Many factors may be responsible for a bad mobile signal. Whether you’re at an office park, on the road, caught in a storm, or in a foreign country, here are some of the reasons your signal could be poor.

Distance from cell tower

The most common reason for poor mobile signal on your device, whether it’s a premium 5G handset or entry-level smartphone, is the distance you are from the nearest cell tower. This is why if you are traveling on the road, you may notice sporadic signal as the car is moving, or if you venture into remote areas, you may not find signal.

Man-made obstacles

Another reason may be that there are obstacles between your device and the nearest cell tower. This could be buildings, walls, fences, etc. whether you’re inside a flat, house, hotel, or office building. In the US for example, they use a different 5G frequency – mmWave, which means you need to be closer to it for better signal, unlike in South Africa.

Weather conditions

Severe weather conditions can also affect mobile signals due to their impact on electromagnetic waves, which are used to transmit cellular signals. Raindrops can weaken signals because they absorb or scatter radio waves, so the heavier the rain, the worse it gets. This applies to fog, mist, snow, or atmospheric conditions. Lightning strikes, however, may cause power surges, or damage to infrastructure.

Obstructions

Other obstructions could be trees or mountains, which are more prominent when you go on a safari or a remote cabin in the mountains. Also, if you are driving up a mountain pass, it may become more apparent. The more barriers between you and a cell tower, the weaker the signal.

Interference

Other electronic devices, power lines, and wireless signals can also be the reason for poor signal, which causes disruptions or weakens it. This happens when electromagnetic signals or radio frequencies interfere with the transmission of cellular signals.

Network congestion

While not your typical form of interference, but network congestion may also be the cause, depending on your circumstances. This happens when too many users are trying to access the same tower simultaneously. High demand can overload the network, which decreases signal strength. An example of this is if you are attending a music concert or live sporting event at a stadium.

Low battery

A low battery may be the cause of poor signal as phones automatically reduce transmitting power to conserve energy. This could result in your device prioritising power conservation and reducing background tasks, which may result in dropped calls as it struggles to establish a connection.

Technical issues

If none of the above are the cause for the poor mobile signal on your device, you may have to get your phone checked out to rule out a faulty antenna or perhaps software glitches. Pay attention if you may have dropped your phone or if there is a new OS update.

Vodacom is SA’s most reliable network

Sometimes signal problems can’t be avoided, but Vodacom gives you the best chance of a good connection. This is according to the biannual network report posted by independent benchmarking organisation Umlaut, which ranked Vodacom as SA’s most reliable network. Discover this for yourself by joining Vodacom now.