Issues affecting network availability

• Network availability issues


  • Depends on money
  • Depends on location (country, city vs rural)
  • Concentrated in cities
• Map of London


  • Strong signal in red areas
  • Weak signal in blue/uncolored areas
• Rural areas often have very weak mobile network coverage
• Phone companies and internet companies focus on cities as more people live there
• 5G is being rolled out in cities first as it requires new infrastructure
• Black spots


  Areas with no or very poor network coverage, often in rural locations or blocked by physical obstacles
• Buildings can block wireless signals like WiFi and 4G/5G
• Interference


  Caused by other radio waves and microwaves, can slow down networks
• Developed countries have better internet infrastructure than developing/least developed countries
• Only 19% of citizens in least developed countries had access to internet in 2019