Stereo Steve
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Are they going to base this on actual performance or just a coverage map? O2 has loads of 3G900 in the South Hams in Devon but it doesn't work. At all. You get a signal but everything times out. They have just put panels on masts connected to what? A carrier pigeon? VOD appear to be following their lead, obviously 5 years behind. I suspect that will be equally crap.
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Old 18-09-2016, 16:57
Everything Goes
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Am I correct in saying that all 3G networks now comply with coverage obligations and that the only 4G licence with coverage obligation went to O2?

Ofcom really screwed up (again) there by not putting in coverage obligations for all licences to make best use of spectrum.
It's not even a 4G coverage obligation. Simply a speed obligation of not less than 2 Mbps when that network is lightly loaded. They can use whatever technology they want 3G would be fine. O2 bought 800MHz lot that came with these terms and conditions.

a) The Licensee shall by no later than 31 December 2017 provide, and thereafter maintain, an electronic communications network that is capable of providing, with 90% confidence, a mobile telecommunications service with a sustained downlink speed of not less than 2 Mbps when that network is lightly loaded, to users

users:
(i) in an area within which at least:
a. 98% of the population of the United Kingdom lives, and
b. 95% of the population of each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland lives; and
(ii) at indoor locations that meet the condition specified in paragraph 6(b)(ii) of this Schedule, which are within any residential premises within the area specified in paragraph 6(a)(i).

(b) For the purposes of paragraph 6(a)(ii) of this Schedule:
(i) the service must be provided using radio equipment which is not situated inside the relevant residential premises;
(ii) the condition referred to is that the radio signal propagation loss from the outside of the building to the location inside the building does not exceed:
a. 13.2dB for radio signals in the frequency ranges 791MHz – 821MHz and 832MHz – 862MHz;
b. 13.7dB for radio signals in the frequency ranges 880MHz – 915MHz and 925MHz – 960MHz;
c. 16.5dB for radio signals in the frequency ranges 1710MHz – 1785MHz and 1805MHz – 1880MHz;
d. 17.0dB for radio signals in the frequency ranges 1900MHz – 1980MHz and 2110MHz – 2170MHz;
e. 17.9dB for radio signals in the frequency range 2500MHz – 2690MHz;
f. Any other propagation loss notified to the Licensee by Ofcom in respect of radio signals in any other frequency band.”

1.4 Below we summarise our approach to monitor and verify compliance with this obligation based on a service provided using current LTE technology, noting that the obligation holder may use any of its portfolio of licensed mobile spectrum in order to meet the obligation. However, it will also be open to the obligation holder to meet the obligation with alternative mobile broadband technologies if they wish to.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin...rification.pdf
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Old 18-09-2016, 20:43
jonmorris
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EE is probably so safe it could stop doing anything tomorrow and still be fine.

The concern, of course, is that BT starts to make it ridiculously expensive and introduces the multi tier operation we now see with the three plans on EE (20Mbps cap, 60Mbps cap, unlimited) and forcing you to take BT sport. Perhaps there will also be further increases but BT will offer discounted home broadband or landline calling.

Three will either seek to give up (sell up) or actually carry on and bid for more spectrum. My belief is that Three is going to continue and there could be announcements in the near future on plans, including the complete roll out of VoLTE (i.e. 1800) and - hopefully - reprioritising 800 4G over 2100 3G - but of course, that needs many more sites to have 800.

Currently EE has exemplary 4G coverage in many places that disappears (falls to 3G) the minute you step indoors. 800 for EE is essential going forward, including Three, but Ofcom isn't likely to even consider indoor 4G coverage as being important sadly - as long as there's 3G or 2G.
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Old 18-09-2016, 21:08
binary
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Ofcom seem hellbent on helping BT establish a new monopoly this time over mobile. They are certainly not doing anything to help stimulate competition and private investment.

The owners of three want out.
The owners of o2 want out.
And Vodafone is in such a mess they almost don't matter.
That last line is just utter nonsense.
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Old 18-09-2016, 23:05
CheshireBumpkin
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Are they going to base this on actual performance or just a coverage map? O2 has loads of 3G900 in the South Hams in Devon but it doesn't work. At all. You get a signal but everything times out. They have just put panels on masts connected to what? A carrier pigeon? VOD appear to be following their lead, obviously 5 years behind. I suspect that will be equally crap.
Yes, this is one of my bug-bears, and it includes EE around here.

I also find it ridiculous that the Ofcom map is pretty much based upon the coverage details provided directly from the networks, so is as fantastical and unrealistic as their own maps. There is the facility for users to 'feed back' their experience, but I've never seen any reflection of this on the map.
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Old 19-09-2016, 09:28
packages
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EE is probably so safe it could stop doing anything tomorrow and still be fine.

The concern, of course, is that BT starts to make it ridiculously expensive and introduces the multi tier operation we now see with the three plans on EE (20Mbps cap, 60Mbps cap, unlimited) and forcing you to take BT sport. Perhaps there will also be further increases but BT will offer discounted home broadband or landline calling.

Three will either seek to give up (sell up) or actually carry on and bid for more spectrum. My belief is that Three is going to continue and there could be announcements in the near future on plans, including the complete roll out of VoLTE (i.e. 1800) and - hopefully - reprioritising 800 4G over 2100 3G - but of course, that needs many more sites to have 800.

Currently EE has exemplary 4G coverage in many places that disappears (falls to 3G) the minute you step indoors. 800 for EE is essential going forward, including Three, but Ofcom isn't likely to even consider indoor 4G coverage as being important sadly - as long as there's 3G or 2G.
What do you think the hold up is for EE not turning up the power on 800?
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Old 19-09-2016, 10:21
de525ma
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What do you think the hold up is for EE not turning up the power on 800?
Poor VoLTE support. 800 goes a lot further 1800, meaning lots of customers would have data coverage but no voice, which would be confusing and lead to a lot of complaints.
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Old 19-09-2016, 10:27
jonmorris
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What do you think the hold up is for EE not turning up the power on 800?
I am not sure what the reason is. I was told that 800 coverage isn't as widespread yet as people might think, so maybe there's a hold up there?

Remember, 800 on EE will be set at a higher priority than 3G. That will mean that once launched, a lot of people will come off 3G and go to 4G - which means it has to offer a decent experience or many will wonder why they're getting slower speeds in a lot of places than they did before.

Just like EE doesn't announce a town is covered with 4G until at least 85% (ISTR) is, and VoLTE was a slow and very quiet roll out, I assume it is doing a lot of testing and isn't satisfied with where things are right now.

Look at how poor 800 is on Three, even if the coverage maps would imply coverage of nearly the whole country!
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Old 19-09-2016, 10:45
packages
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Poor VoLTE support. 800 goes a lot further 1800, meaning lots of customers would have data coverage but no voice, which would be confusing and lead to a lot of complaints.
It's going to be restricted to 4G Calling devices only so that can't be the reason.
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Old 19-09-2016, 11:24
jonmorris
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It's going to be restricted to 4G Calling devices only so that can't be the reason.
At the moment the live sites are low power because anyone can use them. That will change, but perhaps some testing issues are forcing a delay.
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Old 19-09-2016, 11:40
de525ma
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It's going to be restricted to 4G Calling devices only so that can't be the reason.
Do you have a source on that?
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Old 19-09-2016, 11:53
jonmorris
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Do you have a source on that?
For 800 to do what EE wants it to do, it will have to be restricted to VoLTE devices OR they'll need to cut down the power - which would then make it pretty pointless as EE has quite a lot of spectrum and doesn't need 800 for no discernible benefit.
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Old 19-09-2016, 12:08
Stereo Steve
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Presumably it will be along the same lines as Supervoice and be handset specific. Anything else would be silly. They have enough masts and spectrum to make VO2 2G900 look like a poor relation. But only if they restrict it to VoLTE phones so they can crank it up.
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Old 19-09-2016, 12:29
jonmorris
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But I've been told that it isn't on as many sites as some think - yet. Not sure if that is simply a lack of the 800 antennas, a software issue or whatever.

I think you'd want 800 on almost all sites if you're trying to improve indoor coverage, and if 800 is going to mean users get 4G instead of 3G when indoors, there needs to be sufficient capacity or it's all going to look terrible.

It stands to reason that once you're left with shed loads of 2100MHz 3G unused, you begin refarming that for 4G too.

Then the coverage, capacity and speed will be unbelievably good.

My fear is by the time that happens, you'll need the new BT Sport Broadband Max Plus Plan to benefit. All other plans will be capped at 2Mbps.
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