Forum Discussion

Dominic_1770810's avatar
Dominic_1770810
SMARTY Maverick
08-03-2023
Solved

Coverage in Cities really difficult.

I have had Smarty for a few months.   I have noticed in busy places the signal often appears to be there but doesn’t allow access.   So in London you can call up maps - GOS will find you but no streets.    People I am with have 4G _ I have nothing or one bar that cannot load a map.   

  • Chalkychap's avatar
    Chalkychap
    10-03-2023

    The 4 main mobile network operators in the UK use different parts of the radio spectrum allocated for mobile networks. Some frequencies penetrate buildings better than others, and the proximity of the signal source has a bearing on reception as well.

    At any given location, there's no guarantee that each of mobile network operators will deliver the same signal strength, which maybe why your friends aren't affected to the same extent as you, Dominic_1770810.

    Three UK (SMARTY Mobile's parent and owner) have an active bandwidth management policy. Three say it's designed to ensure whenever there's congestion or network issues, they'll manipulate their mobile data network in order keep things running as smoothly as possible. However, if bandwidth is limited and there are many, many concurrent users, things will slow down, despite active network management.

24 Replies

  • MSF's avatar
    MSF
    SMARTY Guru
    08-03-2023

    Does this happen in multiple places or just in one place e.g. home or office?

    With large buildings in big cities, there are often 'dead' spots where signal does not penetrate. Worth checking if others in the building experience the same problem.

    • Dominic_1770810's avatar
      Dominic_1770810
      SMARTY Maverick
      10-03-2023

      It happens in many places.  My friends on other networks are not impacted.  I think I might need to change networks as I dont think you understand or can be reading the issue.  Buildings impact everyone not just Smarty surely ! 

      • Chalkychap's avatar
        Chalkychap
        SMARTY Trendsetter
        10-03-2023

        The 4 main mobile network operators in the UK use different parts of the radio spectrum allocated for mobile networks. Some frequencies penetrate buildings better than others, and the proximity of the signal source has a bearing on reception as well.

        At any given location, there's no guarantee that each of mobile network operators will deliver the same signal strength, which maybe why your friends aren't affected to the same extent as you, Dominic_1770810.

        Three UK (SMARTY Mobile's parent and owner) have an active bandwidth management policy. Three say it's designed to ensure whenever there's congestion or network issues, they'll manipulate their mobile data network in order keep things running as smoothly as possible. However, if bandwidth is limited and there are many, many concurrent users, things will slow down, despite active network management.

  • MarinaJo_200901's avatar
    MarinaJo_200901
    SMARTY Pioneer
    16-04-2024

    I also have this problem. Recently on a number of different days in Mayfair, Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road, all in Central London - I was unable to connect to mobile data even outdoors. I had a full 4G signal, calls and texts were fine but no data. An exclamation mark appears on the phone signal indicator when this happens. It was very frustrating as I was trying to meet up with friends who were sending me WhatsApp messages to tell me where they were, and I could not receive them. Also I was unable to search on Google Maps. Admittedly I was in a very busy area but it does seem to be related to Three prioritising other connections over mine.

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      16-04-2024

      MarinaJo_200901 While I have no evidence, it wouldn't surprise me if Three prioritised their own customers over other e.g. Smarty customers, EU people roaming in UK etc.

    • Elle_256484's avatar
      Elle_256484
      SMARTY Enquirer
      24-06-2024

      I've experienced a similar issue, particularly in Central London (Mayfair). I was also unable to receive calls and text messages, which was very frustrating. If there is no coverage in a major city like London, I am seriously considering switching provider

      • MSF's avatar
        MSF
        SMARTY Guru
        25-06-2024

        Elle_256484  Maybe down to congestion in Three network?

    • NatalieD_333728's avatar
      NatalieD_333728
      SMARTY Rookie
      26-08-2024

      exact same issue when I was in London 4 weeks ago. No internet at all for 5 hours no matter where I was outside and inside. Thankfully I was travelling with a friend who was on O2 and had zero issues but if I had been alone I would have been totally screwed. Leaving Smarty asap as this is dangerous for women on their own.

      • MSF's avatar
        MSF
        SMARTY Guru
        27-08-2024

        NatalieD_333728  Why is it dangerous for women not to have internet access? The ability to make a 999 call is surely the most important.

  • WelshPaul's avatar
    WelshPaul
    SMARTY Centurion
    08-03-2023

    Yea, I have found that data doesn’t always work when on 4G, with signal. I think it’s congestion and hopefully Three get it sorted before they switch off 3G otherwise it will affect our ability to make and receive calls.

  • ShaunDon_401562's avatar
    ShaunDon_401562
    SMARTY Pioneer
    10-05-2024

    I have had this issue on my last 2 trips to London and also in Basingstoke, super annoying when trying to navigate using maps.

    I also found myself in a restaurant and unable to buy lunch using their QR code ordering system which was a pain

     

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      10-05-2024

      ShaunDon_401562 If this is not a permanent thing, then it may be simply down to congestion on the mast. This is more likely in a city I would think.

      • ShaunDon_401562's avatar
        ShaunDon_401562
        SMARTY Pioneer
        10-05-2024

        Yep probably! Annoying that it only appears to be a problem with the Three network thanks to their data management, my work phone on Vodafone had no issues and my friends both on O2 were fine 

  • JJP2RidesAgain's avatar
    JJP2RidesAgain
    SMARTY Centurion
    10-05-2024

    Shane we can’t seem to post pictures any more. 

    Did a Speedtest yesterday, as someone on the Bristol subreddit claimed that three / smarty was sh** everywhere in Bristol, so I did a Speedtest, got 639 mbps, and posted the video. Didn’t get a response 😂

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      10-05-2024

      JJP2RidesAgain  I think that my learned colleague may have slightly misunderstood one of the basics.

      A response is unlikely to be forthcoming if you post something positive that otherwise is at odds with accusations made by an OP. If it is forthcoming, then it is likely to accuse you of working for the company anyway.....and who asked you anyway bleep bleep bleep. 🙄

      • JJP2RidesAgain's avatar
        JJP2RidesAgain
        SMARTY Centurion
        10-05-2024

        Oh absolutely ! 

        Same here of course - There are times I think that some people should be sticking to two tin cabs and a piece of string or a fisher price child’s toy phone ! 

        People are attracted by Smarty’s low price, but expect it to work like Musk’s “Starlink”, seemingly having no idea that Three has the smallest footprint of networks, certainly overseas when roaming, as its coverage is dwarfed by Telefonica O2, Vodafone, and Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile. 

        If I had a job that required frequent travel or was independently wealthy enough to travel extensively, I probably wouldn’t use Smarty. Even the travel eSIM that I used would probably re Red Bull’s, more expensive than others, but supposedly very good and the same service offered to their F1 teams, football clubs, speedway riders, etc. 

        Smarty is a great value for money service, it’s a reliable Ford Fiesta, not the Ferrari that some people expect it to be, after paying for the Fiesta !

  • SimonGr_2152070's avatar
    SimonGr_2152070
    SMARTY Maverick
    01-09-2024

    I'v posted similar experience. Not just in London. 
    I was recently at Westfield, stratford - two separate visits a week apart, at different times of the day - and the signal there was apalling. Either I got nothing at all, or when i did  get a few bars, there was no data, just voice.
    And recently in central london - again, signal was patchy but data would cut out entirely.  I had to rely on customer wifi in nearly every situation.

    Recently driving through Kent, despite having 2 or 3 bars on 4g, I got nothing data wise. It caused us no end of toruble - all 4 phones (3 iphones and 1 Android) could not get Google Maps or Waze and we were lost.

    Weak signala nd no internet .

    Now in our local town the signal is poor and again, no internet. THis was not the case a few months ago or last year when we switched.

    I would conclude that THree network management is to blame, and if they re actively de-activating 3g matsts, then perhaps the remaining 4g and 5g infrastructure is seeing more gongestion as a result?

    I am now actively looking at alternatives!

  • NeilSte_1585926's avatar
    NeilSte_1585926
    SMARTY Pioneer
    19-12-2024

    Like others here, I often find I have a signal showing but also the exclamation mark and effectively no signal.  This happens regularly (once a week) and in locations all over the UK.  Will probably mean I'll be leaving SARTY to go to a more reliable provider

  • 2orMoreChars's avatar
    2orMoreChars
    SMARTY Pioneer
    07-08-2025

    Chalkychap  This issue is nothing to do with reception; it is a backhaul problem. My phone works fine in the City but as soon as I venture west, data slows down and eventually stops working around Cov G/Charing X area. I will have a full 4 bars of signal strength yet no apps work. This was never an issue with GiffGaff, which I will be transferring back to.

    • Chalkychap's avatar
      Chalkychap
      SMARTY Trendsetter
      21-09-2025

      I don't have experience using SMARTY in the Cov G/Charing X area, 2orMoreChars.

      The SMARTY network works well for me whenever I'm travelling between Paddington and Liverpool Street.

      Perhaps things will improve when VodafoneThree combine/merge their backhaul networks.

  • 2orMoreChars's avatar
    2orMoreChars
    SMARTY Pioneer
    07-08-2025

    This is not a reception issue, it is a backhaul capacity issue. Smarty (or Three) doesn't have enough of it in many busy locations. My phone works fine in the City, however travel east to Cov G/Charing X area and, despite having a full 4 bars of signal strength, data simply stops working. It's very frustrating and I will be transferring back to GiffGaff, where this was never an issue previously.