How are we tackling Coverage Black Spots in Ireland?
Tackling an issue as complex and over-reaching as coverage black spots requires that we implement a multitude of varied solutions.
Published 27/09/18
In a country of soaring hills and mountains which separate dispersed populations and pockets of one-off houses, providing a quality mobile signal to everyone is an expensive and difficult task, a task that would be deemed uneconomical by many. The reality in Ireland is that there is insufficient mobile coverage to meets the needs of everyone, with particularly remote areas such as the west being snubbed in favour of serving more lucrative urban areas. And who can blame mobile providers for prioritising urban areas where each mast has the ability to serve significantly more people than a rural one, leading to a far superior return on investment.
After all, developing a nationwide network in Ireland has cost Vodafone, Three and eir billions of euro, and each time a new standard of wireless technology is launched, the journey starts all over again. The same will be true when 5G begins its quest to enhance our mobile experience next year, a technology that is regularly indicated as being the most expensive of its kind to date. But, to your disappointment, 5G won't solve our coverage black spots in the short or even medium term.
The issue of coverage black spots in Ireland hasn't evaded the attention of our mobile providers, our government, or the telecoms watchdog. In fact, the government has set up a task force to deal with this exact issue, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. In the past three years, the task force has worked closely with Vodafone, Three and eir to establish a set of actions that must be undertaken to improve mobile coverage. ComReg has played a significant role in the task force too, and the fruits of their combined effort will come to realisation later this year. The ultimate goal of the combined effort is to eradicate the existence of major coverage deficits in Ireland. In this article, we will learn the very actions which the task force and the industry is taking to fulfil this elusive goal.
After all, developing a nationwide network in Ireland has cost Vodafone, Three and eir billions of euro, and each time a new standard of wireless technology is launched, the journey starts all over again. The same will be true when 5G begins its quest to enhance our mobile experience next year, a technology that is regularly indicated as being the most expensive of its kind to date. But, to your disappointment, 5G won't solve our coverage black spots in the short or even medium term.
The issue of coverage black spots in Ireland hasn't evaded the attention of our mobile providers, our government, or the telecoms watchdog. In fact, the government has set up a task force to deal with this exact issue, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. In the past three years, the task force has worked closely with Vodafone, Three and eir to establish a set of actions that must be undertaken to improve mobile coverage. ComReg has played a significant role in the task force too, and the fruits of their combined effort will come to realisation later this year. The ultimate goal of the combined effort is to eradicate the existence of major coverage deficits in Ireland. In this article, we will learn the very actions which the task force and the industry is taking to fulfil this elusive goal.
Developing a Comprehensive Coverage Map
A key point of focus for the task force has been to develop a comprehensive and non-biased crowd-sourced interactive map for Irish consumers portraying the coverage provided by each individual mobile provider in Ireland. The coverage map is scheduled to launch later this year and will be a momentous breakthrough for consumers and the telecoms industry as a whole.
For the first time, Irish consumers will have the ability to check the coverage provided by Vodafone, Three and eir in their area using one tool that is accurate, and most importantly, non-biased. It will be as simple as launching an app on your device to inspect the quality of 3G or 4G provided by each provider. Consumers will be able to compare the coverage offered by each provider, so they can choose the best network for their respective area.
Essentially, this will redefine the way consumers research a new provider before they switch. At present, consumers are forced to check the coverage maps provided by Three and eir, which are located on each company's website. (Note: Vodafone was not mentioned here because even though the company claims to provide the best coverage in Ireland, bizarrely, there is no interactive coverage map to be found on its website). The issue with these coverage maps is that they tend to be inaccurate, and many would argue this by-design, usually showing coverage to be present in locations where it simply doesn't exist. I have to give credit where credit is due, Three's coverage map is the most accurate right now. On the other hand, eir's map is embarrassingly poor, showing far greater coverage than the actual truth.
Furthermore, it will eliminate the need for consumers to pay attention to marketing claims made by the networks, for example, when they claim to provide "96% or 97% 4G population coverage". These figures are basically meaningless if you happen to fall within the other 4%, hence, the importance of this new coverage map.
More than allowing for greater transparency about coverage amongst consumers, however, is the coverage map's ability to be utilised to identify coverage black spots. Users of the service will be given the ability to report locations where they experience coverage issues. We need to understand that we cannot patch coverage black spots if we don't know where they exist in the first place, this tool should help solve such issues. For example, it will allow ComReg and the task force to identify areas where there are a significant number of black spots. This data can then be used to target the area with a series of actions to boost coverage. The task force has clearly stated its cooperation with local councils and mobile providers to make the construction of new telecoms infrastructure, such as masts, significantly less troublesome thanks to updated planning regulations.
For the first time, Irish consumers will have the ability to check the coverage provided by Vodafone, Three and eir in their area using one tool that is accurate, and most importantly, non-biased. It will be as simple as launching an app on your device to inspect the quality of 3G or 4G provided by each provider. Consumers will be able to compare the coverage offered by each provider, so they can choose the best network for their respective area.
Essentially, this will redefine the way consumers research a new provider before they switch. At present, consumers are forced to check the coverage maps provided by Three and eir, which are located on each company's website. (Note: Vodafone was not mentioned here because even though the company claims to provide the best coverage in Ireland, bizarrely, there is no interactive coverage map to be found on its website). The issue with these coverage maps is that they tend to be inaccurate, and many would argue this by-design, usually showing coverage to be present in locations where it simply doesn't exist. I have to give credit where credit is due, Three's coverage map is the most accurate right now. On the other hand, eir's map is embarrassingly poor, showing far greater coverage than the actual truth.
Furthermore, it will eliminate the need for consumers to pay attention to marketing claims made by the networks, for example, when they claim to provide "96% or 97% 4G population coverage". These figures are basically meaningless if you happen to fall within the other 4%, hence, the importance of this new coverage map.
More than allowing for greater transparency about coverage amongst consumers, however, is the coverage map's ability to be utilised to identify coverage black spots. Users of the service will be given the ability to report locations where they experience coverage issues. We need to understand that we cannot patch coverage black spots if we don't know where they exist in the first place, this tool should help solve such issues. For example, it will allow ComReg and the task force to identify areas where there are a significant number of black spots. This data can then be used to target the area with a series of actions to boost coverage. The task force has clearly stated its cooperation with local councils and mobile providers to make the construction of new telecoms infrastructure, such as masts, significantly less troublesome thanks to updated planning regulations.
Implementing new technologies such as WiFi Calling
The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, in conjunction with ComReg, has made efforts to encourage Ireland's mobile providers to implement new technologies such as WiFi Calling and VoLTE with the hope of improving the mobile experience for customers. In the task force's report, WiFi Calling is mentioned very prominently as being a low-cost and simple solution to mitigate coverage black spots. WiFi Calling, as is in the name, makes use of a WiFi network to transmit and receive calls, similar to the way Whatsapp and Skype (VoIP) work. This allows a customer with the feature to call wherever a compatible WiFi network is available, removing the requirement to be connected to a cellular network. The technology dramatically expands the number of locations in which customers can make calls, as most Irish households enjoy access to a fixed network capable of supporting WiFi Calling.
eir was the first and remains the only Irish provider to offer WiFi Calling to customers in Ireland. The task force's report states there has been a strong and rapidly rising uptake of WiFi Calling on eir's network as it continually expands the number of plans and devices that are supported with the feature. Over one million WiFi calls were made on eir's network in Q2 2018.
The task force says Vodafone will launch WiFi Calling on its network before the end of this financial year. This will have a major impact on the Irish mobile market because Vodafone is the largest mobile provider for consumers and businesses. As well as launching WiFi Calling later this year, Vodafone has hinted at its intentions to launch VoLTE services in Ireland. VoLTE (Voice over 4G LTE) uses a 4G network to place calls, resulting in improved call quality and call set up times. The issue, up until recently, has been a lack of 4G coverage to launch this feature. However, 4G coverage has grown to a level that makes launching VoLTE viable, allowing Vodafone to refarm more of its legacy 2G and 3G spectrum for 4G.
The task force claims that Three is "considering" the launch of WiFi Calling on its network. Now, if the company decided to ignore this feature, I think it would put Three in a bad position in terms of overall network availability and quality. However, I do feel the need to highlight the fact that Three is on the verge of becoming the largest 4G network on this island, with the greatest number of masts and spectrum, putting them in a slightly better position than Vodafone and eir.
Nonetheless, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has expressed its goal to have all three of Ireland's mobile providers supporting WiFi Calling in the next twelve months. When that eventually becomes a reality, it will be transformational for those who are currently unable to make calls due to poor coverage.
eir was the first and remains the only Irish provider to offer WiFi Calling to customers in Ireland. The task force's report states there has been a strong and rapidly rising uptake of WiFi Calling on eir's network as it continually expands the number of plans and devices that are supported with the feature. Over one million WiFi calls were made on eir's network in Q2 2018.
The task force says Vodafone will launch WiFi Calling on its network before the end of this financial year. This will have a major impact on the Irish mobile market because Vodafone is the largest mobile provider for consumers and businesses. As well as launching WiFi Calling later this year, Vodafone has hinted at its intentions to launch VoLTE services in Ireland. VoLTE (Voice over 4G LTE) uses a 4G network to place calls, resulting in improved call quality and call set up times. The issue, up until recently, has been a lack of 4G coverage to launch this feature. However, 4G coverage has grown to a level that makes launching VoLTE viable, allowing Vodafone to refarm more of its legacy 2G and 3G spectrum for 4G.
The task force claims that Three is "considering" the launch of WiFi Calling on its network. Now, if the company decided to ignore this feature, I think it would put Three in a bad position in terms of overall network availability and quality. However, I do feel the need to highlight the fact that Three is on the verge of becoming the largest 4G network on this island, with the greatest number of masts and spectrum, putting them in a slightly better position than Vodafone and eir.
Nonetheless, the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce has expressed its goal to have all three of Ireland's mobile providers supporting WiFi Calling in the next twelve months. When that eventually becomes a reality, it will be transformational for those who are currently unable to make calls due to poor coverage.
Permitting Mobile Signal Repeaters
Credit: UK Mobile Signal Repeaters
In June of this year, ComReg made an unprecedented move in the effort to eliminate coverage black spots in this country by finally permitting the use of signal boosters or mobile phone repeaters. Previous to this landmark announcement, signal boosters were deemed illegal in Ireland, because of their dodgy reputation for interfering with licensed radio spectrum. Pressure from local councils was likely a key reason for this change, a change that has been protested by Vodafone, Three and eir according to ComReg's report on the matter.
The mobile providers raised concerns in relation to signal interference arising from the use of such devices, something that could potentially degrade the experience for others users accessing the same base station. With this in mind, ComReg has stated that signal boosters will endure a stringent series of tests before they are approved by the watchdog. The use of signal boosters which are not explicitly approved by ComReg is illegal.
Based on the report, it is clear Vodafone was worried that legalising signal boosters would lead to an influx in the availability of illegal devices. However, sighting market results in other countries such as the US, ComReg forecasts the use of illegal devices will dissipate as legal devices become more readily available.
This move really is something to be excited about, and those currently living in a coverage black spot should be relieved to learn how it will benefit them. Employing a signal booster instantly enhances a 3G or 4G signal, allowing for a better text, call and data experience. Unlike other remedies such as WiFi Calling, the use of a signal booster directly addresses the issue at hand and may be the only option for those who lack a quality broadband connection.
A signal booster essentially mitigates the issue of signal attenuation, by amplifying the available signal. An external ("donor") antenna is usually situated on a tall building or roof, pointing towards the direction of the strongest available signal. This antenna transfers the signal via cabling to a signal amplifier, which is usually located inside the building. This signal amplifier, as you would expect, boosts the strength of the signal, and then transfers this boosted signal via cabling to another external or internal antenna. This secondary antenna distributes the boosted signal to the area that requires it, such as a house or farmyard. When you need to upload data or place a call, the system works in reverse.
The mobile providers raised concerns in relation to signal interference arising from the use of such devices, something that could potentially degrade the experience for others users accessing the same base station. With this in mind, ComReg has stated that signal boosters will endure a stringent series of tests before they are approved by the watchdog. The use of signal boosters which are not explicitly approved by ComReg is illegal.
Based on the report, it is clear Vodafone was worried that legalising signal boosters would lead to an influx in the availability of illegal devices. However, sighting market results in other countries such as the US, ComReg forecasts the use of illegal devices will dissipate as legal devices become more readily available.
This move really is something to be excited about, and those currently living in a coverage black spot should be relieved to learn how it will benefit them. Employing a signal booster instantly enhances a 3G or 4G signal, allowing for a better text, call and data experience. Unlike other remedies such as WiFi Calling, the use of a signal booster directly addresses the issue at hand and may be the only option for those who lack a quality broadband connection.
A signal booster essentially mitigates the issue of signal attenuation, by amplifying the available signal. An external ("donor") antenna is usually situated on a tall building or roof, pointing towards the direction of the strongest available signal. This antenna transfers the signal via cabling to a signal amplifier, which is usually located inside the building. This signal amplifier, as you would expect, boosts the strength of the signal, and then transfers this boosted signal via cabling to another external or internal antenna. This secondary antenna distributes the boosted signal to the area that requires it, such as a house or farmyard. When you need to upload data or place a call, the system works in reverse.
Deploying more Low-Frequency Spectrum
Credit: Verizon
The allocation of low-frequency spectrum, particularly valuable for its ability to propagate over long distances and penetrate buildings, will be an important measure to patch coverage black spots. Such spectrum is ideal for deployment in rural areas where the densification of base stations is low. With low-frequency spectrum, one base station can provide coverage for an area spanning dozens and dozens of kilometres.
The 600MHz and 700MHz band, already being put to use in the US by T-Mobile, is currently used for DTT (Digital Terrestrial TV) in Ireland and across most of Europe. The vast majority of this spectrum is held by RTÉ in Ireland. ComReg is in the process of working with other telecoms regulators such as Ofcom in the UK and ANFR in France to repurpose the 700MHz band to use for providing mobile services (4G).
There is an EU-wide plan to shift this spectrum to mobile, and the latest date for completion of this project is 30 June 2020. RTÉ's networking subsidiary, 2RN, is currently in the process of migrating the broadcaster's DTT services away from 700MHz. According to ComReg, the value of shifting such spectrum to mobile providers would be €91 million.
When ComReg completes the process of migrating this spectrum to mobile, we will witness a dramatic improvement in coverage in locations where the spectrum is deployed. The vast majority of today's smartphones are unable to access this spectrum, however, this is beginning to change as Qualcomm and Intel launch modems which can take advantage of the spectrum. 700MHz 4G and 5G mobile will prove to be a major game-changer in the assault on coverage black spots, a change that will have far-reaching effects on those currently suffering from a lack of mobile signal.
The 600MHz and 700MHz band, already being put to use in the US by T-Mobile, is currently used for DTT (Digital Terrestrial TV) in Ireland and across most of Europe. The vast majority of this spectrum is held by RTÉ in Ireland. ComReg is in the process of working with other telecoms regulators such as Ofcom in the UK and ANFR in France to repurpose the 700MHz band to use for providing mobile services (4G).
There is an EU-wide plan to shift this spectrum to mobile, and the latest date for completion of this project is 30 June 2020. RTÉ's networking subsidiary, 2RN, is currently in the process of migrating the broadcaster's DTT services away from 700MHz. According to ComReg, the value of shifting such spectrum to mobile providers would be €91 million.
When ComReg completes the process of migrating this spectrum to mobile, we will witness a dramatic improvement in coverage in locations where the spectrum is deployed. The vast majority of today's smartphones are unable to access this spectrum, however, this is beginning to change as Qualcomm and Intel launch modems which can take advantage of the spectrum. 700MHz 4G and 5G mobile will prove to be a major game-changer in the assault on coverage black spots, a change that will have far-reaching effects on those currently suffering from a lack of mobile signal.
Allocating Spectrum on a Geographic-Basis
There has been much talk in recent months surrounding the possibility of allocating spectrum on a geographic basis in the future, for example, with later 5G spectrum allocations. This would mark a major change in regulation, as previous spectrum actions have only required winning bidders to cover a certain percentage of the Irish population with mobile services.
If such a change is implemented, it will radically transform the way in which our mobile providers roll out future networks. With the launch of 4G, mobile providers such as Three and eir initially deployed 4G services in large urban areas where there is a high population density. However, they failed to cover smaller towns, villages and rural areas because they didn't have to, they could meet their population coverage obligations by merely covering several large urban centres. You can see why this was and still is a major issue, providing coverage on a population basis is fundamentally flawed and neglects those who don't live in or near an urban centre.
However, if the spectrum is allocated with a geographic coverage obligation, mobile providers must cover a far greater footprint of people than if they had to meet a population obligation. This is obviously a much fairer way of allocated spectrum and should reduce the number of coverage black spots which exist.
Crucially, however, will be the importance to allocate the aforementioned 700MHz band on a geographic base. This spectrum is an ideal test bed and stepping stone for future endeavours that provide mobile services to people, without discriminating against them based on their location.
If such a change is implemented, it will radically transform the way in which our mobile providers roll out future networks. With the launch of 4G, mobile providers such as Three and eir initially deployed 4G services in large urban areas where there is a high population density. However, they failed to cover smaller towns, villages and rural areas because they didn't have to, they could meet their population coverage obligations by merely covering several large urban centres. You can see why this was and still is a major issue, providing coverage on a population basis is fundamentally flawed and neglects those who don't live in or near an urban centre.
However, if the spectrum is allocated with a geographic coverage obligation, mobile providers must cover a far greater footprint of people than if they had to meet a population obligation. This is obviously a much fairer way of allocated spectrum and should reduce the number of coverage black spots which exist.
Crucially, however, will be the importance to allocate the aforementioned 700MHz band on a geographic base. This spectrum is an ideal test bed and stepping stone for future endeavours that provide mobile services to people, without discriminating against them based on their location.
Conclusion: The Road to Ubiquitous Coverage
Statistically speaking, we are far down the road to ubiquitous mobile coverage in Ireland. Our mobile providers have pumped billions of euro into their networks in the last number of years, and this investment amounts to an ever-increasing density of base stations which is delivering the most widespread 3G and 4G coverage that we've experienced to date. New technologies such as WiFi Calling, which are already being implemented, promise to mitigate the issue of coverage black spots.
ComReg's planned coverage map will radically revamp the way in which us consumers perceive the quality of a particular mobile provider, powered by hyper-local and crowd-sourced data. It will become easier than ever before to decide which mobile provider is the most suitable for you.
The legalisation of mobile signal repeaters is a profound step towards a fairer future in Irish telecoms, a future which doesn't ignore those living in rural areas, and a future in which geographic coverage obligations prompt our mobile providers to deploy new technologies on a far greater scale than in the past.
The real problem solver though, the one that is focused on the very core issue, will be the migration and deployment of low-frequency spectrum such as 700MHz for mobile services. Such spectrum will cover a proportion of people that was previously unimaginable, and at the same time, deliver huge cost savings for mobile providers.
Ultimately, to solve an issue so prominent that forced the government to establish an entire task force dedicated to the issue, will require the implementation of a number of different solutions. Without those solutions, thousands of Irish people will remain in the darkness cast by the growing digital world, a world in which a quality mobile signal is a basic necessity, not a luxury.
ComReg's planned coverage map will radically revamp the way in which us consumers perceive the quality of a particular mobile provider, powered by hyper-local and crowd-sourced data. It will become easier than ever before to decide which mobile provider is the most suitable for you.
The legalisation of mobile signal repeaters is a profound step towards a fairer future in Irish telecoms, a future which doesn't ignore those living in rural areas, and a future in which geographic coverage obligations prompt our mobile providers to deploy new technologies on a far greater scale than in the past.
The real problem solver though, the one that is focused on the very core issue, will be the migration and deployment of low-frequency spectrum such as 700MHz for mobile services. Such spectrum will cover a proportion of people that was previously unimaginable, and at the same time, deliver huge cost savings for mobile providers.
Ultimately, to solve an issue so prominent that forced the government to establish an entire task force dedicated to the issue, will require the implementation of a number of different solutions. Without those solutions, thousands of Irish people will remain in the darkness cast by the growing digital world, a world in which a quality mobile signal is a basic necessity, not a luxury.
