MSE Poll: How do you rate your mobile network's service and coverage?

MSE_Ruby

Poll started 4 August 2025

We want to find out how each provider rates for service (how it treats you) and coverage (how strong the signal is when you need it). In truth, there are only four main networks providing signals – the rest use these, but under their own brands (see our mobile networks guide for who piggybacks on who). Please rate the firm that provides your mobile phone bill (if you've switched networks recently, please rate the provider you were with the longest over the last year).

Click here to vote in the poll. 

Did you vote? Are you surprised at the results so far? Have your say below.
If you haven't already, join the forum to reply.

Thanks!

matelodave

How do you vote when you've never had to use customer service 

Brie

just been chatting with EE about my mobile contract renewal.  apparently I've not had a contract for 3 years despite online showing what contracts I've had each year.  I also mentioned that I've had a text about my contract ending in a couple of weeks.  Apparently that's a lie according to the chap I was talking to because I haven't had a contact for 3 years.  Interesting conversation.  Wonder if I should believe him more or less than his employer.  

fiish

matelodave said:

How do you vote when you've never had to use customer service 

I've not had to use my provider's customer service in the last 12 months, so I just put 'OK' as a neutral answer, as I don't have a good reason to rate them 'Great' or 'Poor'.

How do people understand the coverage question?

If it's as how the Ofcom checker and the networks define it, it's how strong the signal is. But with today's data heavy mobile use, signal strength isn't the only indicator of good coverage IMHO - the cell for a given area also needs enough capacity to serve the covered population without the internet connection becoming unusably slow. 

I answered it as though it's 'how strong is the signal, and how well does the network work in terms of both speed and reliability in the places where you use the phone most often?'

tinker411

fiish said:

matelodave said:

How do you vote when you've never had to use customer service 

I've not had to use my provider's customer service in the last 12 months, so I just put 'OK' as a neutral answer, as I don't have a good reason to rate them 'Great' or 'Poor'.

How do people understand the coverage question?

If it's as how the Ofcom checker and the networks define it, it's how strong the signal is. But with today's data heavy mobile use, signal strength isn't the only indicator of good coverage IMHO - the cell for a given area also needs enough capacity to serve the covered population without the internet connection becoming unusably slow. 

I answered it as though it's 'how strong is the signal, and how well does the network work in terms of both speed and reliability in the places where you use the phone most often?'

BIB - that's an understatement. Strong signal is all well and good, and great if all you do is calling and texting, but if you want data too... I could rant forever here but I will say this; Vodafone fails miserably on the data point here, so much so carrier pigeon would be faster. With that in mind that's why I answered that question in the same way you did.

oldagetraveller1

The poll is flawed because I had to vote poor for coverage (yes, I realise it relates to my provider only). The same applies to ALL providers for my home location.

I'm with Lebara (Vodafone) and fortunately, unlike some, they support WiFi Calling. That is essential because I ditched my landline 'phone service last year.

The only, very rare, occasions I have needed to contact them it's been fine.