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Three phases out "The One Plan" and Unlimited tethering
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d123
21-07-2015
Originally Posted by cooler:
“Pretending to who?”

In the analogy, pretending to the person selling AYCE pizzas.

Originally Posted by jabbamk1:
“Which was allowed by the terms and conditions....

Tethering was included in the one plan. ”

I don't think I ever saw it said that Three were happy for people to set up a phone with a one plan sim as a public hotspot for the use of multiple users.
jabbamk1
21-07-2015
Originally Posted by d123:
“I don't think I ever saw it said that Three were happy for people to set up a phone with a one plan sim as a public hotspot for the use of multiple users.”

Tethering was allowed. I don't know how else to explain this?

I think you're trying to re-write history here. You don't work for Three customer service do you? :P
d123
21-07-2015
Originally Posted by jabbamk1:
“Tethering was allowed. I don't know how else to explain this? ”

Just because it was allowed doesn't mean it wasn't possible to abuse it. Plain and simple, customer A connecting to his iPad or laptop to watch iPlayer is what was expected. Customer B renting out 5 rooms and offering wifi to all residents and their guests by setting up a hotspot from a phone is an abuse of the system.

I don't see how anyone can't get the difference.

Quote:
“I think you're trying to re-write history here. You don't work for Three customer service do you? :P”

No re-write, and no to being a staff member, just a pragmatic ex-customer who can see the issues faced. There was wholesale abuse of the one plan, unfortunately Three was always going to have to crack down on it.
Daveoc64
21-07-2015
Originally Posted by jabbamk1:
“Tethering was allowed. I don't know how else to explain this?

I think you're trying to re-write history here. You don't work for Three customer service do you? :P”

At the time that "The One Plan" launched, I had been under the impression that networks didn't offer unlimited data + capped tethering because it was too difficult to accurately measure usage.

Tethering is still allowed, but the intended usage pattern is now enforced with a cap. Three thinks it's reasonable for people use tethering as a secondary internet connection (i.e. not a replacement for home broadband), with devices that they own and not particularly frequently.

IMO if you didn't use the plan as a home broadband replacement, 4GB is going to be adequate.

Originally Posted by d123:
“Just because it was allowed doesn't mean it wasn't possible to abuse it. Plain and simple, customer A connecting to his iPad or laptop to watch iPlayer is what was expected. Customer B renting out 5 rooms and offering wifi to all residents and their guests by setting up a hotspot from a phone is an abuse of the system.

I don't see how anyone can't get the difference.”

Exactly. If you could wave a magic wand and ban all of the people using it as a replacement for home broadband, you'd have a lot less congestion and I doubt we'd have this thread.
jabbamk1
21-07-2015
If it's for personal use then it's fine. Three were fine with people using 1000GB tethering as long as it's personal use and the SIM is used in a mobile phone. Of course it's not ideal when people do use 1000GB but it's incorrect to call it an abuse of the network as it's something the T&C allowed.

Lets use the buffet example. Lets say a buffet opens up and says you can have as many pizzas and burgers as you want + you can take away outside of the restaurant for £10. So you buy 1000 of each and go home and share with your friends. That's fine. No issue. The restaurant offered it. Of course you're the person who's a bit of a dick and taking loads more than you need.

If it's for business use then of course that's not fine and I'm aware of a few cases where Three detected customers using it for business use and stopped them.
jonmorris
22-07-2015
Three was stupid to offer unlimited tethering that by definition had the potential of being abused, except abuse isn't a fair word. In reality, the problem was that people simply took advantage of the kind offer made by Three. Abuse suggests people were finding ways around something, or using a service in a way that wasn't intended (fact: Three said you could use it however you liked and bigged up that fact online and in stores).

Three must have calculated that most people wouldn't go mad, and that's probably true. I still doubt many people are using a One Plan SIM as a home broadband replacement, and even fewer knew how to take full advantage by buying routers to allow the hook up of their Sky box, Smart TV etc etc. For most people, it simply gives you the peace of mind that you won't be charged any more for the data you use.

For some time, the One Plan (along with having upped the minutes even before the victory over mobile termination rates) must have gained Three a significant number of subscribers. I was recommending it to people for a long time and it was always a favourite recommendation on the old What Mobile forum that I ran. I converted my parents and wife to Three because of it.

Three clearly should have had some sort of traffic management in place, and perhaps specific exceptions from the outside (file sharing being disallowed completely, with account suspensions for offenders), which would have meant no need for U-turns, or the total scrapping, but it didn't do that - so now we are where we are.

Given the fact that anyone with a 6-inch smartphone or a tablet can now consume a huge amount of data (Crikey, EE keep promoting heavy data usage with their 100GB SIM promotions) I do wonder how long we're really likely to enjoy AYCE on a handset-only basis.

We've had the rumours all year that AYCE will either go, or get more expensive, on PAYG but I have to wonder when we might see it go even on contract. The new 8GB plan may well see AYCE going up in price and if any additional allowances get included in the future, say 10 or 20GB, then the days of AYCE could become even more numbered - or AYCE will be hiked up in price to a point where most people won't see the point.

I am not basing that on anything I've heard or been told, just giving my own take on things and using an element of common sense.
Chris1973
22-07-2015
Quote:
“Just because it was allowed doesn't mean it wasn't possible to abuse it.”

Then they should have put an upper limit on it. They lost no time putting a limit of 4GB on it now, so they clearly have the technology to do it. They could have easily limited tethering use to 100gb / 50gb / 20gb / 10gb per account at any point where it was discovered to be becoming an issue. You have to perhaps wonder why they didn't do that relatively small thing.

If they (3) allowed it to escalate to the point where it did, then they are just as much to blame as those on various forums who, over the years, held some kind of pissing contest to see how much Data they could use or a mythical person offering 5 users free wifi.

I've mentioned several times before, that when BT washed their hands of ever bringing more than 400 - 500k ADSL speeds at the end of our 10km rural line length, that basically the entire area researched their options and eventually moved to some kind of Mobile Broadband device in order to enjoy a 2015 internet experience, currently the only networks to bring 3G to the area were '3' and 'EE' so basically you had an entire community of about 10 miles filled with farms, businesses and houses largely using 3G from either of these two networks as a sole household connection to the outside world. If that doesn't sit well with some people, then so beit because it doesn't sit well with us that we are expected to pay exactly the same ever increasing phone line rental as somebody getting 80 mbps fibre speeds!.

Despite this, and a crowded caravan park during the summer months, how did I manage to get 10mbps routinely from 3G, if tethering was so detrimental? that doesn't add up because locally we probably had more concentrated tethering and MBB use than most other areas with Fibre and usable ADSL connections. At this time of year there are 100's of city dwellers packed onto the local caravan park for their holidays, no doubt they have brought their expensive phones and electronic child entertainment with them, yet I can still get a healthy 12mbps from 3G and 30mbps from a weak distant 4G signal via EE, even at weekends and peak times.

Its also a myth that ADSL substitute users are all using 100GB +, I used around 10GB a month, probably less data than those who sit on trains, in pubs, at music events or even on a caravan holiday squinting at their handsets for hours on end would use. EE were supposedly rolling out a home 4GEE tariff for this exact purpose, and in essence I can't see any difference to using 25GB via this means, or from a MBB sim or even tethered - it all comes from the same mast.
jonmorris
22-07-2015
While the UK operators aren't big on it, go abroad and there are plenty of operators selling 4G as fixed broadband alternatives. In Sweden, multiple networks will sell you a LTE router for this very purpose. They are obviously subject to all the same issues we are in terms of coverage and capacity.

Sure, you'll pay a fair bit more - but still not a ridiculous amount. And certainly comparable to the cost of fixed broadband, which may not be available to many people in rural areas. (That said, in Sweden, plenty of people in rural areas actually do have quite incredible speeds available).

I don't believe anyone ever set up a mobile hotspot and then invited strangers to use it. If you use a phone, let's face it, it will struggle to cope with five or ten users caning the net. Plus the range is way down compared to a normal router. Even a Mi-Fi is not designed for heavy usage by multiple people.

Nor do I think many people tried to see how much data they could use as some sort of competition. People might like seeing how fast a connection is, but nobody (IMHO) gives a toss about how much data someone has consumed.
Kal El
22-07-2015
Biggest problem was heavily discounting the One Plan down to £15. I took advantage of it as did my Dad and my brother at my recommendation.

It was priced way too low. I think it was even a bit on the low side at £25 for what it offered. I think £30-£35 a month was the right price for the One Plan and may have been the right price point to keep it sustainable.
jonmorris
22-07-2015
Yes, it was too cheap and Three was scuppered by not being able increase rental by a huge amount in one hit.
Thine Wonk
23-07-2015
I'd pay £35 a month to stay on it if I could, but it sounds like eventually I won't be able to and I'll have to get 2 sims, contracts running, 1 x Unlimited with 8GB of tethering *(assuming the rumour is true) and then if I need more I'll have to get some kind of additional mobile broadband for when I'm away from home etc
nafanny29
23-07-2015
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“I'd pay £35 a month to stay on it if I could, but it sounds like eventually I won't be able to and I'll have to get 2 sims, contracts running, 1 x Unlimited with 8GB of tethering *(assuming the rumour is true) and then if I need more I'll have to get some kind of additional mobile broadband for when I'm away from home etc”

You can get a mobile broadband contract for £20 a month 15GB, or £25 for 25GB
Chris1973
23-07-2015
Quote:
“You can get a mobile broadband contract for £20 a month 15GB, or £25 for 25GB”

I've just taken the plunge and ordered the 20GB for £20 Sim only tariff from ID Mobile. Its a data only Sim but for an extra £8 a month I can add 200 minutes and 250 texts to it, so I can use it in the phone and also tether from it.

It will be pain not having 4G from ID Mobile (via '3') when i'm at home, but I still have the EE 15GB / month MBB for that. If it all works out, I hope to eventually cancel the EE Sim when Three finally get around to bringing 4G to the area, but if not then the ID Mobile sim is on a 30 day contract so I can get rid without too much hassle.
jabbamk1
23-07-2015
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“Unlimited with 8GB of tethering *(assuming the rumour is true)”

When I have ever let you down?

Apart from the time I said 4G was coming in December and turned out to be a trial till feb... and the time I said Three would launch a wi-fi calling app.... which got delayed for like a year.... or the time I said all Orange masts would be bought into MBNL which still hasn't happened yet.......

.....

yeh ok.

Spoiler
To be fair I've been right like 80% of the time haha, just delays are always a pain.
jabbamk1
23-07-2015
Originally Posted by Chris1973:
“Its also a myth that ADSL substitute users are all using 100GB +, I used around 10GB a month, probably less data than those who sit on trains, in pubs, at music events or even on a caravan holiday squinting at their handsets for hours on end would use. EE were supposedly rolling out a home 4GEE tariff for this exact purpose, and in essence I can't see any difference to using 25GB via this means, or from a MBB sim or even tethered - it all comes from the same mast.”

The top 10% of users on the One Plan use over 23GB each, the top 10% of ALL Three users consume around 13GB per month and 10% of all Three users account for ~60% of all data used on the Three network.

(As of 2014)
Zee_Bukhari
24-07-2015
Originally Posted by Daveoc64:
“At the time that "The One Plan" launched, I had been under the impression that networks didn't offer unlimited data + capped tethering because it was too difficult to accurately measure usage.

Tethering is still allowed, but the intended usage pattern is now enforced with a cap. Three thinks it's reasonable for people use tethering as a secondary internet connection (i.e. not a replacement for home broadband), with devices that they own and not particularly frequently.

IMO if you didn't use the plan as a home broadband replacement, 4GB is going to be adequate.



Exactly. If you could wave a magic wand and ban all of the people using it as a replacement for home broadband, you'd have a lot less congestion and I doubt we'd have this thread.”

The tethering limit isn't 4GB, its 8GB on AYCE as stated on their website, and if you're on a capped plan you can use all your allowance for tethering, such as on an 8GB plan.
jonmorris
24-07-2015
The 8GB plan doesn't come to SIM only until next month, which then ups the tethering allowance to 8GB (as long as you're on the 8GB or AYCE plans, obviously).

As far as I am aware, it only applies to new customers so anyone already on a contract will be limited to whatever they had when they signed, whether 2 or 4GB.
WelshBluebird
24-07-2015
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“As far as I am aware, it only applies to new customers so anyone already on a contract will be limited to whatever they had when they signed, whether 2 or 4GB.”

But (apart from potential price increases) there will be nothing to stop a current sim only customer moving to one of the newer sim only plans?
jonmorris
24-07-2015
I don't know if you can do that easily, perhaps someone can try when the SIM only tariffs change next month?
Richard_T
24-07-2015
Will three make it right with the new tariffs, or will we see bigger prices for smaller allowances?
Everything Goes
24-07-2015
Originally Posted by Richard_T:
“Will three make it right with the new tariffs, or will we see bigger prices for smaller allowances?”

I made a thread on the handset prices the other week to see the direction they are heading. #makeitwrong

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2092558
Thine Wonk
25-07-2015
Originally Posted by Richard_T:
“Will three make it right with the new tariffs, or will we see bigger prices for smaller allowances?”

All networks have lost many other revenue streams like 0800, roaming, termination rates, SMS use moved over to WhatApp / iMessage, etc etc, etc

At the same time data usage is rocketing, data costs are rising as a result. No amount of moaning is going to lead to cheaper data and more allowance and more usage, not if you want any of them to stay in business and invest in services and upgrades for you.
Thine Wonk
25-07-2015
Originally Posted by jabbamk1:
“When I have ever let you down?

Apart from the time I said 4G was coming in December and turned out to be a trial till feb... and the time I said Three would launch a wi-fi calling app.... which got delayed for like a year.... or the time I said all Orange masts would be bought into MBNL which still hasn't happened yet.......

.....

yeh ok.

Spoiler
To be fair I've been right like 80% of the time haha, just delays are always a pain.
”

You are good, we know that
Daveoc64
25-07-2015
Originally Posted by Zee_Bukhari:
“The tethering limit isn't 4GB, its 8GB on AYCE as stated on their website, and if you're on a capped plan you can use all your allowance for tethering, such as on an 8GB plan.”

I didn't say that 4GB was the limit.

I said 4GB would be adequate.

For the plan I'm on, the Three website clearly says "Turn your phone into a personal Wi-Fi hotspot on all of our plans and connect your tablet or other devices. If you've got all-you-can-eat data, this includes 4GB personal hotspot allowance.".
rottweiler
25-07-2015
I'm still on the 0ne plan and had no contact from 3 regarding this
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