Appy days – community improve will assist motorists get sign for parking apps in automobile parks
Improvements by VodafoneThree covering an area larger than the size of Yorkshire are estimated to have improved signal to as many as 1,400 UK car parks, potentially helping up to 112,000 drivers
BRITAIN’S motorists struggling to get signal for parking apps in car parks across the country could get some welcome respite after major upgrades to Britain’s largest network(Image: Getty Images)
BRITAIN’S motorists struggling to get signal for parking apps in car parks across the country could get some welcome respite after major upgrades to Britain’s largest network.
Improvements by VodafoneThree covering an area the equivalent of 6,350 square miles – larger than the size of Yorkshire – are estimated to have improved signal to as many as 1,400 UK car parks, potentially helping up to 112,000 drivers at any given time and saving motorists from parking fines.
It comes as a study found that seven in ten drivers (70%) say they’ve been unable to pay for parking using an app due to poor signal, with almost half (48%) abandoning or significantly delaying a trip after being unable to download or use an app.
Now VodafoneThree has successfully removed 6,370 square miles of mobile ‘not spots’ – areas that previously had little or no mobile coverage – across the country through its latest network improvements as part of its £11 billion investment programme to build the UK’s best network.
Network improvements have already been delivered in popular tourist destinations such as the Cotswolds, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Exmoor National Park and the Yorkshire Dales.
Vodafone’s nationwide study revealed that issues with mobile connectivity in car parks is a daily frustration for motorists, with millions struggling to pay for parking in locations that rely on apps. The research also found:
– More than a third of drivers (36%) have received a parking fine due to poor connectivity issues
– Two-thirds (66%) say parking issues caused by poor connectivity increase stress when travelling during busy holiday periods
– Three quarters of drivers (75%) now use parking apps
To help drivers understand where connectivity has improved, VodafoneThree has launched a network improvement postcode checker, allowing people to see whether recent network upgrades have enhanced coverage and performance in their area.
Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer at VodafoneThree said: “Reliable connectivity has never been more important.
“By eliminating 16,500km² of not spots across the country, we’re removing some of the everyday frustrations that millions of customers face when simple things like paying for parking or downloading an app don’t work.
“These issues don’t just affect drivers, they have a knock-on-effect on local businesses and tourism. Our network improvements help keep those communities moving by ensuring that people can get where they need to go and support the places they love.
“And this is just the start. We’re continuing our mission to build the UK’s best network, so customers can stay connected where they live, work or travel.”
This milestone forms part of VodafoneThree’s £11 billion investment to build the UK’s best network, connecting every community across all four nations.
Through this long- term investment, VodafoneThree will bring 5G Standalone coverage to 99% of the population by 2030, and 99.96% by 2034 – delivering the resilient, high-quality digital infrastructure needed to support businesses, boost local economies, and power the country’s future growth.
