New Mobile Coverage Map Gives Public and Firms Insight into Best Operators on Their Street

A detailed interactive map to track the signal and performance of mobile coverage has been launched to allow thousands of people to know the best performing operators on their street.

Surveys over the nine months have seen bin wagons fitted with devices used to track mobile coverage strength to create one of the country’s most detailed maps of signal strength and performance.

Now, with the support of specialists at Inakalum, the data has been collected, and the new Tees Valley Mobile Coverage Checker has been launched for public use.

It will allow people to see and compare both the signal and, crucially, the performance of major mobile providers at a street level across the region.

The map shows western Ingleby Barwick, Boosbeck, western parts of central Darlington and parts of Seaton Carew are just some of the areas where coverage is lacking.

The project has worked with our local authorities to map all roads covered by bin lorries – and now we are looking for people and businesses to provide even more data to identify areas which may have been missed.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Poor signal and mobile performance issues are more than an inconvenience – they hurt our businesses, harm our push to become a hotspot for digital investment and create an unfair postcode lottery of coverage across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

“This tool will allow people to make more informed choices about the provider they choose and will equip us with the hard evidence we need to tell big firms and the Government to sort out coverage blackspots.”

The signal tracker has been funded with the help of £32,490 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Mapping equipment has collected performance data from all four major mobile networks and captures real-world signal quality, rather than relying on operator-predicted coverage maps.

Tees Valley residents and workers can access the online portal and search mobile coverage by postcode. If a postcode has not been mapped, there is a form to submit a request to map your area on the portal.

Cllr Steve Harker, Leader of Darlington Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure, added: “This checker is a great tool to raise awareness of signal issues and strengthen the region’s case for more investment in digital infrastructure.

“People often compare prices when it comes to their mobile provider, but this offers customers a better idea of who is offering the better performance for their home or workplace. This should allow people to be even more informed when choosing a deal.

“I’d urge people and businesses to check their postcodes and get in touch with the team to make our map, and our body of evidence across Tees Valley, even better.”

Philip Maguire, CEO of Inakalum, added: “In rural areas, mobile signal coverage can be a problem, but in urban areas poor mobile service is more often caused by capacity problems, where the mobile networks can struggle at busy times to cater for the rising mobile data needs of users.

“The Coverage Checker will show how each of the four national mobile networks perform at a street level across Tees Valley, allowing mobile customers to select a service provider that works best in their area.”

The UKSPF is provided by The Government and administered by Tees Valley Combined Authority.

To access the mapping tool, which includes a feedback form, go here: NetworkUX Coverage Checker