If there is one poster on this forum who makes the most accurate posts i'd say its Jon Morris.

The experience you have in the industry clearly shows mate. I love reading your posts as they're always on point.

Thank you!

I do think that of late I've probably been taken off Three's Christmas card list though. I just can't figure things out right now!

Meanwhile, as we always expected, the likes of O2 and Vodafone are - finally - pulling their finger out and building a pretty decent 4G (and therefore 3G and 2G) network. In an increasing number of places, Vodafone is becoming a pretty serious competitor to EE.

O2 is limited by spectrum, as is Three and the latter is really starting to struggle in more and more locations (plus, given the few sites upgraded to 4G, by suspicion that 3G can often beat 4G has been proven in my recent tests, both on video and those not).

Chuck in the MVNOs like BT and iD Mobile and our statements a year or so ago that Three would be up against a lot more competition in the future is starting to become reality.

800/VoLTE is going to help, but let's pray it is done properly and that ANYONE with a compatible phone will be able to use VoLTE and not need a special handset build, or a phone supplied by Three etc.

You'd hope that they'd back up the price increases with demonstrable network improvements though.

Around here it seems like the only effort that has been made is a rogue 4G mast in the middle of nowhere (the major towns/city are not covered)

EE are still looking like the better option, though possibly via someone else so you don't have to deal with their legendarily bad customer services

Someone who is already peed off at the lack of 4G coverage / low urban speeds / indoor reception might be inclined to get their PAC sooner rather than later, after all this - even if it will improve at some point in the future.

Upping prices and cutting data usage (by pushing AYCE up in price, and possibly eventually into history, having been replaced with a 8/10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 plan (or whatever) as the maximum, is one way to fix things though.

In fact, cutting usage could easily be seen as a cheaper solution than investing in loads of new capacity. Of course, once they add more 1800 sites, get more spectrum, switch on 800 etc then some of the current issues will be fixed to a degree, but only until they get more users and the problems start over.

Not even EE is immune to that, but it seems that for the most part, even in the busiest parts of London it is coping admirably well.

Looks like those 8GB SIM only plans that were being mentioned are now available. Seems they are simply extra plans slotting in between the 4GB and Unlimited options and the existing plans are remaining the same? 8GB versions seem to be £3 more than the 4GB equivalents.

Still on the One Plan myself (min term reached back at the start of January) so happy on that until forced to move. My current usage would likely fall within the 600 minutes / 4GB plan, but I liked "future-proofing" myself with unlimited data in case my usage increased in the future. I already do a lot more streaming than I did before since Apple Music launched, so I would be tempted with the 8GB versions.

Looks like the all you can eat plans have had the tethering usage bumped up to 8GB as expected too.
Now I wonder if my sim only plan will automatically update to reflect the extra tethering allowance or if I will have to specifically ask (or if they can even do it at all).

Thanks

It said on new plans, so I expect you'll need to try and negotiate moving to the new plan or signing a new contract.

Given the fear that prices will go up, or AYCE will perhaps be phased out, perhaps signing a 12 month contract isn't a bad idea.

I've had a 3 sim in my iPad since the second iPad launched. Since July, my coverage has got really poor. I'm sat tapping the table on the train waiting for a signal.

I've been impressed with the speed from 3, what is my best option, EE?

If you can accept paying more on EE, it's really the only viable alternative. You should have the same 3G coverage, but superior 4G coverage, and some 2G fall back (but for data, that's not really going to help much).

Vodafone is good where it has been upgraded. Likewise O2. But there's still some way to go for both of them.

I've just ordered one of the special summer sims from EE, looking at the coverage maps it looks like they have coverage where 3 don't have it normally. I'll give it a try, but it's difficult to ditch 10GB for £10 which I'm paying at the moment!

I think you'll be very impressed with EE's coverage and speed, but once the 100GB SIM runs out in two months, you'll be left scratching your head over what tariff to get. On SIM-only, the max is 10GB and it's almost £30!

EE is not in any way trying to be competitive, as it knows it has a very good network.

Obviously Three would like to be in that position one day.

How many promo SIMs will EE release before it actually lets me pay them some REAL money for 100GB, or even 40-50GB?!

Give them a call and they should do it for free.

Do Three allow price plan changes in contract? The new 8GB hotspot seems to apply to the new price plans only so I presume it would necessitate a price plan change for an existing customer to be able to get it.

Just called them about this.

I'm currently on AYCE calls/texts/data (4GB tethering) with a loyalty discount, so I pay £15 per month. The guy was willing to increase the plan to 8GB tethering for an extra £1. I'm moving house shortly so it'll be useful for me to have this while broadband gets sorted out so accepted it. I tried to push him to stay at £15 but he wouldn't budge, however £16 is still a great deal.

They allow price plan changes. Obviously that costs.

If you're already on AYCE/AYCE then they shouldn't charge to swap you over to the new one with 8GB.

£1 is weird

They could it the current sub had a discount applied. Indeed, it would be open to negotiation and how much haggling/bluffing the customer was willing to do.

except for the poster using iPad, 15GB for £20/m on 30day contract is okay. Even 4G+ compatible with Cat 6 mifi in right area.

Also on the £15 (£10 subsidised) fantastic plan. Don't really tether so am well happy to sit in the background with my plan. Long may it continue. Changed to this when so many were getting phone calls saying they had to move off the original unlimited tethering one plan.
I had no call but called the number and got this.... we'll HAPPY

Getting the 8gb tethering for an additional £1 is unbelievable value imo... well done

I have also got the 8gb allowance for a pound but I am on the 27 pound unlimited everything plan. Another 4 gig for a pound not bad going I think. Just call up customer service and ask to be put on the 8 gig tariff. It's as simple as that. (Well at least it was for me). No change to my minimum contact term and of course no new tariff.
Last edited by patrice58 : 07-08-2015 at 12:31

Oh... I was told it'd be free. I guess £1 isn't too bad. But still....

Is anyone else still on the old one plan with the unlimited tethering like iam?

I was contemplating downgrading my tariff but when I saw the new plans were only 4gb tethering I changed my mind! But someone said above they've upped it to 8gb now? If that's true I could probably live with 8gb tethering and save myself a good £8-10 per month. I don't use half the mins or texts in my allowance either so I think I'm wasting my precious penny's!

Still on £15 unlimited tethering One Plan with thousands of minutes and texts and will just go onto the 8GB if I can if / when they contact me.

But from looking on their website the cheapest pay monthly plan with 8GB tethering is £19, so you might be looking at paying extra for less allowances! I'm ok because I'm paying £26 for the one plan so I could save £7 per month straight away. Only thing I'd lose really is less mins(600) and from what I can see no 3 to 3 mins included. But I don't spend much time calling so it's ok for me.

By the way did anyone know Three's phone line is only open 9-6 mon-sun now? Just phoned them and found out, I'm sure I called them at like 8pm not so long ago, they must be cutting back!

They still add three to three minutes if you ask nicely