I was hoping EE were about to improve their sim-only tariffs - I could do with a 20GB monthly data allowance - so am disappointed to see this latest release (new tariff 27 March to 19 June 2015).

http://ee.co.uk/content/dam/ee-help/...s/81016152.pdf

Even vodafone are putting them to shame on the data front. shame the network needs another 12+months yet at the pace they are going.

Vodafone: £30 unlimited calls and texts and 20GB
ee: £27:99 unlimited calls and texts and 5GB

Lucan said last night on the EE thread that a tarriff refresh was on the cards but it was delayed by the BT Mobile launch. They are a premium network but there comes a point when it's a 1% network.

As i've said on other similar threads before, their existing tariffs seem to be selling well, and if new customers are actively signing up at the current prices why would they change?. Its not an astute business decision to begin offering "more product for less money" if people are already happily signing up at your current rates, an action which promotes full silent acceptance of what you are already giving them.

The only time anything will change is when they start losing large chunks of customers, and I can't see that happening soon, at least not whilst their social network pages are full of people who think that £27.99 / 5GB really is a great deal and don't seem phased by the fact a few months ago they could have got 10GB for the same price on the same tariff

Let's face it, there isn't exactly a lot of toe to toe competition is there, at least not if you want 3G / 4G outside of a Town Centre.

Vodafone do seem to be making progress, after all it seems they will be the first to bring 4G to the Town where I work, however where I live, Vodafone don't even have 3G for about 6 miles, so personally i'd class their roll out as sporadic in some areas, non existent in others

I agree with you. It's either EE or Vodafone, simply because at the end of a long contract I think they'll be the only ones who are gonna be able to keep up spectrum wise with the demands of the network, it might change if 3 / o2 get some of the 2.3ghz spectrum that Ofcom's flogging but until then I think that EE/Voda are the only firm option.

The 3/o2 combined spectrum will be pretty impressive if/when the merger goes through, plenty of 800mhz, 900mhz and 1800 mhz.

I'd probably think it would be the best spectrum holdings of the 3 providers.

Honestly I'm not so sure on that one I think national 2x20MHz 1800MHz LTE on EE would still be a strong competitor. While Combined O2/3 would have 2x20MHz of 1800MHz It would require refarming 2G on O2 which won't happen overnight.

EE 4G Plan honestly doesn't require them to need much 800MHz spectrum specially as unlike Three, EE are restricting it to extremely rural areas. Even masts where Devon lives are getting 4G 1800MHz and not 800MHz.

Plus O2/3 are going have go through what Orange/T-Mobile did and it doesn't happen overnight. So while they will have a nice mix of low band and mid band spectrum. It still isn't clear if they will fully utilise it and if they do will still likely be behind EE.

You are forgetting that the combined entity will be getting the 2x15MHz of 2600MHz that BT will need dispose of to buy EE as well. Plus the upcoming 2.3GHz auctions which both O2/3 need participate in incase this merger fails.

Honestly you never know one of the requirements for this merger to go through might be to give up 2x5MHz of 800MHz to EE to make sure all networks can be competitive.

If you call/chat them then they will often give you a greater data allowance for the same price. I got an upgrade from 250MB to 1GB/month just by asking.

My 2 year contract finished with EE and I wanted a sim only deal. I spoke to the retention department and they offered me 10gb of data for £34 a month. I then decided to jump to vodafones 20gb plan (which is unlimted for 3 months) for £30.

Indeed, I got my 5GB boosted to 10GB for the same price, just by asking

Is this retentions or new customer deals?

What is on the site is a really limited amount of tariffs that are available. There is definitely other plans available.

Still nowhere in the ballpark of Three's £15 for unlimited data.

Why pay double that for just 20gb?

Number of reasons. One, no 4GB on Tethering most of my allowance goes towards that if I am honest. Two, better 4G experience in general both in terms of coverage and speeds. Access to visual voicemail already and "proper" WiFi calling soon and access to a network with the better network plan. There is other reasons but those are the stand out ones.

Imagine those are similar reasons for everyone else, EE is not a network for value you pay extra for those bits if you want simple Value than definitely Three is probably the network for you.

Piss poor data tarrifs. It's cheaper to get the £ 9.99 250 mb and add on the 10gb for £15.99 once it's run out!

SIM only plans don't have any add ons. Those only apply to phone contract purchasers. (yes its insane).

I've seen that mentioned before, but is it documented anywhere yet? Sounds like a CMA remedy; but the CMA haven't yet ruled?


Yes, the 3 purchase of O2, will probably affect how the BT purchase of EE is assessed.

Not documented anywhere but CMA will listen to Ofcom and Ofcom aren't going to say that one network is allowed own 2x50MHz of spectrum in one band. EE already have the most mid-high band spectrum as it is. Plus fact the spectrum isn't being used at moment will be considered I imagine. The other part of the concessions will be spinning of BT wholesale in openreach which BT has said they willing to do. So that mobile backhaul can be regulated and not give EE priority.

It also depends on 3/O2 merger if Ofcom decide to change the lowband spectrum limit as at moment O2 and Vodafone are at the limit. With the Three spectrum the combined company would be over it. So certainly making the combined entity give up Three's 2x5MHz in 800MHz band. Would likely be something that Ofcom would recommend to the European Commission.

I still think Three's network plan is relying on this deal to pass as running a LTE network on 2x5MHz in anything but rural areas is crazy. Specially as they continuing to offer unlimited data congestion will become insane quite easily.

Ending today, the 2gb/unlimited package comes with a £95 Amazon voucher.

Effectively making it half price

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/pho...ost-cutting#ee

The Vodafone deal is very good if you live in certain areas. I'm on 4G around 90% of the time.

I wondered if Bt mobile launch would see spectrum in use before ee acquisition completes.


I hadn't realised there was a low limit. Agree on 2x5 being silly with current plans. You can see why ee are only using in very rural areas.

I very much doubt BT will use the spectrum it would be a waste of money for them. Installing base stations etc when they can just use EE's network and operate as a MVNO. What would they have to benefit.

Yeah there is a limit on amount of low band spectrum that any network in UK is allowed to own.

Vodafone already have 2.6ghz spectrum so the only buyers could be 3 and o2. They are both a bit lacking in spectrum but I could see o2 being forced to buy it if the deal doesn't go through. There is some TDD spectrum as well I believe, that is owned by BT, perhaps 3 could buy that if the deal doesn't go through.

So if u run out of data on a sim only that's it no more interneting?

I think you can buy 100mb of data for a stupidly high price.