However, reporters often rely on a data connection and a strong signal to feed material back into the newsroom or be able to upload it themselves, so poor connectivity can make or break a story.
Marc Settle, who specialises in smartphone reporting for the BBC Academy, put together a list of alternatives for when your mobile network is overcrowded and there's a deadline to meet.
He suggests using 2G for texting, switching on and off your phone's 'airplane mode' to get better signal or checking to see if a less subscribed mobile phone tower is close to where you're reporting from.
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