One third of rural mobile phone users say they are dissatisfied with the service they receive.

Users in the countryside experience problems with making phone calls more frequently than their urban counterparts, it found.

But telecoms watchdog Ofcom, which conducted the study, said it wouldn't use the findings to force operators to improve the service

Ofcom's research found that while overall levels of consumer satisfaction with mobile networks are high (76%), this varies by location.

Some 78% of people in urban areas were satisfied with their mobile network, compared to 67% in rural parts of the UK and 70% in remote areas.

Survey participants were asked how often they experienced particular issues with their mobile phone service.

Some 30% of UK consumers said they experienced having no signal or reception at least once per week.

This figure rose to 43% and 47% in rural and remote rural areas respectively.

Furthermore, a lack of signal or reception is a part of daily life for 28% of mobile users in remote rural areas.

This is more common than in rural areas, where 17% experience it daily or urban areas, where 17% experience it daily.

Ofcom said it was making progress on its to help improve mobile coverage in the UK and provide consumers with reliable information on mobile reception.

EE, O2, Three and Vodafone had all agreed to work with Ofcom to develop a common methodology for measuring the rates of calls successfully completed on their networks.

All four mobile providers were now meeting the obligations for 3G mobile, while mobile operators have indicated they intend to match O2's 98% coverage obligation for 4G mobile.

This will extend mobile broadband coverage into many areas still underserved by 3G.

Later this year, Ofcom will be publishing research comparing 3G and 4G mobile broadband speeds, following detailed testing across five UK cities.

This will help consumers choose a service that suits them and encourages providers to improve performance.

Ofcom said it working with the government on its £150m mobile infrastructure project, which is funding mobile phone masts in uncovered areas.

Rural stakeholders welcomed the findings.

Countryside Alliance Sarah Lee said: "The results show that people living in the countryside do not get the same level of service as those in towns and cities, an issue we regularly highlight."

The agreement from the four mobile phone service providers to develop a common methodology for rating phone service would create a very useful tool for consumers, said Ms Lee.

It would allow people to work out which network would give them the best service depending on where they live.

Ofcom's report, Consumer experiences of mobile phone calls, can be downloaded here.