Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Why all the fuss about cross-network roaming for UK mobile coverage?

Mark Bridge writes:

A suggestion that UK mobile phone networks might be forced to improve black-spot coverage by allowing interconnection with their rivals is back in the news. It made the headlines in June and has returned again this week, which is why I could be heard offering my opinion on BBC local radio yesterday morning.

The topic is being talked about again because the government has announced a consultation into tackling ‘not spots’ in mobile phone coverage.

According to the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, who - as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport - is responsible for the report, “This isn’t just about lifestyle, it’s vital for our modern economy.”

Mr Javid starts by acknowledging that “Government has already introduced the Mobile Infrastructure Project to tackle the issue of complete not-spots, where there is no mobile signal available at all.” Very true. The government’s Mobile Infrastructure Project was launched in 2011 to add coverage in areas where there wasn’t any commercial incentive to do so, spending £150 million to do this.

This new consultation is about partial not-spots, where at least one network offers coverage but others don’t.

Now, some might say this is unnecessary because we already have a national ‘roaming’ agreement for emergency mobile phone coverage in these areas. Since 2009, anyone making a call to the emergency services - whether on 999 or 112 - has been connected to another network if their chosen mobile network wasn’t available.

Anyway, the consultation document says it’s examining three potential measures to address the problem of partial not-spots. These are:

a. addressing coverage (infrastructure sharing);
b. Multi-Operator-Mobile Virtual Network Operator (where mobile services are retailed by an entity distinct from a mobile network operator e.g. TalkTalk Mobile, Virgin Mobile);
c. national roaming.

There’s also a fourth ‘do nothing’ option.

Infrastructure sharing sounds interesting. In fact, it’s so interesting that all the ‘big four’ networks are already doing it.

Three and T-Mobile set up a business called Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL) back in 2007 to share sites. Orange and T-Mobile got together after the formation of EE, with EE later joining the MBNL party. And Vodafone and O2 set up a business called Cornerstone in 2012, sharing their masts and backhaul.

Okay, so that’s hardly a new idea. What about a SIM card that allows customers to connect to multiple UK networks? The kind of thing that foreign visitors benefit from when they visit the UK.

Nice thought. And already available. In fact, I could buy one today.

What about mandated national roaming? Well, obviously not available at the moment - but why bother? It seems to go against the ‘competition delivers what customers want’ dialogue we’ve heard previously from the government. There could well be some issue with competition law. It’s a disincentive to future investment. It may adversely affect battery life on phones. And it might even cause problems with anti-terrorism activity by muddling the metadata from calls.

At this point, I’ll point out that this enormously-significant consultation - from an industry that literally spends billions of pounds a year on improving its network coverage - will run for three weeks. Just 21 days. To contrast, Ofcom’s latest consultation on Communications services and SMEs is giving people two months to construct their responses.

Then there’s option four: do nothing.

Let’s take a look at that consultation document again. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport writes “I have held initial discussions with the four Mobile Network Operators and I note the work in place to improve coverage.” Excellent. So he’s talked to them and is aware they’re working on the problem. He goes on to say “I am keen to work with them to find a voluntary solution to the problem, however I would be prepared to mandate a solution in line with wider government interests, should insufficient progress be made.”

Oh, I see now. Given the choice between offering carrot and stick, it looks as though Mr Javid has chosen to implement the consultation document as his stick. A stick that could be applied in just three weeks’ time.

Still, at least it won’t be long before we find out what’s going to happen next.

We discussed the UK government plans for reducing so-called 'not spots' in our podcast on 12th November 2014. You can listen to the programme on our website audio player, via iTunes, by using our RSS feed, on the Stitcher.com mobile app or by downloading the mp3 file directly.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

How AI technology is transforming the smartphone experience

How AI technology is transforming the smartphone experience

From improved performance to personalized recommendations, AI is enhancing the functionality and usability of smartphones for users

By incorporating advanced algorithms and machine learning capabilities, AI can help to optimize a smartphone's performance, providing users with a faster, more efficient and user-friendly experience.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Whatever happened to all my tech?

Whatever happened to all my tech?

Mark Bridge revisits his mobile technology reviews

Mark Bridge writes:

I've been taking a look back at the devices I've written about during the past few years. Some are still faithful companions, others... well, let's just say my faith was misplaced.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Predictions for 2016: Network Function Virtualisation, 4G throttling and video calling

Mark Windle, head of marketing at OpenCloud, predicts that this year’s reduction in the number of traditional telecoms operators in some countries will provide an opportunity for other operators to innovate and capture market share in 2016.

He says next year will be a year of rapid change for telecoms… whether it’s MVNO disruption, competitive tariff pricing or simply defence from the ‘dark art’ of hacking.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

A 'recording watch' that links to your smartphone

Mark Bridge writes:

The most memorable moments in life often go unrecorded. You don't have your camera in your hands. Your finger is still hovering over the 'pause' button on your audio recorder. Or you were simply too busy experiencing whatever was happening. It's all about the one that got away.

That's where Kapture can help.

Author: The Fonecast
4 Comments
Article rating: 4.0
Making mobile websites work better

Making mobile websites work better

Device detection and responsive design explained

Mark Bridge writes:

James Rosewell shows me a colourful roll of paper that's the width of an iPhone but well over three metres long. When I look closer, I can see it's a printed copy of the Wall Street Journal's mobile website. That's a lot of scrolling to do... and a pretty unfriendly user experience for anyone reading the news online. Why does it work so badly?

Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Article rating: 4.0
RSS
12345678910Last

Recent Podcasts

Podcast - 8th November 2006

This week the team debate the number of "free" calling options on the market and determine if they represent real value for money. They review the new budget phone from Motorola the W220 and Nokia's 5300 Xpress Music phone along with more applications for your phone and the latest news and views.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 30th October 2006

This week we review the LG Shine a phone that doubles as a mirror, and a WiFi Skype phone from Belkin. We discuss the future for Mobile TV as well as all the latested news and software including Dr Simon's Brain Trainer a mobile rival to Brain Age on the Nintendo DS.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 23rd October 2006

The team update you on the Carphone Warehouse, Phones 4U and Vodafone latest, you can still buy Vodafone in other high street Retailers. Latest news including O2's reduction in roaming charges from Spain. Plus a review of the Lobster 700 with mobile TV from Virgin and the Sony Ericsson W850i, along with First Direct's mobile banking service and Monopoly on your mobile phone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 16th October 2006

This week the team bring you the facts associated with Vodafone's announcement to abandom Carphone Warehouse as well as informed debate on what this means to the industry and consumers. We also review the UK mobile networks HSDPA roll out status.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast - 9th October 2006

This week the team debate the state of the Mobile ringtone market, review Orange Unique a service that combines broadband with your mobile plus the Nokia 95 and all the latest news and mobile software.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First100101102103104105107109

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«March 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
26272829123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
1234567

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement