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Vodafone mobile coverage
Vodafone (www.vodafone.co.uk) has a wide mobile network that allows it to offer strong coverage to 99% of the UK population.
But mobile coverage varies depending on where you live. So it makes sense to understand exactly what will affect your connection before choosing a new mobile provider.
Will I be able to get a phone service?
Most of the UK’s mobile phone network providers are able to offer coverage to a high proportion of the population, but some areas of countryside in England, Scotland and Wales with sparse populations may struggle to get any connection whatsoever.
Mobile phones work by connecting to base stations around the UK - and any calls you make will be sent from one base station to the next until the signal reaches its destination phone.
Because of the way that mobiles work, there are a number of factors that can affect your network coverage:
- Your distance from the nearest base station - this can be a big issue for people living in remote rural areas
- Tall buildings and trees - or even very thick walls - can all block your mobile signal
- Bad weather - storms and even strong winds can both affect the coverage in your local area
- Network congestion - festivals, concerts or sporting events can suffer from poor mobile connection because of the large numbers of people all trying to make calls and send texts at the same time, in a relatively small area.
Vodafone and 3G
Vodafone’s mobile network covers 99% of the UK and also offers one of the fastest 3G services in the country.
You'll be able to make and receive calls anywhere that you get a Vodafone mobile signal, but if you want to use high-speed mobile internet to get online using your phone, you'll need to be in a 3G-enabled area.
Vodafone’s 3G network covers 81% of the population, offering speeds of up to 3.6Mb and 7.2Mb. Some big cities have been upgraded to even faster speeds of up to 14.4Mb. But you shouldn’t expect to receive such high speeds on your phone or mobile dongle, Vodafone advises customers to expect between 1Mb and 4Mb in reality.
Use the Vodafone mobile coverage map to check coverage for your specific postcode.
Boosting Vodafone mobile coverage
Vodafone offers a mobile signal booster called the Sure Signal to help boost mobile phone coverage in your home - a great gadget for anyone who struggles to get a connection indoors.
It uses your home internet connection to boost your Vodafone signal - and can get you connected even if you live in a mobile blackspot.
To use the Vodafone Sure Signal you need an actual home broadband speed of at least 1Mb plus a 3G mobile phone. It will connect to the Vodafone network using your internet connection, as well as giving you a full 3G signal.
You can register up to 32 Vodafone numbers for use with your Sure Signal device and as many as four phones can be connected at any one time.
iPhone 4 (8GB)(black) £0.00 | 600 min Unlimited texts | £21.00 |  |
Galaxy S3(red) £0.00 | 300 min Unlimited texts | £21.00 |  |
Galaxy S2(black) £0.00 | 600 min Unlimited texts | £29.00 |  |
iPhone 5 (16GB)(white) £0.00 | 600 min Unlimited texts | £33.00 | |
Galaxy S4(black) £0.00 | 600 min Unlimited texts | £33.00 | |
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Galaxy S3 | iPhone 5 (16GB) |  XPERIA Z |
 £20.50/month | £37.00/month | £28.50/month |
| 100 min Unlimited texts | Unlimited min Unlimited texts | 600 min Unlimited texts |
|  | |
| Go | Go | Go |
Galaxy S4 |  Galaxy S3 |  iPhone 5 (16GB) |
 £33.00/month | £24.00/month | £35.00/month |
| 500 min 5000 texts | 500 min 5000 texts | 2000 min 5000 texts |
 |  | |
| Go | Go | Go |