Nkem Ndem Vivienne, Travel/Technology Writer, Jovago, in this article to Technology Times explains simple steps to solve mobile network issues in Nigeria
Have you ever found yourself in a dire situation and you need to make a super urgent call but your phone’s network just will not connect? Or in some cases, it connects and you can’t hear the person and vice versa?
Challenges with mobile phone reception in Nigeria is quite recurrent, and while mobile networks are continuously spreading coverage and installing new phone masts to cope with increasing demand, the frustrating dilemma does not seem to be letting up.
While poor signal strength could be your network carrier’s fault, there are many other reasons why you might be having phone signal issues, and thankfully there is a lot you can can do to rectify the situation by yourself. Jovago.com, Africa’s No. 1 online hotel booking portal presents 4 ways to optimize your chances of getting the best mobile phone signal possible.
Switch to 2G network
Most mobile phones produced in come with the option of a 3G and 4G network. While these networks are designed to deliver high bandwidth to cellphones, they are easily limited as they are affected by distance between the transmission tower and the cellphone; the farther away you are from one, the weaker the signal is going to be.
In situations where you are out of the required range, and the 3G or 4G can no longer function properly, try switching your phone to a 2G network instead. The 2G may offer a lower bandwidth than the newer counterparts making it slower, but it has decent coverage in most places and is certainly much more reliable. An additional advantage of switching to 2G is that you will have higher battery power which will not drain as fast since 2G doesn’t require that much power.
Try installing a cellular repeater
Also known as cell phone signal boosters, cellular repeaters are very good for addressing poor cellphone reception by amplifying a weak signal received via an external antenna and bypassing any obstructions to rebroadcast it over a given area through an internal antenna. This provides a strong signal to an area that was originally lacking.
Despite being a concrete solution for multiple users having signal problems and a common solution for urban settings, repeaters have been known to have some challenges. Not only do they all need at least 2 bars of signal where the antenna is placed to function, Some repeaters might need technical know-how such as configuring the frequency of your carrier to set up and the device tends to be quite expensive.
Contact Your Network Service Provider
If you are quite certain that your network issues are not as a result of signal blockades around your location or as a result of your position, you should definitely call you service provider.
As a paying subscriber, you have the right to let your provider know when their service are not satisfactory and request for solutions to be provided. In Nigeria, this may not be as easy as it sounds. Most times getting a response from the customer care agents can take hours as there are usually a long line of calls waiting. Alternatively, you can make contact via social media. Most network service providers have social media handles and the response via this medium is much quicker.
Change your Network
Every network provider in the country operates independent of one another using their own frequencies. If the issues persist, the best option will be to port to another network. Ensure you search for the telecoms provider in your area who also offers great deals before making the switch.
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