1pMobile - What's the catch?

[Scarletpimpofnel]

I currently use Sky mobile which I understand is a virtual mobile network over O2.

I'm thinking of moving to a 1pMobile SIM only deal. I understand that 1pMobile is a virtual mobile network over EE.

What I am puzzled about is that an EE SIM only 5GB 24 month contract costs £20 pcm. A 1pMobile 25GB SIM only no contract costs £10 pcm.

So 5 times the data at half the price using 1pMobile rather than EE directly.

The only downside I can think of is that any spare data can't be shared with other EE phones I might have. But if both are EE how can 1pMobile provide 5 times the data at half the price with no contract? What's the catch?

Thanks.

[wong]

I switched my kids to 1pMobile 1-2 months ago after following a thread from here. I used https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/compare/sim_only_d... to compare and then chose 1pMobile. Finding it OK for the kids I considered changing my contract from 3; ordered a SIM only deal, but it did not work on my phone. In the small print from 1p, they do not fit (my) One Plus phone, so check if your phone works.

But, Uswitch did have a cheaper 3 deal than on 3's own website, so I manged to change to a cheaper deal with more data anyway.

[Scarletpimpofnel]

wong said:

I switched my kids to 1pMobile 1-2 months ago after following a thread from here. I used https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/compare/sim_only_d... to compare and then chose 1pMobile. Finding it OK for the kids I considered changing my contract from 3; ordered a SIM only deal, but it did not work on my phone. In the small print from 1p, they do not fit (my) One Plus phone, so check if your phone works.

But, Uswitch did have a cheaper 3 deal than on 3's own website, so I manged to change to a cheaper deal with more data anyway.

Thanks, when you say the SIM wouldn't fit, do 1pMobile SIMs not come in the usual range of sizes?

[x5tuu]

While it uses the EE network the MVNO don’t have full bandwidth access to it - it’s throttled so you see slower speeds than if you were with EE directly (and not on one of EEs own throttled contracts, which amazes me that they have tiers but that’s a separate story)

Coverage will be identical though

[Scarletpimpofnel]

x5tuu said:

While it uses the EE network the MVNO don’t have full bandwidth access to it - it’s throttled so you see slower speeds than if you were with EE directly (and not on one of EEs own throttled contracts, which amazes me that they have tiers but that’s a separate story)

Coverage will be identical though

Thanks. I read that it takes longer to get a connection too from say when your phone is turned on (minutes vs seconds). Does that sound plausible?

[Scarletpimpofnel]

Another question: Do they use EE's DNS and all other infrastructure or their own in any way?

[Griffith4ever]

Scarletpimpofnel said:

x5tuu said:

While it uses the EE network the MVNO don’t have full bandwidth access to it - it’s throttled so you see slower speeds than if you were with EE directly (and not on one of EEs own throttled contracts, which amazes me that they have tiers but that’s a separate story)

Coverage will be identical though

Thanks. I read that it takes longer to get a connection too from say when your phone is turned on (minutes vs seconds). Does that sound plausible?

no, that doesn't sound plausible. Network sharing is very common and I've never heard of slow connection issues. We are both on Tesco, which uses the O2 network and it works just as you'd expect an O2 connected phone to work.

There is no "catch " btw, we both pay around £12 a month for more data than we get close to using, plus EU roaming (sending this from Crete).

[wyson]

Scarletpimpofnel said:

Thanks. I read that it takes longer to get a connection too from say when your phone is turned on (minutes vs seconds). Does that sound plausible?

That can be plausible if you have ported your number.

Your number is always managed by your original provider and calls and connections are routed through them. My phone number originated from Orange and was often slow to connect and ring on O2. Coming back to EE (who took over Orange) its much quicker and calls connect instantly.

Not sure how much of an effect the spec of the switching equipment has, but the ported number delay is well known. If you want the best connection performance, you should always use a number originating with your provider.

[x5tuu]

Griffith4ever said:

Scarletpimpofnel said:

x5tuu said:

While it uses the EE network the MVNO don’t have full bandwidth access to it - it’s throttled so you see slower speeds than if you were with EE directly (and not on one of EEs own throttled contracts, which amazes me that they have tiers but that’s a separate story)

Coverage will be identical though

Thanks. I read that it takes longer to get a connection too from say when your phone is turned on (minutes vs seconds). Does that sound plausible?

no, that doesn't sound plausible. Network sharing is very common and I've never heard of slow connection issues. We are both on Tesco, which uses the O2 network and it works just as you'd expect an O2 connected phone to work.

There is no "catch " btw, we both pay around £12 a month for more data than we get close to using, plus EU roaming (sending this from Crete).

It absolutely is plausible (and actual) EE throttle their own direct subscribers - check out their SIMO plans, they offer:
1) No Frills plans that are throttled to 10mb d/l max speeds
2) Essential plans throttled to 100mb d/l max speeds
3) Max plans, unrestricted speeds

They do not let MVNOs access their full, unrestricted bandwidth

[-Cappo-]

My 1p mobile SIM is on it's way and once it arrives I'll be using the PAC code which o2 have supplied me with to terminate my >20 years account with o2. I doubt 1p can be any worse.

[Griffith4ever]

x5tuu said:

Griffith4ever said:

Scarletpimpofnel said:

x5tuu said:

While it uses the EE network the MVNO don’t have full bandwidth access to it - it’s throttled so you see slower speeds than if you were with EE directly (and not on one of EEs own throttled contracts, which amazes me that they have tiers but that’s a separate story)

Coverage will be identical though

Thanks. I read that it takes longer to get a connection too from say when your phone is turned on (minutes vs seconds). Does that sound plausible?

no, that doesn't sound plausible. Network sharing is very common and I've never heard of slow connection issues. We are both on Tesco, which uses the O2 network and it works just as you'd expect an O2 connected phone to work.

There is no "catch " btw, we both pay around £12 a month for more data than we get close to using, plus EU roaming (sending this from Crete).

It absolutely is plausible (and actual) EE throttle their own direct subscribers - check out their SIMO plans, they offer:
1) No Frills plans that are throttled to 10mb d/l max speeds
2) Essential plans throttled to 100mb d/l max speeds
3) Max plans, unrestricted speeds

They do not let MVNOs access their full, unrestricted bandwidth

That's not what I was referring to. I was responding to "several minute delays when the phone connects to the network".

I use my phone in the UK and abroad, a lot, and never have I thought, "that's slow". Though like I said, I'ts not like I sit on the beach and download a 1Gb file.

Bandwidth throttling, of course that's possible - it's not something I'd notice as I use my mobile data for apps and browsing. I rarely download large files, if ever.

I'm looking at trying 5g as my main internet source at home - and in that instance I'll go straight to Three, but for general phone usage, I just don't see any difference between using O2 or Tesco, in the real world usage.

Edited by Griffith4ever on Thursday 21st September 10:38

[beko1987]

My mum had a 1p mobile sim for a few years and got on well. She isnt someone who would care about data speed, but it seemed ok.

The top-ups do expire though, I used to put £20 on 3 times a year for her and it usually expired before it was all used up.

She's on a £5/month vodafone sim now as she outgrew it as she got more tech savvy, but it's a decent option if it ticks the boxes.

[wong]

Scarletpimpofnel said:

Thanks, when you say the SIM wouldn't fit, do 1pMobile SIMs not come in the usual range of sizes?

The micro SIM card does fit physically in my One Plus phone. It just does not work. Delving deeper in to 1p Mobile's info, there is a list of phones that work - (sorry, I can't find this list now). If it's not on the list (like my One Plus phone) then it may not work.

[Man-At-Arms]

I believe the virtual mobile operators don’t allow WiFi Calling on their network
Only the usual Vodafone/EE/O2 will allow this feature

[Ham_and_Jam]

Man-At-Arms said:

I believe the virtual mobile operators don’t allow WiFi Calling on their network
Only the usual Vodafone/EE/O2 will allow this feature

I’m on Talkmobile (Vodafone) and they have wifi calling.

Just checked Smarty and Lebara and they have it too.

[eccles]

Man-At-Arms said:

I believe the virtual mobile operators don’t allow WiFi Calling on their network
Only the usual Vodafone/EE/O2 will allow this feature

I'm on 1P mobile and I use wifi calling.

I wanted to change from vodafone network (Voxi) as a quite a few of the places I regularly visit had the signal drop significantly. The only network on the EE network apart from EE themselves that give you 5G coverage is 1P.

Speed and coverage have been fine. Been with them for over a year now on the £15 for 15 GB deal.

[wyson]

Looks like a few more MVNO’s that offer 5g with EE.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Kingd...

Haven’t heard of them though.

[Scarletpimpofnel]

Just for completeness...

I finally swapped from Sky (O2) 4G to 1pMobile (EE) 4G and am delighted.

Both coverage maps show the same level of coverage but 1pMobile is vastly superior. With O2 I often had a good signal but zero data capacity, with EE it seems so much faster with always present data capacity.

Sky was £12 for 5GB / pcm whilst 1pMobile is £10 for 25GB / pcm.

[anonymous-user]

[-Cappo-]

Scarletpimpofnel said:

Just for completeness...

I finally swapped from Sky (O2) 4G to 1pMobile (EE) 4G and am delighted.

Both coverage maps show the same level of coverage but 1pMobile is vastly superior. With O2 I often had a good signal but zero data capacity, with EE it seems so much faster with always present data capacity.

Sky was £12 for 5GB / pcm whilst 1pMobile is £10 for 25GB / pcm.

I should have updated as well - my experience exactly the same as yours. It's like having an actual mobile phone all over again. 5G works well if there is coverage.

The only thing I have noticed missing from 1p is visual voicemail, so I have to actually call it for the messages - terrible!