Guides & Explainers
Understand your mobile coverage
How to improve signal, switch network, understand 5G, and pick the right operator for where you live — all based on independent data.
How to improve indoor mobile signal
Why buildings kill signal, and seven practical fixes — from Wi-Fi calling to signal boosters and switching network.
Is my mobile network down?
How to tell an outage from a coverage gap, direct links to all four network status pages, and step-by-step troubleshooting.
How to switch network using a PAC code
One text message and one working day. The complete guide to porting your number — including what to check before you commit.
Which networks use EE, O2, Vodafone and Three?
Every UK mobile brand ranked by which of the four physical networks it runs on — giffgaff, Sky Mobile, VOXI, SMARTY and more.
Best mobile network for rural areas
National averages hide huge local variation. How the four networks compare in the countryside, and what to do when none of them are good.
eSIM in the UK: which networks support it?
A full table of eSIM support by network — including PAYG vs contract, and whether it makes any difference to your coverage.
VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling explained
How to get calls through when your indoor signal is weak — free features that every major UK network supports.
3G switch-off: what it means for your coverage
All four UK networks completed their 3G shutdown by end of 2024. Who was affected, what changed for calls, and how spectrum refarming improves things.
5G frequency bands: n78, n28 and what they mean
Not all 5G is equal. Low-band reaches your whole county; mid-band gives real speed. Here's how to tell which you're getting.
How to read a mobile coverage map
What the colour layers mean, outdoor vs indoor coverage, predicted vs measured signal, and why maps and reality sometimes disagree.
What is 5G?
How 5G works, the difference between low, mid and high band, real-world UK speeds, and which networks lead on 5G coverage.
What is 4G?
How 4G LTE works, why indoor signal varies so much, which UK networks lead on 4G, and whether it's worth switching to 5G.
Ready to check your postcode?
See which network leads at your exact address — outdoor, indoor, 4G and 5G.