Worcestershire County Council says real-world mobile connectivity across the county is substantially worse than official coverage maps indicate, with street‑level testing identifying a large number of postcodes where residents and businesses have no usable signal.
Street-level checks expose coverage gap
The council drew on data from what it describes as the UK’s largest street‑level mobile survey, published last year, and found that 10.03% of Worcestershire postcodes have no usable mobile coverage. That contrasts sharply with Ofcom’s modelled figures, which suggest just 0.01% of postcodes in the county lack a usable signal.
| Source | Postcodes without usable signal |
|---|---|
| Ofcom modelled data | 0.01% |
| County street‑level survey | 10.03% |
Impact on communities and the economy
The council says the findings highlight the effect of the UK’s 3G switch‑off, which has left some rural communities dependent on weaker 4G and 5G signals. Poor mobile connectivity is estimated to cost Worcestershire about £226 million a year through lower productivity, disrupted communications and lost opportunities for businesses.
Councillors are using the evidence in talks with Ofcom, mobile network operators and Government, and the authority is encouraging residents and firms to check local coverage and report issues to bolster the county’s data.
“Residents and businesses across Worcestershire are being failed by the mobile network operators, and frankly the regulator has allowed it to happen,”
The comment from Coun Adam Kent, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, corporate services and business, underlines the council’s frustration at what it says are misleading national coverage maps.
What this means for locals
For people living or working in affected areas the consequences can be practical and immediate: difficulties making phone calls, problems running online‑based businesses, and challenges contacting emergency services in some circumstances. The council stresses that modelled coverage does not always reflect the day‑to‑day experience at street and household level.
- Check your postcode on coverage checker tools and note discrepancies.
- Report problems to your mobile operator and to the council to strengthen local evidence.
- Keep records of dropped calls, poor data speeds or other incidents to support complaints.
Next steps
The county council says it will continue to press Ofcom, carriers and ministers for action, relying on the street‑level dataset to make the case for targeted improvements. For now, the council’s message is clear: official maps paint a far rosier picture than many Worcestershire residents experience.
If you are experiencing persistent mobile problems, the council asks you to log them with your provider and report them through the county’s channels so the local picture can be kept up to date.
