OFCOM reports highlight benefit of multi-network SIM cards
OFCOM publish a series of Connected Nations Reports containing crucial statistics and figures we can use to measure the effectiveness of a multi-network SIM card for your IoT application.
Analysing the OFCOM connected nations report 2022 reveals that utilising a multi-network SIM card rather than a single network SIM card improves landmass coverage significantly. The whole report may be accessed here: Connected Nations 2022: UK report.
Page 34 includes coverage statistics for all mobile networks as well as partial coverage from at least one network. This is important because a multi-network SIM card will receive signal where there is partial coverage, whereas a single network SIM card may only receive signal where there is full coverage.
- Full Coverage – 70%
- Full and Partial Coverage – 22%
- *No Coverage – 8%
Using these numbers as a baseline, we can conclude that a multi-network SIM card provides coverage across an additional 31.4% of the UK mainland compared to a standard SIM card. Next, we may go further into the OFCOM connected nations update fall 2022 figures, which reveal the geographic areas not served by any operator (not spots).
- England – 2%
- Northern Ireland – 3%
- Scotland – 17%
- Wales – 10%
From these figures, we can calculate the geographic coverage provided by a multi-network SIM as follows:
- England – 98%
- Northern Ireland – 97%
- Scotland – 83%
- Wales – 90%