Britain falling behind mobile phone coverage targets

Image Caption: Consumers are at risk of large exit fees, the report reveals

A report by a group of backbench MPs reveals mobile coverage has not improved significantly since 2014 and there are at least 525 areas that suffer from poor network coverage or none at all.

Some 17 million mobile phone owners have poor reception at home and a plan to deliver 90% coverage of the country by 2017 is now not expected to be met.

Image Caption: Many phone users are struggling to find sufficient coverage, the report says

Chairman of the British Infrastructure Group (BIG), Grant Shapps, said: "It is unacceptable that areas in Britain continue to have such poor mobile connectivity, and that overseas visitors can expect better mobile coverage than Britons stuck with a single provider. 

:: New mobile phone coverage checker launched

"The time for excuses from the mobile sector is over. The Government must make a better call for Britain and bring national mobile coverage policy into the 21st century." 

If a network operator fails to deliver a high standard of service, consumers should be able to terminate their contract free of charge, BIG suggests.

The report continues: "Consumers are at risk from being hit with large exit fees if they decide to terminate their contract, even if it is due to poor quality mobile service.

"BIG argues that Ofcom should establish a minimum service obligation to define consumer rights. These reforms should now be included in the Digital Economy Bill."

The study follows independent research in April by Which? that revealed mobile phone customers in the UK are only able to connect to a high-speed 4G signal 53% of the time.

Hamish MacLeod, director of Mobile UK, which represents mobile network operators told Sky News: "We fully accept the main thrust of the report that customers in the UK want better coverage in the UK."

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: "We know how frustrating poor mobile coverage can be, which is why we made it a legal requirement for each of the mobile network operators to provide coverage to at least 90% of the UK by the end of next year.

"We are taking further action through the Digital Economy Bill currently going through Parliament, which will give the regulator Ofcom the power to issue hefty fines to mobile phone companies who fail to deliver improvements."
 

Image Caption: Many phone users are struggling to find sufficient coverage, the report says