No mobile signal when power cut takes EE tower down

[JimT77]

We have had a number of power cuts in our area over the last 18 Months. Mostly only a couple of hours but one lasted for nearly three days. The power outage also takes down the nearest EE tower and therefore we get no mobile signal. Our neighbour is on 3 network and still has signal during the outages. Having contacted EE and eventually getting a text conversation with a PERSON, it appears that, in the UK, an EE SIM will not connect to any other providers network. Other than having another providers SIM, has anyone found a way around this EE limitation. Not great service from “The UK’s Number One Network”. Or should that be NOT WORK?

[James_B]

Hi @JimT77,

Welcome to the EE Community. 🙂

I'm sorry to hear you have been left without service after a power cut.

It isn't possible to 'roam' between different networks like you can when travelling abroad. This is the case with all UK mobile networks.

James

[bristolian]

Firstly there's no domestic roaming from any provider except potentially for 999 calls. And all UK network operators are prone to power-cuts affecting radio sites.

Some sites will have BBU of varying capacities, others may have onsite generators - but this all depends on individual site configs & importance within the topology. It maybe that the serving site for 3UK in your case, isn't affected by the power outage.

This is not an EE-specific limitation.

[bristolian]

Firstly there's no domestic roaming from any provider except potentially for 999 calls. And all UK network operators are prone to power-cuts affecting radio sites.

Some sites will have BBU of varying capacities, others may have onsite generators - but this all depends on individual site configs & importance within the topology. It maybe that the serving site for 3UK in your case, isn't affected by the power outage.

This is not an EE-specific limitation.