Selecting a UK cell community supplier is extra difficult than ever. It’s not so simple as choosing between EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone.
These are the 4 important UK networks however there are additionally many different small firms that use the 4 huge networks to offer cell companies, usually at a reduced charge.
The standard and pace of your cell community is important to your skill to work and play on the transfer, so which is greatest? As with the perfect telephones, there’s no one-size-fits-all reply right here however there are a number of worthwhile choices, providing a myriad of various advantages, catering to completely different wants.
Connectivity can differ from place to put and daily. Go to the web sites of all the key gamers and they’re going to let you know that they’ve nice protection, in every single place. The reality is extra nuanced.
Should you’ve already obtained a contract and are contemplating shopping for a brand new telephone or switching to a special community, right here’s the way to learn the way lengthy is left in your contract, after which the way to improve your contract early.
You may additionally be happy to listen to that text-to-switch makes it simpler than ever to swap to a brand new community within the UK.
It’s vital to be sure to know when your contract ends with the intention to guarantee that you’re not being overcharged. In accordance with Residents Recommendation, in 2017 greater than six million folks have been nonetheless being charged for cellphones they’ve already paid for.
How one can get 5G
The most popular matter within the cell house proper now’s 5G, which is rolling out throughout the UK. You could need to hold this in thoughts when selecting which community to modify to.
In addition to a service that helps 5G (we cowl which of them do, don’t and can down beneath) you additionally want to make sure that you’ve obtained a 5G-capable telephone with the intention to entry these quicker knowledge speeds.
Discover out every little thing you should learn about 5G within the UK right here.
What’s the perfect telephone community within the UK?
First, let’s take a look on the choices. There are literally solely 4 main cell networks within the UK, however there are a number of further choices that use branded companies that piggyback off of the infrastructure laid out by the large 4. The latter are literally classed as Cell Digital Community Operators or MVNOs and don’t have their very own community house.
The large 4 are:
EE has the most important variety of piggybackers, together with ASDA Cell, BT Cell, Plusnet, Virgin Cell (for now) and HMD Cell.
O2’s piggybackers embody Giffgaff, Tesco Cell and Sky Cell.
Three’s embody iD Cell and SMARTY, whereas Vodafone’s embody Discuss Cell and VOXI.
It’s price maintaining this in thoughts when contemplating which supplier you’d like to make use of, as protection for the community you employ could differ relying on the place you might be within the UK. You should utilize Ofcom’s protection checker to search out out.
The issue with having simply 4 networks is that, if a kind of 4 suffers any form of service outage, the possibilities are all of its piggybackers will too. For instance, in December 2018, O2 clients and clients of all the O2 piggybackers went with out 4G for a whole day, inflicting chaos throughout the UK.
Under, we take a fast have a look at every operator and what they provide proper now.
In accordance with RootMetrics, EE is the supplier of the perfect cell protection throughout the UK. Vodafone is the second-best possibility, whereas Three is third in Wales and England adopted by O2, and vice versa for Northern Eire and Scotland.
There’s additionally the caveat of Virgin Media and O2’s merger, which went public on 1 June 2021. As the 2 manufacturers have began to remodel their companies with the intention to function as a single entity (merely known as Virgin Media O2), current clients who already subscribe to each Virgin Media’s dwelling broadband and an O2 cell plan have already began to see a shift in what advantages are being made out there to them.
The primary true jointly-created Virgin Media O2 product – Volt – brings each double knowledge on O2 cell plans and free upgraded Virgin Media dwelling broadband speeds. Those that already subscribe to companies from simply one of many two manufacturers will even profit from reductions and affords discovered with the opposite.
Lastly, when you’ve obtained (or are about to get) an iPhone, learn Finest community for iPhone, which supplies particular recommendation.
BT Cell
- EE piggybacker
- Good for BT Broadband clients
- Affords 5G
- Discover out extra at BT.com
BT is among the newer gamers available in the market, utilizing its branded companies on EE’s UK community. It’s possibility if you have already got BT Broadband as you’ll be able to apply to profit from a £5 month-to-month low cost in your cell plan.
What’s extra, BT Halo clients (BT’s newest and most superior dwelling broadband providing) profit from double knowledge in the event that they determine to select up a BT Cell plan too, to not point out a 20% (minimal) low cost on any further Household SIMs.
BT additionally affords SIM-only plans for fairly first rate costs. Because it’s on EE’s community (which itself is a mix of the outdated T-Cell and Orange UK networks) you’re more likely to get wonderful protection and good obtain speeds.
Discover out extra on BT’s web site.
EE
- One of many ‘huge 4’
- Nice protection throughout a lot of the UK
- Information caps
- Advantages for EE Residence Broadband clients
- UK’s greatest 5G community – in accordance with RootMetrics
- Discover out extra at EE.co.uk
EE is one thing of a behemoth within the UK cell market. It was purchased by BT in 2016 however that gained’t actually have an effect on your selection of community.
EE’s community is comprised of the outdated T-Cell and Orange frequencies, so there’s loads of protection nationally, with few black spots.
Its telephone contract costs could be a tad dear, however for sheer confidence in protection (and a giant model identify besides) it’s a strong selection.
In August 2019 it introduced some really limitless 4G (and extra just lately 5G) knowledge plans that additionally allow you to share as much as 120GB a month with some other EE cell line linked to your account.
You’ll get EU roaming (utilizing your customary plan allowances) for £2 a day, there are knowledge caps out there, and when you get EE Residence Broadband you will get a cell knowledge increase of as much as 20GB per thirty days.
EE has additionally gained uSwitch’s Quickest Cell Community for 3 years in a row, since 2019. It additionally affords the perfect and quickest total 5G protection in accordance with RootMetrics’s H1 2021 research.
Discover out extra over on EE’s web site.
Giffgaff
- O2 piggybacker
- Easy SIM-only Goodybags which you can change or cancel any time
- Affords 5G
- Discover out extra at Giffgaff.com
Owned by O2, Giffgaff is a bit of operator however one with engaging SIM-only offers. Utilizing its proprietor’s community, it affords nice worth Goodybags, such because the £10 per thirty days, 15GB possibility.
It has additionally upped its £20 Goodybag knowledge allowance from 20GB to 100GB, whereas £35 will get you limitless knowledge (that’s speed-capped after you’ve used 80GB price).
It’s a effective selection when you already personal a handset – simply get a SIM and also you’re good to go. Nevertheless, it does provide telephones on a contract when you want each.
Offered you arrange auto-renewing funds, you’ll be able to select from considered one of Giffgaff’s Golden Goodybags, which supply higher worth for cash, with bigger quantities of knowledge.
Go to Giffgaff’s web site to search out out extra.
HMD Cell
- EE piggybacker
- Unique to Nokia telephone homeowners
- 5G and 4G
- EU roaming at no further value
- Discover out extra at HMDGlobal.com
Launching alongside the Nokia X20 and G10, in early Might 2021, HMD International additionally pulled the wraps off its new MVNO – HMD Cell – which turns the buying course of on its head considerably.
Fairly than shopping for a telephone and a plan from a service, these choosing up a telephone direct from Nokia’s web site even have the chance to pair it with an HMD Cell SIM.
HMD Cell goals to supply short-term plans with the advantages of a long-term contract; with 4 tariffs at the moment out there, providing limitless calls and texts, together with 2GB, 10GB, 25GB or 50GB of knowledge from £8 on a rolling 30-day contract.
It launched with 4G solely, however HMD has since introduced 5G compatibility.
Piggybacking off EE’s community additionally ensures nice nationwide protection too, and whereas EE has reintroduced a type of roaming expenses, HMD Cell hasn’t – inside the EU, a minimum of.
Discover out extra on HMD International’s web site.
O2
- One of many ‘huge 4’
- Gained uSwitch’s Finest Community Protection award ’19, ’20, ’21
- Unique advantages for Virgin Media & O2 clients
- Affords 5G
- Discover out extra at O2.co.uk
O2 is a model that has been round since 2002 within the UK and operates as some of the well-known operators round. The community boasts wonderful protection and the corporate affords customers nice flexibility; corresponding to letting you pair telephone and tariffs plans of various size (as much as 36 months), independently.
O2’s latest merger with Virgin Media (to make Virgin Media O2), hasn’t instantly impacted O2 clients in any significant manner, apart from having access to new advantages, on prime of current perks, like O2 Precedence, which affords clients entry to distinctive perks, like gig tickets.
As Virgin Media O2, the corporate additionally gained Rootmetrics’ UK Community Accessibility Award within the first half of 2021 too, to not point out it’s the one member of the ‘huge 4’ that hasn’t reinstated roaming expenses inside the EU, making it preferrred for travellers.
Get extra data on O2’s web site.
Plusnet
- EE piggybacker
- Information caps
- No tethering expenses
- No telephone contracts out there, simply SIM-only choices
- 5G not but out there
- Discover out extra at plus.web
Plusnet, which was as soon as LIFE Cell, makes use of EE in the identical manner that BT Cell does, which means you’ll be able to count on actually dependable protection. It hasn’t but made the soar to 5G although, so it’s solely utilizing (a part of) the service’s 4G infrastructure in the intervening time (which continues to be famously sturdy, concern not).
Perks embody no further expenses for tethering and the flexibility to set a month-to-month worth cap to cease any nasty surprises showing in your invoice. It’s SIM-only possibility with very affordable pricing.
It gained uSwitch’s ‘Finest Community for Buyer Service’ and ‘Finest Worth Pay Month-to-month Community’ awards in 2020.
Discover out extra and see offers on Plusnet’s web site.
Sky Cell
- O2 piggybacker
- Limitless streaming on Sky apps
- Piggybank Rewards
- Versatile plans
- uSwitch Community of the Yr 2020
- Affords 5G
- Discover out extra at Sky.com
One of many latest additions to the UK cell market, Sky has turn into a ‘quad-play’ supplier by including cell to its TV, broadband and landline choices.
You simply pay for a way a lot knowledge you need, on a plan that makes use of Virgin Media O2’s community. The corporate additionally seems to have eliminated the roadblock of unique advantages for current Sky clients, which means perks like free limitless calls and texts at the moment are customary on each plan, for everybody.
There’s additionally a enjoyable function known as Piggybank Rewards, which suggests clients can money of their unused knowledge allowance for financial savings on telephones, tablets and equipment. That is a part of its ‘Roll’ plans, which additionally permit clients to faucet into their unused knowledge from earlier months at any time for as much as three years.
There are additionally good Swap contracts that permit clients to improve their telephone yearly and Combine, which lets clients change their knowledge allowance every month.
Sky gained Finest Pay Month-to-month Community and Finest Worth Pay Month-to-month Community in uSwitch’s 2021 awards, in addition to ‘Community of the Yr’, ‘Finest Community for Information’ and ‘Finest Pay Month-to-month Community’ final yr, as nicely.
You’ll discover extra data on Sky Cell’s web site.
SMARTY
- Three piggybacker
- SIM-only community
- Easy and inexpensive
- Affords 5G
- Discover out extra at SMARTY.co.uk
SMARTY is a comparatively unknown SIM-only community, powered by Three.
It’s designed with simplicity and transparency in thoughts, providing three knowledge low cost plans – which embody a refund for unused knowledge, 5 aggressive knowledge plans – providing 4GB to 50GB allowances, and one limitless plan. You may change or cancel your plan at any time.
This relative beginner gained uSwitch’s: ‘Finest Worth SIM-only Community’ awards in 2019 and 2020, and ‘Finest PAYG Community’ in 2021 and gained 5G at no further value in early 2022.
You’ll discover extra data on the SMARTY web site.
Tesco Cell
- O2 piggybacker
- Low cost SIM offers
- Affords 5G plans, together with SIM-only
- Discover out extra at TescoMobile.com
Tesco Cell supplies contracts, PAYG and SIM-only offers at first rate costs. As a result of it makes use of Virgin Media O2’s community, protection can be first rate and sometimes the subsidies for brand spanking new handsets are good besides.
SIM-only costs begin at underneath £9 per thirty days, so when you’ve obtained a handset you already love, you would save some huge cash.
Alternatively, there’s the provide of six months free Clubcard Plus, which doubles the info in your cell contract, features a 10% low cost on two Tesco outlets a month (as much as £40 a month), will get you 10% off chosen Tesco manufacturers in-store – like F&F Clothes and double Clubcard factors, nabbing you 2 factors for each £1 in your Tesco Cell invoice – eligible on choose pay month-to-month contracts on Anytime Improve and SIM-only plans.
Discover out extra over on Tesco Cell’s web site.
Three
- One of many ‘huge 4’
- All-you-can-eat knowledge out there
- Go Binge knowledge options
- Affords 5G
- Discover out extra at Three.co.uk
Three affords moderately priced ‘all-you-can-eat’ knowledge bundles. That’s proper, limitless knowledge. Should you can afford it, you will get the perfect handsets within the land with limitless web entry.
Plus, even when you don’t select an all you’ll be able to eat package deal, you’ll have the ability to stream reveals from Netflix, TVPlayer, Dave and Historical past Channel, in addition to songs from Deezer, Apple Music and SoundCloud infinitely, with out it counting in direction of your knowledge allowance with the community’s ‘Go Binge’ function.
Pay as you go charges are additionally fairly first rate when you don’t want as a lot knowledge, minutes or texts.
As soon as the king of roaming plans (earlier than the consequences of Brexit took maintain), the service nonetheless affords first rate charges inside the EU.
uSwitch additionally awarded Three the ‘Finest Community for Roaming’ and the ‘Most In style Cell Community’ in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Click on right here for extra data over on Three’s web site.
- Vodafone piggybacker
- Information rollover
- Versatile plans
- Information-free messaging
- Affords 5G
- Discover out extra at VirginMedia.com
Virgin Media was late to the get together with 4G and 5G however has caught up and is a sexy possibility when you already get your broadband connection and TV from Virgin Media O2, chopping down the variety of tech suppliers you need to cope with.
It affords knowledge rollover options and allows you to message on WhatsApp, Fb Messenger and Twitter with out consuming into your allowance. There’s the flexibility to alter your plan each month, too.
As an MVNO, Virgin Media clients are literally counting on Vodafone’s networks at current however with the Virgin Media O2 merger, there’s each probability it’ll all swap to the O2 community, quickly sufficient.
Virgin Media’s web site affords extra data.
Vodafone
- One of many ‘huge 4’
- Massive knowledge plans out there
- Affords 5G
- Discover out extra at Vodafone.co.uk
Vodafone is a staple model within the UK cell market and its protection is great but it surely has suffered from stories of unhealthy customer support over the previous few years.
Nevertheless, the precise community itself supplies dependable quick 4G and 5G connectivity, and its SIM-only offers are nicely priced.
You’ll discover extra data on Vodafone’s web site right here.