My current mobile phone contract is about to expire and I have been looking around for a new SIM only deal.
I have seen two which interest me, one is with Smarty who use the three network and the other is with Plusnet who use the EE network. I have always used a main network in the past and am wondering if these sorts of companies who piggy back onto main networks give you the same speeds as the main network or is it restricted.
If anyone has experience of either Smarty or Plusnet mobile I would be interested to hear it. Coverage for me around home will not be a problem as I live in Liverpool so all networks have great coverage but we tour a lot in the caravan so I am also interested in how these two perform in terms of coverage in out of the way places.
Can't speak for the two you mention as I use Virgin mobile who also use EE. Generally I am OK signal wise but there are the odd sites where they are not so good. My wife uses O2 so between us we can usually get a signal.
I've been with Virgin Mobile for any years and they use the EE network. I've had no problems at all, and neither has my wife who is on the same network.
I don't know whether that helps, but I hope it does.
I am with Smarty . If you phone them they will tell you the cover is in your area. I only pay about £5 to £6 pounds every month and no contract.
You could always give them a try for a couple of months.
Artic 🙂
Not all MVNOs offer the same speeds or even the same facilities as their host networks.
I use BT mobile which uses the EE network. Data speeds are somewhat slower than EE although it is possible to upgrade that.
Plusnet also uses EE (all owned by BT of course) but generally is a more budget product. Last time I checked, WiFi calling was not available on Plusnet (may not be important to you but particularly useful if your home is in a low signal area and I rely on it) I would advise further checks on speeds.
Smarty uses the Three network I believe and again I don't think WiFi calling is available. I have no info about speeds though.
There are likely to be other facilities which some networks have but others don't.
Of course, budget MVNOs are likely to be behind the curve with 5g rollout.
Living in a rural area, choices are limited. EE (BT) is no use at all, but I get good Tesco mobile (O2)coverage everywhere.
Since there is no chance of getting fast broadband here within this century, I use Tesco mobile for my broadband. Better than what BT offer and at half the cost. OK, at up to 40 meg, it's virtually stopped compared to the trillion meg that some people think they need, but when BT only guarantee 1 meg down the phone line, Tesco is flying.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Hi Pixie, I have used these for many years - was on Asda which was EE, now Vodaphone and would have stayed but Vodaphone terrible in our area. Moved to GiffGaff which is O2 and has been good so far. Son on plusnet and has been generally happy although seems to struggle with the WIFI at times.
We are both on Plusnet, with a rolling 30 day SIM only deal. OH pays around £5 for 3gb of data and I pay around £8 for 5. Suits our needs perfectly and we have never had a problem with reception in this country or in France and Spain.
My phone is a Huawei passed to me by my son when he upgraded and OH also has a Huawei, bought second hand. Both phones more than meet our needs and are the first we have owned which do not seem to run short on memory.
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
I’ve been with Plusnet for both home and mobile for several years and up until the last 9 months or so have been very, very happy with them. However the service is now so bad I’m planning on changing.
According to the coverage maps mobile data should be good practically everywhere in the UK but in reality this is not true. Very often now I have no signal at all even when my husband who is with EE, who Plusnet uses to provide mobile coverage, can get a perfect signal.
The same thing happened in France this year. I was without a signal for perhaps 50% whilst there.
Their once renowned customer service has also gone downhill.
Looking at the customer reviews on the internet I found that I’m not the only customer to have this experience. It might be worth you looking there before changing.
Quote: Originally posted by chrisandsandra on 24/11/2021
I’ve been with Plusnet for both home and mobile for several years and up until the last 9 months or so have been very, very happy with them. However the service is now so bad I’m planning on changing.
Looking at the customer reviews on the internet I found that I’m not the only customer to have this experience. It might be worth you looking there before changing.
We are with Plusnet and have to agree. Recently we had a mail outage and no email for more than 24 hours! Impossible phoning them as they want everything to be done on the website. No much use if you have no Internet!
I’ve just had an Unlimited all you can eat sim from Virgin as part of a package of benefits to thank me for being a valued customer for 20 years. Speaking to the O2 business people who we use for the rest of our mobilise phone contracts, it would seem that Virginmedia and O2 have formed an alliance. Evidently the cracking deals Virgin are offering at the minute (unlimited data, text and calls - sim only free for 18 months), will soon be available on O2.
No complaints with Plusnet mobile. £6pm gives me unlimited calls/texts & 7gb of data. It is best to have 30day rolling contract & regularly check their website for better deals.
I`ve gone sim only and was on EE for years. EE coverage is superb. I`m now on Smarty which as you say piggy backs on 3. The deals they offer are really good value. Their coverage is not so good. Nowhere near as good as EE or Vodafone. When I eventually upgrade my phone I won`t be stopping with Smarty. The signal just isn`t consistent enough. My 2p !
I'm on plusnet £10 for 22GB. Been with them a few years now no problems. The connection always seems adequate and has worked in Spain for the last 11 weeks. A maximum of 15GB is allowed abroad... I used 16 and nobody said anything 😳 🤣
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Topic: Anyone used Smarty or Plusnet Mobile?
via mobile 24/11/2021 at 7:14am
