Proof phone reception can differ from what your provider promises

Proof that the mobile phone reception you actually receive can differ wildly from that predicted by your provider comes today in news that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint against EE.

A customer accused EE of publishing misleading information after the mobile phone coverage checker on the company's website showed reception on the T-Mobile network as being excellent at the complainant's home address – however in reality he had no signal in his house and poor signal outside.

The ASA has ordered that EE must make the conditional nature of the coverage checker results clearer on the website.

This case serves to show how important the Countryside Alliance's campaign to improve rural phone reception is.

The Countryside Alliance is mapping the reality of rural phone reception in the UK and is encouraging people around the country to download the free RootMetrics app onto their smart phone and send in samples of the signal in their area.

Head of policy, Sarah Lee said: "It is important to hold operators to account on their coverage claims, which is why we are campaigning for better coverage in the countryside and encouraging people to test their coverage so consumers can get a voice and a choice."