As festival season kicks off, Brits across the country will be bracing themselves for the inevitable challenge of patchy mobile reception...

• As festival season kicks off, Uswitch.com mobiles expert reveals top tip for better phone signal at some of the top UK events this summer
• A third of festival-goers have worried about poor signal affecting their experience[1]
• Some festivals collaborate with network providers to offer enhanced connectivity during the event, so switching to a different provider could give you a better signal

As festival season kicks off, Brits across the country will be bracing themselves for the inevitable challenge of patchy mobile reception. 

With a third of festival-goers saying they have worried about phone signal[1], Uswitch mobiles expert Ernest Doku shares his hack to help keep you connected all weekend long.

“Festivals are a staple of British summertime, but no one wants patchy mobile reception to get in the way of having a good time. Whether you’re trying to find friends, update your stories or check set times, there is an easy step you can take to ensure the best signal possible.

“Some festivals partner with a mobile provider to provide enhanced connectivity to attendees. You can usually find this detail on the festival website. This better signal will apply not only to the specific provider but also any smaller ones that use their network. 

“For example, if you’re heading to Glastonbury which partners with Vodafone, you can also use a VOXI or Lebara SIM as they run off Vodafone’s network.

“Providers do this by setting up extra temporary 4G and 5G masts at the festival site, which works like a mobile phone booster, just on a much, much larger scale. These masts mean that the network can handle more people using data, making calls and sending messages at once.

“It’s simple and cheap to make use of this hack even if you’re with a different provider. You can buy a one-month rolling eSIM for as little as £6 for 5GB of data and you can cancel at any time[2], although you will need to pay for a month minimum. 

“Plus, eSIMs are entirely digital, allowing for quick setup, and most phones support having two numbers simultaneously, so you don’t have to cancel your existing plan if you don’t want to.

“You can even do this hack for free if you don’t mind waiting until you’re at the festival. For example, Three and Vodafone offer free eSIM trails at festivals they collaborate with.”

Ernest shares his top festival tech tips for Brits this summer:

• Check your drawers for an older device: Theft can be rife at festivals - if you don’t want to risk taking your shiny new device, check your drawers in case you have an older device lying around that can do the job instead.
• Look into a ‘festival phone’: If you don’t have an older device lying around but don’t want to bring your new one, you can purchase a low-cost 4G device SIM free. What these phones lack in camera performance and raw processing power, they make up for with outstanding battery life, which can be especially helpful for longer events.
• Extra juice - If you’re going to a multi-day festival, battery packs are a must when packing for a festival. For around £20, you can get your hands on a 20,000mAh power bank with more than enough juice to charge a smartphone multiple times.
• Check your location settings -  Make sure your phone’s geo-location is turned on. It’ll help your friends find you quickly if you get separated.
• Have a back up plan - Write your mates’ phone numbers on a small bit of paper. If your phone dies or goes missing, you can borrow someone else's and still get in touch.
• Download the app - Most festivals will have an official app which will include a wealth of information to help you get the most out of your experience. You can use it to check set times, plan your day, and avoid clashes between must-see acts.

If you’re heading to a UK festival this summer you don’t need to put up with bad signal. Visit Uswitch.com for the best eSIM only deals for your festival trip.