It's Ofcom's job to keep those cheeky mobile networks in line, and it's released maps of the nation's 3G coverage to show how they're living up to their 3G commitments.
You couldn't use it to find out if you're house is covered -- unless you live in the Highlands, where you're pretty much screwed from every direction -- but it's interesting to see how the different networks stack up.
Keep in mind that this only shows 3G coverage, so you could still make 2G voice and data calls from inside the blank spots. And it doesn't show the quality of the coverage, and you might get better data speeds from different networks in the same area. Also, there are some simplifications -- Ofcom assumed that all trees and buildings are 10m tall, for example, and that you're calling from outdoors.
Ofcom says it's now going to work on getting coverage to the places that aren't getting any 3G love, such as rural areas.
If you want to drill down to your postcode, check out the coverage maps on the networks' own Web sites: Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2, and 3.
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Anonymous 13 February, 2011 13:40
As always with the Uk we pay for things that the networks can't delivery as their are more concerned with profits I have had apple iPhone 3GS since their came out factory unlocked my south African and Turkish sims fly in America it's fantastic but the Uk is crap due to networks I have tryed vodaphone and o2 which I think gives the iPhone a bad name the only network that comes any where close is 3 I run my iPad and iPhone on this network not bad but still behind a lot of countries due to the fact network infrastructure is still poor hope 4g sorts this out
anonymous 16 February, 2012 21:05
Who's great idea was it to put writing over those maps! Seems to make the infographic totally pointless!
anonymous 28 March, 2012 09:27
Ofcom want to encourage 3g coverage do they? Tell that to my local council who have turned down YET another 3g mast. Went to appeal and still turned down. It's a farce. It wasn't near a school or a big housing estate - just on the roadside near a roundabout.
Agghhh lol