So how do you suggest this be overcome? Openreach being sold off won't solve the problem.

The only way to solve the problem would be to start fresh, i.e. allow fiber to be rolled out by anyone, which would have happened if all the Government money hadn't been given to BT

The point of selling off Openreach (or better yet, making it state owned) would totally eliminate any concerns over BT's dominance in the market, and any financial benefit that BT might get from owning it. It's the way New Zealand went - Telecom NZ (since renamed) owns a retail operation and the mobile network, and their equivalent of Openreach became a totally separate company

It'd also make it much easier to ease through the EE sale as its competitors would have much less to complain about. Sky and Vodafone have made it clear that they're going to fight the sale so BT might have a hard time getting everything their own way

Starting from scratch would be even more expensive. Openreach owns all that nice ducting, poles, and exchange buildings that would be useful for a future 100% FTTP network. This is what was going to happen in Australia under the old regime - the NBN company was going to build an FTTP network using Telstra infrastructure (and arranged a deal with Telstra for them to sell it to the NBN, but allowing Telstra to keep its TV, mobile and retail phone/broadband interests)

Phoned up 3 today to see what was on offer, still got a bit of the contract left as I missed the £15 boat and pay £20.

Been offered Unlimited everything for £20, the only cap is the 4GB of tethering. Happy with that as I didn't do much tethering anyway.

How much data do you use on the handset?

Usually around 4 to 6 GB.

How do you access to data sense to confirm the usage? When I log on my 3 app it only shows AYCE on everything but never shows the actual usage be it minutes or data.

Hi guys, just a small update regarding the original post.

You may remember that in the original post I was told that Three would move people to a price plan that was either the same cost or higher. In November this was very true and people were able to ring up the Glasgow line and "negotiate" the new price plan they'd be moved over to in the new year.

Those that were pro active were able to get the new tariffs for the same price they were paying now. However the Glasgow office stopped offering these sorts of deals and now just point to the price that you get in the letter. And FYI, the letter was always going to have a standard RRP plan. Three hope that most people won't care/bother about it and so that's why everyone is being automatically moved over to a standard RRP contract at the higher prices.

However, after talking with someone who works for Three I've been told that the outbound team in Mumbai and Pune are being given lists of customers to ring and offer cheaper deals to. This is being done in order to retain customers who are most likely to leave etc... So if you get a call from Three and have received the letter then it's most likely to offer you a cheaper than RRP deal. Most people as far as I'm aware are being offered an equivalent price plan but at the price they're paying currently (e.g unl everything for £15 and not £25 like now).

So there is now confirmation of some lee way being offered to customers who are being moved on to the new price plans in the new year.

My advice is to try your luck with the call centre and see what they offer you. But as far as I'm aware it seems to be the outbound team offering this at the moment. Maybe someone here can find out? I would try but I haven't received a text or letter yet.

And just to point out, these deals are just for people receiving the letters. Three don't do retention deals for anyone else.

I typed this on my phone so maybe it doesn't make perfect sense. Ask me to clarify if need be.

Im using a Nokia Lumia phone. Data Sense is on the settings menu.

In My3 it shows you the data usage from previous months under Bills.

That's pretty cool.

My minimum term ends in April with a £15/month one plan. What will the process be then?

End of April you'll get a letter saying that Three are moving you onto one of their new standard price plans.

You either stay with Three on the new/negotiated price plan or leave.

Of course the new price plan will be the same/higher price and cap tethering at 4GB.

Too little too late, I signed up for an EE sim only plan today, even if Three were to reinstate the one plan I would still leave now. It's a moral thing to me, I really don't like the way Three have acted.

I might lose out on unlimited handset data, but 10GB of super fast 4G everywhere I go makes up for it, not to mention the immenent arrival of wifi calling and VoLTE coming soon.

As soon as the sim arrives my PAC will be submitted.

Three have called me a few times in the past few days. Finally answered this evening. I've accepted unlimited handset data, 4GB tethering, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts for £15 pm on a 30 day rolling contract.

All said, a result as I was going to take the 12 month 600 minute plan at £20.

How Much was the ee plan?

I went with the 10Gb SIM Only tariff, but I went through mobilephonesdirect.co.uk as they're offering £156 cashback over the year, so it averages out at £15 per month.

4G everywhere I go too.

Ive never taken up a cash back deal, how does it work and what happens if say mobile phones direct ceased trading or dissapeared?

With this deal, you send in specific bills at specific points and if they went bust you'd be out of luck when it comes to your cashback.

This happens a lot so I would say best idea is not to expect any cash back whatsoever plus sometimes paperwork does go ahem "missing"

£27.99, but I'll be getting it discounted by 40%, so just under £17 a month, I should also be getting £70 cashback from Quidco..

Seeings whats out there is useful, should Three come a calling.
I will only stay with three if the price is right.
If i was to jump then it would be a case of going to three PAYG for a short while before porting out.
Im also trying the Dan and phil EE sim in another device

At the moment im still not sure on weather to call three or wait.
I would be happy with £15 per month for unlimtied texts at least 300 minutes, AYCE Data ( or roughly 15gb ) and a little bit of tethering I use roughly 4-6 GB a couple of times a year, my tethering use could be reduced by copying things to my phone and then having my phone upload/download the data before copying it from the phone to a p.c vie file transfer

As it i they offer a fair price for the coverage, as it is the lack of national 2G fallback, and the inability of threes signal ( 2100mhz?) to penetrate into older buildings/woodlands etc is an inconvenience I can put up with as its offset by the price.

There are still a few places that i visit where, if I >Absolutly< must have a phone signal i take a pay as you go handset on another network, namely Certain areas of Kent (Hawkinge) , Keilder forest, and the Scottish borders to the North, the area between Penrith and Carlisle, The Peak District in Derbyshire/Staffordshire ( Ashbourne to Buxton ) and a few other places as well.

Discounted because of some friends and family discount? Please share as this sounds a good deal as I want to go on a 30 day deal too. Will probably move from 3 unless the price stays the same as data speeds are rubbish round here most of the tiney

Haha yeah Three is terrible in Buxton itself never mind if you actually want to properly in.

Thanks looks like this can only be done on computer. I found the last 6 bills in My3 app on my phone but it says unfortunately we can't give you full breakdown of your bill - to do this please go to three.co.uk/my3account on your computer.

It is strange that they force you to go to computer in this day and age. If I can see total of my last 6 bills on my app I should be able to see the breakdown and usage as well.

I don't even know my login details on computer

Yes..

That's a 12 month sim only, not 30 day. You won't get any Quidco on 30 day sims.

When I go to my3.three.co.uk on my phone it shows all the bills after clicking on Show Previous Bills.