Leith and Stockbridge, Edinburgh - Very slow data

[edinburgh_97]

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.

[edinburgh_97]

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. 

[Scottymeuk]

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. 

[edinburgh_97]

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.

[toby10ant]

Have lived and worked in these areas for six years now, and it has always been bad, but it is even worse recently. Please can EE share some data on the actual coverage they record

[edinburgh_97]

It does feel like it has become worse. When i first joined EE 4 years ago, coverage was bad in Stockbridge, but band 20 was always “useable” enough outdoors to send messages, get emails and view websites. Now my phone says i am offline when i enter this area, and it comes back online when you leave. Band 20 is perpetually dead, at all hours of the day and night. 
Both Leith and Stockbridge are such busy areas that band 20 cannot cope. It’s meant as an indoor coverage layer, but here it is the only band you can connect to even outdoors. 

[edinburgh_97]

Just came across this post from yesterday on Reddit too:

Mobile phone dead spots : r/Edinburgh

It seems many people are having issues in Stockbridge, like some of the comments say it is one of the busiest areas in the city and a tourist hotspot. With no EE masts in the vicinity, overcrowded band 20 outdoors and no internet connection whatsoever.