topic Re: Coverage in Barnet in Mobile Network discussions

Coverage in Barnet

Leanne_T — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:39:28 GMT

Update: 24 April 2026

Over the past few weeks, our engineers have been continuing negotiations with the site provider for planning approval for the first location. Pending a positive outcome from the negotiations, we can start legal steps to legally acquire the land from the site provider and start building the equipment needed for the new mast.

Our engineers have located an area for a temporary mast to be installed and are working with the site provider to conduct surveys to make sure the area will be suitable for the equipment.

We will keep you updated on this post.

Update: 26 March 2026

Over the past few days, our engineers have optimised some of the existing sites in the area to support customers that have been impacted from the removal of the existing mast.

Our engineers are looking at other temporary options to restore service as quickly as possible to Barnet, whilst continuing with the surveys for a new permanent mast at the new location.

We will keep you updated on this post.

We are aware of a signal issue that is affecting some of our customers in the Barnet area. Our mast in the area had to be removed from the existing site in March 2026, as the building is being redeveloped.

Our engineers began looking for a new location as soon as we were made aware our equipment had to be removed. We have located an area for the new mast and are currently conducting surveys to make sure the location will be suitable for the equipment. Pending a positive outcome from the surveys, we can start legal steps to legally acquire the land from the site provider and start building the equipment needed for the new mast.

We will keep you updated on this post.

We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused. In the meantime, you may be able to use WiFi Calling to make and receive calls and texts over a WiFi connection.

For information on who can use WiFi Calling and how to set up this service, please see our Using WiFi Calling, Help page.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

JG131 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:41:21 GMT

What are you proposing customers do who don’t have WiFi? And for customers that do have WiFi what are they meant to do while they are out of the house?

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Yet2 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:37:49 GMT

Firstly, WiFi calling drains battery. Once EE were made aware that your mast had to be relocated, before removing the current mast a site should have been sought and a new mast erected so your many customers are not affected. Besides no warning was sent to your customers and I for one was wondering what the problem is. We should be told when you hope to restore normal service and not WIFI calling.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Seb07 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:05:19 GMT

So when are you planning to have the new mast installed? Is it going to be days, weeks or months as i don’t think we as customer should be paying for a service that we are not receiving.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

G15borne — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:14:31 GMT

I am sorry but this seems highly unsatisfactory. I rely on a 4G mifi device for internet connectivity, which most importantly enables me to work from home. At the moment my partner and I are unable to make calls or get online from the comfort of our own house.!! The update above seems to indicate that it will be a considerable time before the situation is rectified, given that it refers to carrying out surveys and acquiring land, what do you suggest I do in the meantime?

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Helenamj1 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 23:08:39 GMT

Dear EE,

The ongoing signal issue in the Barnet area is unacceptable. We are currently paying for a service that is not being delivered, with no clear resolution timeline provided.

WiFi calling is not an adequate substitute for a mobile network, and this does not resolve the impact on our day to day use.

Given the lack of service, we require a clear and immediate solution. This must include either a reliable temporary alternative or confirmation that we can exit our contract without penalty. In addition, we expect appropriate compensation for the period in which the service has not been available.

Please confirm how you intend to resolve this situation as a matter of urgency!

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Yet2 — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:32:14 GMT

I called wanting to exit my contract as WiFi calling is not a solution as this depends on you having WiFi and besides it drains battery. I was told I could not but we should have a right to do so considering we are paying for services we are not enjoying.

i agree with you 100% EE should let us know how they intend to resolve this unacceptable situation as a matter of urgency.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Yet2 — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:38:04 GMT

I think we may have to contact Communication Ombudsman if EE does not let us out of our contract and we have no service.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Jedijonboy — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:35:33 GMT

Hi this seems absolutely ridiculous! Was no one going to notify anyone that this was happening?

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Lewis205 — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:46:24 GMT

This is wholly unacceptable. You have people on plans in this area that took them out on the basis of the signal available to them.

You can’t just say you’re planning to build a new mast at some point in the future. Totally open ended like that. It’s not good enough. We need clear timeframes.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Leanne_T — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:50:06 GMT

Hi everyone.

Once we have more information for the area, the main post will be updated.

If you're affected by the mast being offline and would like to discuss your options, please get in touch with our tech guides.

Leanne.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Jedijonboy — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 06:59:11 GMT

These updates are insulting to say the least ! Why was this not properly planned and your customers not informed what was happening? I will be contacting EE again this week looking for a full refund for every day my phone doesn’t work! You are taking us for fools!

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Ekilu — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:25:33 GMT

I don’t have WiFi at home, I’m currently having to travel somewhere to access WiFi. From my home I cannot access the internet, I cannot call anyone, even calling EE the call keeps failing, and my texts are taking ages to go through. I live alone and have no family in the area. I’ve been cut off from everyone because of this. I called on Monday and was told it would be fixed in a few hours. I called on Tuesday and was told it would be fixed by Wednesday. I called today and was told to call back for an update in 7-10 days. That’s outrageous. When I asked what could be done I got given a sales pitch to buy EE WiFi. Top tip: don’t advertise another service when you can’t deliver the one I’m already paying for. I don’t have WiFi as I already have (or am supposed to have) unlimited data. I am a student and cannot afford to spend extra money every month for WiFi, whether the first few months are free or not I do not want to sign up to anything else from EE. We should have been warned this was happening, EE should have found a new place for the mast before this even became an issue. I have loved ones in and out of the hospital that I cannot contact. What’s happened is absolutely outrageous and I plan to move to a different company. Can’t change contract? You’re not fulfilling your role of providing the service I pay for.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

cje85 — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:18:39 GMT

@Yet2 wrote:
I called wanting to exit my contract as WiFi calling is not a solution as this depends on you having WiFi and besides it drains battery.

Which phone are you using? In all the tests i've seen/read, WiFi calling significantly improves battery life, especially if the mobile signal is weak. Maintaining a network connection when the signal is weak uses up much more battery power, which is saved if you use WiFi instead.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

RobertH2 — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:00:47 GMT

This is just crazy! I cannot use my phone outside my house, it's creating dangerous situations. My kid's school tried to call me many times as something happened at school. This needs to fixed YESTERDAY.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Jedijonboy — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:03:18 GMT

Hi everyone just to say ive just called EE again and the refunded my phone rental for the month no questions… why this isn’t being handled properly is disgraceful

They are conning us .. the guy said it could be months before it’s resolved and to call every month and have the rental reimbursed

Re: Coverage in Barnet

Franwall47 — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:48:46 GMT

Just spoken to EE and they have no time scale for this work - apparently priority 3 but not a 4 which is the highest! My broadband is with Sky which is not compatible with WiFi calling with EE so currently cannot make or receive calls. Advisor told me to either take EE broadband or move to a different supplier!

Re: Coverage in Barnet

bristolian — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:07:06 GMT

There's a couple of "wires crossed" in the most recent post.

@Franwall47 wrote:
Just spoken to EE and they have no time scale for this work - apparently priority 3 but not a 4 which is the highest!

This sounds like a reference to the fault-ticketing system, rather than the install of the new network site.

@Franwall47 wrote:
My broadband is with Sky which is not compatible with WiFi calling with EE ... Advisor told me to either take EE broadband or move to a different supplier!

WiFi-calling is quite intentionally compatible with any broadband, that's the whole basis for it. In actuality, it's not even the broadband that matters. but the wireless router. WiFi-calling is no more-or-less an internet function than web-browsing, emailing or video-calling.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

SM0909 — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 21:32:59 GMT

I don’t think it’s fair that we’re paying for a service we are not receiving. I am so heavily pregnant and my partner leaves to go to work and I cannot call him in an emergency. It’s unfair to suggest using WiFi as people may not have access to WiFi! I’m also due to go into hospital and when leaving the house I cannot be accessed by anyone now.

Re: Coverage in Barnet

cje85 — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:53:48 GMT

@Franwall47 wrote:
Just spoken to EE and they have no time scale for this work - apparently priority 3 but not a 4 which is the highest! My broadband is with Sky which is not compatible with WiFi calling with EE so currently cannot make or receive calls. Advisor told me to either take EE broadband or move to a different supplier!

As Bristolian says WiFI calling will work with any broadband provider. It doesn't have to be EE. Sky broadband will work fine, as will any ISP.

I have had a look at the Barnet council planning page and can see many applications for new masts (mainly from Three) have been refused over the past few years. It looks like the council and/or local objections make it very difficult to get planning permission for new masts, so this may go on for some time.