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If you are looking to upgrade your mobile phone or change networks, it is advisable to check mobile coverage in your area. This will ensure that you will still receive adequate coverage if you do decide to switch networks or get a new phone. Fortunately, each mobile service provider has online signal strength maps available for consumers to access for free on their websites. These maps feature a simple view of the coverage in any given area. This means that they should only ever be used as a guide and not a cast iron indication of actual signal levels.

However, it should be noted that the way signal strength is represented on each map is not the same for each provider. Some network operators just provide information about outside signal strength, while other will also provide an indication of the strength of ‘inside’ signal. Check the map’s key to be sure of what you are looking at. If you cannot get online, you can find out about each provider’s signal in your local area by asking friends and family which network they use and whether they can utilise all services wherever they are. This can help you work out what the best mobile phone network would be for your needs.

If you are sign up to a mobile phone contract only to discover that the signal your new handset receives is too weak, you should check the terms and conditions of your contract, as there way be a policy in place that would allow you to return a faulty handset. If you are on a ‘sim-only’ deal and are using an old handset, it may be worth upgrading your phone as the antenna in older models may struggle to pick up signal.

To take advantage of a mobile phone data plan, the 3G signal in your area will need to be strong. The strength of 3G signal can also be checked on coverage maps. Keep this in mind when you are next due an upgrade.