Out-Law / Your Daily Need-To-Know

UK mobile networks face 2017 licensing deadline for new voice service network coverage target

02 Feb 2015, 4:01 pm

The UK's four largest mobile network operators (MNOs) must each ensure that the voice services they provide cover at least 90% of the UK's "geographic landmass" by the end of 2017, under new licensing requirements imposed by Ofcom.

EE, O2, Three and Vodafone's network coverage must correspond to "minimum signal strengths" across at least one of a number of technologies or frequencies to be considered to be offering services in accordance with the licensing conditions (5-page / 247KB PDF) in an area of the country.

The move comes a month and a half after the MNOs reached a binding agreement with the UK government on network coverage. Under those plans, two thirds of the UK's so-called 'not-spots' - where consumers cannot obtain a phone signal - will be eliminated, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said at the time.

With that agreement, the government dropped plans to legislate to address the 'not-spots' problem, but making the 90% coverage target a licensing obligation means the terms of the agreement between the operators and government can be enforced by Ofcom.

Under Ofcom's standard enforcement powers, the regulator can issue compliance notices to telecom companies that do not meet their licensing obligations. Those notices provide an ultimatum to those businesses to meet their licensing conditions by a set deadline. In 2008, Ofcom warned O2 that it would shorten its 3G licence if it did not improve its network coverage.

Operators that fail to adhere to compliance notices face prosecution through the courts, and ultimately spectrum held by operators can be put out to re-tender.

Ofcom said it will consult on changes to the annual licence fees it imposes on MNOs for use of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum bands to reflect the licence variations.

Culture secretary Sajid Javid said: “For far too long, too many parts of the UK have regularly suffered from poor mobile coverage leaving them unable to make calls or send texts. Now at last we have progress that will give the UK the world-class mobile phone coverage it needs and deserves."

Each of the four main MNOs said they welcomed the deal with government on network coverage. The government is to reform the Electronic Communications Code to "support the rollout of communications infrastructure and the expansion of mobile coverage", DCMS said.