How Can I Boost My Mobile Signal in Rural Areas?

The countryside has many mesmerising qualities. From open space, to picturesque settings and a never-ending list of wildlife. But in this modern world, what is the one thing the countryside doesn’t have that everyone needs? Signal. That’s where the expert team at NetCov can help.

If your home or business is based in a rural location, chances are you might be struggling with poor mobile connectivity. So, how can you improve mobile signal strength in rural areas?

To get a better mobile signal, you can try moving to a different location, perhaps outside, or checking your phone’s WiFi calling settings. You can also check if another network offers better coverage in your area. However, the only way to consistently improve rural mobile signal quality is through a high-performance signal booster.

Keep reading to learn more about boosting your cell phone signal in a rural area, how you check your mobile network coverage and the reasons for poor rural mobile connectivity.

Jump to section:

• How to Boost Phone Signal in Rural Areas​
  • Change Locations
  • Switch Mobile Network Operator
  • Enable WiFi Calling
  • Invest in a Signal Booster
• How Can I Check the Strength of My Mobile Signal in a Rural Area?
  • Signal Bars
  • Field Test Mode (iOS) or Service Mode (Android)
  • Signal Strength Measurement Apps
• Why Is Signal So Bad in Rural Areas?

How to Boost Your Phone Signal in Rural Areas​

According to Ofcom’s 2024 Connected Nations report, 95% of the UK now has 4G coverage from at least one network operator, hitting one of the key targets of the Shared Rural Network programme. However, while 98% of urban areas have outdoor 4G coverage from all Main Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), only 78% of rural areas have access to the same level of 4G connectivity. This is a significant difference and shows the problems faced by many homes and businesses in rural areas.

If you’re struggling with poor mobile connectivity, here are some tips on improving the strength and consistency of your cellular signal.

1. Change Locations

Building materials, such as brick, concrete and steel, can significantly reduce mobile signal strength. Stepping outside can dramatically improve signal quality, which can make a real difference if you need to make an important call. Different areas of your home or workplace might also have different levels of connectivity, so try to find a position where your signal is strongest.

Here are some of our top tips:

• Stand outside in an open space with no obstacles.
• Position yourself next to a window.
• Move to higher ground, either upstairs or on a nearby hill.
• Avoid basements.

However, all these tips are just short-term solutions and standing outside to make a phone call is not always feasible, especially with the weather in the UK! For a long-term solution to improve rural mobile connectivity for homes and businesses like historical buildings, you’ll need a high-quality signal booster.

2. Switch Mobile Network Operator

Only 78% of rural areas have 4G coverage from all main network operators, so if you have poor mobile signal strength it could be due to your network operator. There are only four main Mobile Network Operators (Three, Vodafone, EE and O2.), all other operators use the network of one of these main operators. So, you can try switching to a different MNO and see if your signal improves.

Before you switch, check the mobile coverage maps from each operator to see what the signal quality is like in your area:

• EE Mobile Coverage Checker
• O2 Network Coverage Checker
• Three Coverage and Network Status Checker
• Vodafone Network Status Checker

3. Enable WiFi Calling

Check your phone’s settings and see if it offers WiFi calling. WiFi calling allows you to make and receive calls and text messages over a WiFi connection rather than cellular signals. In rural areas where mobile signal is weak or non-existent, WiFi calling can be a great option. However, you’ll need to ensure you have a strong and stable WiFi connection – if your WiFi signal is weak, you’ll end up with dropped or missed calls, poor audio quality and delays. You’ll also be limited to the range of your broadband and if you lose your WiFi connection, you won’t be able to use WiFi calling.

4. Invest in a Signal Booster

Investing in a high-performance signal-boosting system is the only long-term solution to improve rural mobile connectivity.

Phone signal boosters in rural areas work by capturing and amplifying the signal you need for your network and sending that signal to your phone without disrupting other features, such as WiFi. This means that wherever you are in your home or workplace, you have the peace of mind that you’re being provided with the strongest mobile signal. At NetCov, we design and install signal boosters for a wide range of rural properties, including farms, warehouses and factories.

How Can I Check the Strength of My Mobile Signal in a Rural Area?

If you’re in a rural area and you’re struggling with unclear voice calls, missed or dropped phone calls and slow mobile internet speeds, you need to understand how to assess your signal strength so that you find a solution to your poor connectivity.

Here are a few tools you can take to assess your current mobile signal. Whichever method you use, it’s best to take readings of your current signal strength in different locations throughout your home or workplace. This will help you understand where your signal is strongest, if you have any dead zones, and where they are.

1. Signal Bars

The quickest way to assess the signal strength in your rural property is to look at the number of bars displayed on your phone signal indicator. This can give you a quick indication of signal strength and help you quickly identify areas where poor mobile connectivity.

2. Field Test Mode (iOS) or Service Mode (Android)

For more detailed information on your signal strength, you can use either Field Test Mode (iOS) or Service Mode (Android) to view your mobile phone signal in dBm.

For iPhones:

• Dial ##4636## to enter field test mode.

For Android:

• Go to Settings > About Phone > Status > SIM Status to find your signal strength in dBm.

A good signal is between -70 and -90 dBm, with -50 dBm translating to exceptional signal strength. However, -120 dBm or lower indicates extremely poor signal quality, which will cause significant issues and may even be unusable.

3. Signal Strength Measurement Apps

You can also use third-party signal strength measurement apps, but you should be wary as some of these are not as accurate as using your smartphone’s built-in signal strength tool. However, some apps, like Network Cell Info Lite, provide additional signal strength data, such as which cellular tower you’re connected to.

Why Is Signal So Bad in Rural Areas?

There are a variety of reasons why signals can be so poor in the countryside. We’ve explained all the potential factors below.

Natural Barriers

The countryside is home to a variety of vast landscapes, from bustling forests to the high peaks of hills and mountains. As beautiful as these features are, they can also block mobile signals, reducing signal strength and leaving you with poor mobile connectivity.

Distance From Mobile Towers

The closer you are to a mobile tower, the better quality of signal you’ll receive. Unfortunately for those who live in the countryside, that means you’re subjected to the lowest quality of signals. Mobile towers are usually where people need them the most, such as in built-up city centres or nearby suburbs. 4G and 5G signals weaken over long distances, meaning you’ll suffer from slow mobile data speeds and poor call quality.

Limited Coverage

As explained above, the further away you are from a signalling tower, the less connectivity you’ll receive. The lack of tower density within the countryside means that your phone signal will be poor, inconsistent and lack essential connectivity.

Building Materials

Many rural homes, farms and agricultural businesses are built from traditional thick stone walls, which can significantly reduce mobile signals. Even many modern building materials, particularly those used in commercial buildings such as steel and concrete, can weaken cellular signals. Energy-efficient construction materials, such as low-emission glass, can also deflect mobile signals and lower connectivity. This makes it much harder to get a reliable mobile connection inside rural homes and businesses.

Whatever the reason for the poor mobile connectivity in your rural property, you can improve it with one of our signal boosters.

Boost Your Rural Mobile Connectivity with NetCov

Luckily for those who live or work in rural areas, there’s a quick and easy solution to fix your connectivity problems. Our mobile phone boosters are the ideal tool to ensure that you’re provided with strong cellular coverage. Installing a signal-boosting system ensures that there are no dead zones and that every area of your rural property has a reliable and high-quality mobile signal.

At NetCov, we specialise in designing and installing high-quality signal-boosting systems for a wide range of rural businesses, homes, workplaces and commercial buildings. For more information on how our connectivity experts can help, simply get in touch with one of our helpful team members today to source your ideal solution.