Ofcom sends mixed signals over mobile repeaters
Industry experts fear that soon-to-be-certified mobile phone network amplifiers will cause interference and actually reduce signal quality.
has ignored the recommendations of some mobile operators by planning to allow consumer-installed mobile phone network amplifiers in the UK.
Many homes – up to 10%, according to official figures – struggle to get a reliable signal indoors and repeaters are a way of improving reception, spawning a black market for boosters.
Ofcom has long stated that such devices are illegal in the UK. Only approved amplifiers were allowed and they were only permitted when used in conjunction with, and under the control of, the mobile networks.
Now, the regulator plans to allow consumers to buy and install certified hardware in homes and cars, giving a green light for devices to be legal “early next year” provided they meet specifications that limit output and are restricted to one mobile network.
According to sources at Ofcom, the move comes as the regulator faces pressure from government to improve mobile reception across the UK, while also trying to curb the trade of illegal imports that don’t conform to UK standards but are widely sold online.
It’s theoretically good news for consumers, but goes against the advice of several mobile networks, who are concerned that loosely installed repeaters could reduce signal strength for others. “It is unclear how the single-operator repeaters Ofcom proposes to legalise could bring any incremental benefit to consumers over and above the repeaters and other coverage-enhancing solutions already offered by MNOs [mobile network operators],” EE wrote in a consultation response on the issue, before it was green-lit.
“The potential for such repeaters to cause consumer harm is clear and likely to be substantial. All repeaters have the potential to cause interference when placed incorrectly in the network.”
Mixed signals
Vodafone echoed EE’s concerns in its response, and while their warnings sound like the telcos trying to protect their turf, some equipment providers confirm that many illegal repeaters pose a threat. “The danger of those devices is that if you have one that doesn’t work properly you can damage the mobile network,” said Andrew Williams, solution architect at Nextivity, one of the few companies working with telcos to make accredited repeaters.
“If you go to the radio research department of any mobile network in the UK, they all have a horror story of someone buying an illegal phone repeater and how it took out a cell – they can take out base stations.”
The repeaters that have been distributed to date have been under the strict control of networks, who seek to limit the number of repeaters within cells and can set output levels to reduce network impact. Under the new rules, repeater output would be restricted to that of a mobile handset, but operators worry that additional hardware could have a negative effect.
“Vodafone has consistently argued that the uncontrolled usage of mobile repeaters threatens to desensitise network equipment, and paradoxically make coverage worse