topic Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data in Mobile Network discussions

Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

edinburgh_97 — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 07:49:02 GMT

Hi,

I've been an EE customer for many years now, and generally across the UK I have been very happy with coverage and data speeds.

However, there are two areas in Edinburgh where I have had many issues, even outdoors

Around The Shore and generally in Leith (for example EH6), there is almost no signal outdoors, a weak 800mhz 4G and data doesn't work at all. I cannot order an uber, receive Whatsapp messages or do anything.

In Stockbridge, especially around the area of the Deanhaugh street and Hamilton place, the same issue occurs.

I have an iphone 15 pro max, when I toggle the 5G standalone switch the connection starts working on N28 (700mhz) 5G standalone, but I am quickly dropped back down to 4G band 20 with no data connection whatsoever. It seems the network is configured to prefer 4G band 20 to 5G n28 (700mhz).

Both O2 and Vodafone have much better coverage in these two areas.

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

Schockwave — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:58:27 GMT

Hello. @edinburgh_97 ,

Welcome to the community,

Have you checked here where you can add several places you go to to check, register and receive updates:

https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile-coverage-checker

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

Ali_A — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:23:03 GMT

Hi @edinburgh_97

Thanks for such a clear and well‑explained post, you’ve clearly done your homework here.

It’s frustrating when coverage is generally solid, but a couple of very specific areas let you down, especially outdoors.

Coverage may be affected by a number of factors, such as terrain, tree cover, building materials, as well as the usual weather conditions and how many other people are using the network too.

What you’re seeing in the areas you mentioned is a 4G dominance issue. In those pockets, the network is prioritising 4G band for coverage.

As @shockwave mentioned, you can check coverage and network status at Check mobile coverage, where you can also report any issues you are facing,

Your test with 5G Standalone is really helpful. That band is designed to improve coverage, but at the moment the network can still drop compatible devices back to 4G if the system thinks it’s the more “stable” option,

Something worth trying is Reset network settings (Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Reset, Network Settings). This can clear older cell preferences.

Ali

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

bristolian — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:55:32 GMT

@Ali_A wrote:
Hi @edinburgh_97
Something worth trying is Reset network settings (Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Reset, Network Settings). This can clear older cell preferences.

This will only clear device-based preferences.

If the reselection criteria is network-side, as I suspect this is, then this won't have any impact. But it will remove saved WiFi passwords, which needs to be mentioned. Also it would be extremely unusual for NR700 to be present without any L800, so coverage on both layers should be pretty well identical.

I would be very interested whether reporting this level of detail via the status tool yields any results, in my experience this is geared towards a much more basic level of detail.

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

edinburgh_97 — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:03:33 GMT

Thank you for your replies.

I can confirm in the places I visit, both NR700 and L800 are present, usually the signal strength is about the same outdoors - around -105/-110dB. I've watched my phone switch from NR700 to L800 in the field test and the signal strength stayed the same. The data speeds are dramatically different though - from 25/30mbps on NR700 (n28 standalone) to no data on 4G 800.

This also happens inside shops/pubs/restaurants, 9 times out of 10 I am on band 20 4G with very slow or no data, even though NR700 is available. I don't think it is my phone as I have seen my father's Samsung s24 Ultra also having the same issues with band 20 prioritising over n28 - with no data on 4G band 20.

Leith and Stockbridge are busy areas and ideally EE should look at installing new masts in these areas. Even looking at cellmapper, there is a lot of red indicating poor coverage. Stockbridge below:

O2 and Vodafone have two masts in this area:

The same with Leith:

Vs O2 with two masts in this area:

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

alanmd — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 22:26:02 GMT

Exactly why I'm leaving EE when my contract ends next month.

I work in Leith several times a month and have had no usable data signal there for years, in and around Newhaven and Ocean Terminal. Often struggle to get a text through.

At home in the West of Edinburgh, I have no usable data indoors. Drops from 100Mbs+ outside to zero data inside during office hours, so no longer able to use mobile data as a back up to my broadband.

I don't have access to 5GSA as I renewed before it was a sim only option on All Rounder, it's disappointing to hear that you are being dropped to 4G despite it having no throughput.

The network also frequently drops calls as I drive around Edinburgh.

My Voda work phone has no issue in these areas.

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

edinburgh_97 — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:01:00 GMT

The issue is still ongoing and very frustrating. I ended up stuck with a Voi bike in Stockbridge, unable to lock it as my phone was stuck on 4G band 20 and I had 0 data at all. The app failed to load.

I tried toggling the standalone switch, which worked as I managed to load the app homepage, but by the time i got to locking the bike I was on band 20 4G again and unable to lock it.

In the end, I had to leave and find another parking place about half a mile away to get some signal. I was late for my appointment and ended up paying more for my bike hire as i was unable to lock it.

This whole area has no outdoor data at all, and it is right near the city centre, very busy and popular with tourists too. N28 SA is available, but devices are set to prefer 4G band 20 over this it seems.

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

edinburgh_97 — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:03:38 GMT

In Leith, this whole area has a similar issue. 4G band 20 outdoors (n28 available but won't connect automatically), no data whatsoever. There is a new mast in Newhaven, but it does not reach the Shore or central Leith.

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

Rach_H — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:06:39 GMT

Hi @edinburgh_97,

Welcome back to the Community!

I'm sorry to hear that this is still ongoing and I'd like to get you some further support with this. I'd recommend reaching out to our team, so they can take a deeper look into why this is happening, and work to get this turned around.

Rach

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

alanmd — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 08:12:05 GMT

Been poor for years. I left in the end. There is also something going on with how phones select bands on EE in Edinburgh. Just get parked on the busiest band with no throughput.

The network coverage map also bears no relation to reality. I’m getting better 5g service indoors in a Voda limited area than I could get with EE showing Great indoors.

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

edinburgh_97 — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:39:45 GMT

Thank you, I don't think the technical team would be able to do much as there isn't a technical fault or something to fix.

EE need new masts both in Leith and around Stockbridge, as that is the only real solution to the slow data speeds and poor coverage. There are no masts currently in these areas, hence why phones connect to band 20 outdoors.

It also seems to be a network-wide configuration at the moment that devices are instructed to hand down to 4G band 20 rather than stay on 5G standalone N28. This doesn't just happen in Edinburgh, but it is more noticeable here as whole areas have poor signal outdoors due to a lack of masts.

I don't want to switch to another provider as elsewhere EE is by far a better network, especially in rural areas.

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

Scottymeuk — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:08:52 GMT

Did anyone get anywhere with this? Just moved to Leith, and EE is awful down here near Ocean Terminal. I literally cannot get anything to load at all.

Re: Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

edinburgh_97 — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:03:21 GMT

Yep, I don't know if you have been around The Shore yet too, the network is completely dead there with band 20 outdoors and nothing indoors.

I'm surprised there haven't been more complaints on here about Stockbridge and Leith, they are busy areas and it's very noticeable how entire districts have no data access.