Mobile Phone Coverage in Skye and Lochalsh
Cell phone coverage Maps Links
If you have any information about this subject, feel free to call us and we will add it to our pages
to: sales@lochalsh.com or 01599 534964 ITS FREE!
The following information is gleaned from local residents in the Skye and Lochalsh areas and also maps provided by the various telecom companies listed below. The information is presented without bias. We cannot accept any responsability for either its accuracy of the information or for your use of same.
Mark Touring Skye Autumn 2012 using 3G from "3"
He works for his company continuously http://www.IMCopywriting.com whilst touring
The report from Mark is at the bottom of this page.
An announcement from Orange and T-Mobile to the effect they will re-brand their 4G products Everything Everywhere or EE with immediate effect. The website is here
There is a useful 2G signal in most of the streetside properties and certainly in the villages. You may however have to be in a specific spot in the accommodation or even outside to get more than 1 or 2 bars. 3G is available in Kyle and half way up Skye. We found you need to be at a window or outside for 3G to work properly.
However you can effectively use 2G for email if you are using text only (and maybe the occasional pic). Also mapping is possible if a bit slow. You would be better with satnav.
COLD SPOTS
Between Sligachan and Dunvegan can be poor.
Parts of West Skye are poor
Parts of the Elgol road are poor
Balmacara
LET US KNOW IF YOU FIND A COLD SPOT!!! sales@lochalsh.com Dont forget to include the name of the cold spot and YOUR network provider. e.g. "I found a cold spot with no signal at Glenbrittle and my network is Orange"
Parts of South Skye just past Broadford can be good!
Some companies linke BT now offer roaming Wi-Fi, so if you are a subscriber to their Internet Plan, you can use one of their HOT SPOTS which you can find on their OpenZone website
NOTE that Orange and T-Mobile have teamed up to combine their coverage at no extra cost to either service. SO... if you are with Orange or T-Mobile, you now have the sum of their individual coverages at no extra cost. You do however have to register your phone at either provider's website. T-Mobile Customers | Orange Customers This currently (November 2010) makes either network a good choice for Skye and Lochalsh.
There is a useful 2G signal in most of the streetside properties and certainly in Kyle of Lochalsh there is 3G. Rated good by local residents who use the service. You may however have to a specific spot in the property to get more than 1 or 2 bars. The T-Mobile coverage map is here
There is a useful 2G signal in most of the streetside properties and certainly in the villages. Rated Good by local residents who use the service. However Orange hooked up with T-Mobile and their service status is above. The Orange Mobile Network Availability map is here
2G Coverage is STANDARD and rated good by most residents who use it. We are currently unaware of 3G anywhere in the area. You can check coverage in outlying areas here
The coverage for O2 is reported as STANDARD - their coverage map is here We are currently unaware of 3G anywhere in the area.
Virgin
Officially stated as NONE in Portree and STANDARD in Kyle of Lochalsh - their coverage map is here There is no 3G (Virgin may have cut a deal with Orange. This means you may be able to use the Orange Network.
3 or Three
Sep 2012 - We received the following report :
Using a laptop with a 3 Three mobile Internet dongle there is excellent coverage in Broadford pretty much 24 hours a day.
Go up the island towards Skye Boat Centre 4.5 miles from Broadford and the connection is still on the whole pretty good. Some days not so good, others like today fantastic.
Towards Moll on the single track road skirting the loch there is also a very good connection speed at night. In fact working at night the speed is comparable to any high speed connection in the UK. Perfect for working online, emails, sending photos, downloading programs fairly quickly and even watching Youtube videos seamlessly if you use Speedbit Accelerator.
Having toured a lot of the island in the past week, the Broadford area is on the whole superb using a 3 Three mobile Internet dongle, " Thanks for the comprehensive report Mark - Ed.
See here for the coverage map.