4G in Poland..... Easy and Cheap.

Thine Wonk · 11-02-2014, 18:43

Quote:

For clarity, you can arrive in Poland and get 500MB of data, inclusive calls and SMS with instant 4G access for £6. No activation issues or patchy coverage in the capital. Buy a marked LTE SIM and job done. Perfect for travellers and a vastly superior offer to any in the UK. A similar amount of data, voice and texts would cost far more even on the cheapest UK PAYG tariff and 4G on that is not guaranteed presently.

The living costs in Poland are 50% lower than in the UK. You were the one that made the comparison to UK networks.

This is the coverage for Play's LTE network, untick HSPA+ which they also class as 4G and you'll see that the coverage is only basic inner city LTE.

http://oi62.tinypic.com/2n05wra.jpg

If you stay in central Warsaw you'll be fine, just like central London with Three over the coming weeks. Three offer 500MB of data for £5 on 3-2-1, so that's £1 cheaper and if you factor in the living costs less than 1/2 the real-term price.

You implied that the UK networks were somehow way out of line with this offer when in fact some networks are comparable, that's the point I'm making.

It looks to me like the internet offer is only valid for 7 days from purchase too for your 5zł http://www.play.pl/en/ making Three look even cheaper if you're going to do a comparison with UK networks.

wavejockglw · 11-02-2014, 19:13

I have absolutely no interest in making any further comparison with 3's UK 4G network. I have no idea why some are obsessed with making every thread on DS a marketing pitch for one particular UK network!

FACT: 4G is available instantly in Poland on arrival in most major cities by buying a SIM and putting it in a 4G handset. No if's, buts, wait etc. (4G is easily identified by the handset indicator and networks display 4G, H+, H, E, etc just as they do in the UK and elsewhere). You can have it now and for less than £6 (SIM Cost included) for 500MB of data and with a decent allowance of calls and texts included (100mins or 15 mins Intl plus 100 SMS or 15 Intl SMS)! If you need extra data it's just £5 for 1GB top up on the Play network. SIMs are available at most newsagents, at railway stations, airports and there are a bewildering range to choose from. If voice calls to the UK are the priority you can get a Lycamobile SIM that offers calls to the UK for £0.19PLN/Min (4p/min), minimum top-up is just 10PLN plus 1PLN for a SIM £2.20! Amazing value.

I hope the above information is of assistance to those intending to visit Poland in the near future.

Thine Wonk · 11-02-2014, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

I have absolutely no interest in making any further comparison with 3's UK 4G network. I have no idea why some are obsessed with making every thread on DS a marketing pitch for one particular UK network!

FACT: 4G is available instantly in Poland on arrival in most major cities by buying a SIM and putting it in a 4G handset. No if's, buts, wait etc. (4G is easily identified by the handset indicator and networks display 4G, H+, H, E, etc just as they do in the UK and elsewhere). You can have it now and for less than £6 (SIM Cost included) for 500MB of data and with a decent allowance of calls and texts included (100mins or 15 mins Intl plus 100 SMS or 15 Intl SMS)! If you need extra data it's just £5 for 1GB top up on the Play network. SIMs are available at most newsagents, at railway stations, airports and there are a bewildering range to choose from. If voice calls to the UK are the priority you can get a Lycamobile SIM that offers calls to the UK for £0.19PLN/Min (4p/min), minimum top-up is just 10PLN plus 1PLN for a SIM £2.20! Amazing value.

I hope the above information is of assistance to those intending to visit Poland in the near future.

I'm simply challenging your totally and utterly incorrect opening sentence.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

While all the UK netwoks make a meal about 4G and make it hard for customers to get it other than on expensive contracts, the Polish networks have a different attitude.

This is not true, not all UK networks make a meal of 4G or demand expensive contracts, some just give it away at 1 penny per megabyte and give 4G away at no extra cost, simple & cheap.

No Three advert, just correcting inaccurate and misleading posts.

Thanks

buglawton · 13-02-2014, 17:09

And the elephant in the room is... tethering.

Practically all tourists and commuters tend to tote a mobile and very often a tablet. The mobile will have a simple hotspot tool built in to share the connection via tethering.

The Three 321 deal while competitive on a phone does NOT allow any kind of tethering so

a) Will not allow you to get some of that pay as you go data on your tablet and

b) 321 SIM cannot be used directly in a tablet if it has 3/4g. I have clearly seen how instant 3's tethering and tablet blocking system comes into action - you cannot even load 1 web page!

So now to that elephant: Does the Polish SIM allow straightforward tethering? If it does, it streets ahead of any UK offering even if the comparative price adjusted for local wages is taken in account. Another key fact is: Does credit expire after 30 days as with all UK data only pay as you go SIMs?

wavejockglw · 13-02-2014, 17:40

AFAIK the SIM deal allows tethering. It worked fine with my SGS4 feeding my Nexus 7 on the train to Krakow on Sunday although for some of the journey Play roamed onto Orange PL and they had EDGE and some limited amounts of 3G in rural areas. 4G seems to be only available in big cities just now in Poland, just as it is in the UK. With set data limits I doubt if tethering is an issue for the Polish networks and the speeds on 4G seem capped to around 10Mbps so not only is data regulated by MB bought but by speed of delivery and the uptake of 4G capable equipment.

11-02-2014, 18:43	#26
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,577	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw For clarity, you can arrive in Poland and get 500MB of data, inclusive calls and SMS with instant 4G access for £6. No activation issues or patchy coverage in the capital. Buy a marked LTE SIM and job done. Perfect for travellers and a vastly superior offer to any in the UK. A similar amount of data, voice and texts would cost far more even on the cheapest UK PAYG tariff and 4G on that is not guaranteed presently. The living costs in Poland are 50% lower than in the UK. You were the one that made the comparison to UK networks. This is the coverage for Play's LTE network, untick HSPA+ which they also class as 4G and you'll see that the coverage is only basic inner city LTE. http://oi62.tinypic.com/2n05wra.jpg If you stay in central Warsaw you'll be fine, just like central London with Three over the coming weeks. Three offer 500MB of data for £5 on 3-2-1, so that's £1 cheaper and if you factor in the living costs less than 1/2 the real-term price. You implied that the UK networks were somehow way out of line with this offer when in fact some networks are comparable, that's the point I'm making. It looks to me like the internet offer is only valid for 7 days from purchase too for your 5zł http://www.play.pl/en/ making Three look even cheaper if you're going to do a comparison with UK networks.

13-02-2014, 17:09	#29
buglawton Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 351	Tethering... And the elephant in the room is... tethering. Practically all tourists and commuters tend to tote a mobile and very often a tablet. The mobile will have a simple hotspot tool built in to share the connection via tethering. The Three 321 deal while competitive on a phone does NOT allow any kind of tethering so a) Will not allow you to get some of that pay as you go data on your tablet and b) 321 SIM cannot be used directly in a tablet if it has 3/4g. I have clearly seen how instant 3's tethering and tablet blocking system comes into action - you cannot even load 1 web page! So now to that elephant: Does the Polish SIM allow straightforward tethering? If it does, it streets ahead of any UK offering even if the comparative price adjusted for local wages is taken in account. Another key fact is: Does credit expire after 30 days as with all UK data only pay as you go SIMs?

11-02-2014, 19:13	#27
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	I have absolutely no interest in making any further comparison with 3's UK 4G network. I have no idea why some are obsessed with making every thread on DS a marketing pitch for one particular UK network! FACT: 4G is available instantly in Poland on arrival in most major cities by buying a SIM and putting it in a 4G handset. No if's, buts, wait etc. (4G is easily identified by the handset indicator and networks display 4G, H+, H, E, etc just as they do in the UK and elsewhere). You can have it now and for less than £6 (SIM Cost included) for 500MB of data and with a decent allowance of calls and texts included (100mins or 15 mins Intl plus 100 SMS or 15 Intl SMS)! If you need extra data it's just £5 for 1GB top up on the Play network. SIMs are available at most newsagents, at railway stations, airports and there are a bewildering range to choose from. If voice calls to the UK are the priority you can get a Lycamobile SIM that offers calls to the UK for £0.19PLN/Min (4p/min), minimum top-up is just 10PLN plus 1PLN for a SIM £2.20! Amazing value. I hope the above information is of assistance to those intending to visit Poland in the near future.

11-02-2014, 20:06	#28
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,577	Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw I have absolutely no interest in making any further comparison with 3's UK 4G network. I have no idea why some are obsessed with making every thread on DS a marketing pitch for one particular UK network! FACT: 4G is available instantly in Poland on arrival in most major cities by buying a SIM and putting it in a 4G handset. No if's, buts, wait etc. (4G is easily identified by the handset indicator and networks display 4G, H+, H, E, etc just as they do in the UK and elsewhere). You can have it now and for less than £6 (SIM Cost included) for 500MB of data and with a decent allowance of calls and texts included (100mins or 15 mins Intl plus 100 SMS or 15 Intl SMS)! If you need extra data it's just £5 for 1GB top up on the Play network. SIMs are available at most newsagents, at railway stations, airports and there are a bewildering range to choose from. If voice calls to the UK are the priority you can get a Lycamobile SIM that offers calls to the UK for £0.19PLN/Min (4p/min), minimum top-up is just 10PLN plus 1PLN for a SIM £2.20! Amazing value. I hope the above information is of assistance to those intending to visit Poland in the near future. I'm simply challenging your totally and utterly incorrect opening sentence. Quote: Originally Posted by wavejockglw While all the UK netwoks make a meal about 4G and make it hard for customers to get it other than on expensive contracts, the Polish networks have a different attitude. This is not true, not all UK networks make a meal of 4G or demand expensive contracts, some just give it away at 1 penny per megabyte and give 4G away at no extra cost, simple & cheap. No Three advert, just correcting inaccurate and misleading posts. Thanks

13-02-2014, 17:40	#30
wavejockglw Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow Posts: 10,276	AFAIK the SIM deal allows tethering. It worked fine with my SGS4 feeding my Nexus 7 on the train to Krakow on Sunday although for some of the journey Play roamed onto Orange PL and they had EDGE and some limited amounts of 3G in rural areas. 4G seems to be only available in big cities just now in Poland, just as it is in the UK. With set data limits I doubt if tethering is an issue for the Polish networks and the speeds on 4G seem capped to around 10Mbps so not only is data regulated by MB bought but by speed of delivery and the uptake of 4G capable equipment.

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4G in Poland..... Easy and Cheap.