Mobile providers

[Zonda_]

Who are you with and what is your experience like? I’m currently with O2 but their coverage has dropped off to next to nothing now. When I took out the contract a couple of years ago I had a full signal in the house, at this moment in time I don’t even have one bar. Looking online there are a lot of people reporting this.

[Carlos]

We are with Virgin and we had an ok service when they were using EE masts and network but all of Virgin Mobile has been transitioned over to 02 the last year or so with little upgrade to O2 infrastructure.

We can no longer make calls reliably through the mobile network at home and O2 have stated the masts in our area are massively oversubscribed and there is nothing that can be done!

I assume this is the case countrywide with 100's of thousands of Virgin customers coming across.

[DeskJockey]

We've just switched to Talkmobile (using Vodafone's network). Coverage is the same as before (we were with Vodafone), but we get inclusive roaming and the cost is significantly lower. A doddle to set up and get working.

[IanF]

Three and Vodafone were saying to the CMA that they need to combine to afford the investment needed for 5G to replace 3/4G masts that are overloaded currently. With the Chinese being banned last minute from providing 5G tech, they are woefully behind schedule, as I imagine most providers are.

Basically, inadequate investment, last minute policy change and excuses as per

[Mito Man]

Yep, they’re all shit due to the Huawei ban.

[jamcg]

I was told by someone who works in the middle of nowhere in the Peak District ee have the uk contract for 999 Emergancy service calls so have the best getting chance of signal in any location

(By 999 contact I mean the universal one where you don’t have signal with your own network)

[IanF]

Windsor is in total lock down wrt mobile signals. It’s been since the Queen died, and the one the blue light brigade use is Vodafone, so unless you’re with them you end up sat with max bar 5G and nothing loads.

[Barry]

Who are you with and what is your experience like? I’m currently with O2 but their coverage has dropped off to next to nothing now. When I took out the contract a couple of years ago I had a full signal in the house, at this moment in time I don’t even have one bar. Looking online there are a lot of people reporting this.

Giffgaff - O2. I report the local mast to our office every other month, it dies every day, no data, and cuts phone calls off repeatedly. "This mast can get busy" is O2s fvcking pi55take response. So i just keep reporting it faulty, cos F them.

I can barely make calls at home, no chance in the office, yet I'll randomly get max 4G in middle of Wales.

[scotta]

O2 are fucking shit. I’ve moved from EE to O2 (on sky mobile) and massively regret it. Awaiting contract to end to leave.

[240PP]

I’ve been with Orange/EE since the late 90s and never had any real issues.

[IanF]

I’m with Three which has varying speeds as you journey around the UK but I’m stuck with them now as my contract with unlimited calls, messages, data and roaming (although they’ve recently capped this at 12GB per month). It started many years ago at less than £20pcm but is now up to £28!! Some people made the mistake of updating their contracts but grandfather rights mean I’m very content on my old contract.

I recently bought an eSIM extra 25GB for $24 and lasts 12 months, as that is usable in Nigeria and the Caribbean, which Three doesn’t cover. Seems pretty decent so far

[DeskJockey]

For global roaming I've been recommended keepgo.com, in case that useful.

[Beany]

I’ve been with Orange/EE since the late 90s and never had any real issues.

Same, although mid 2000s for me, and the only problem I regularly have is that reception is a bit shit at the top of town here. Otherwise, never had a problem.

[integrale_evo]

It’s another one of those things the UK seems infuriatingly shit at.

Reception / signal seems barely any better or in some cases worse than it was 20 years ago which is a joke.

We have radio 2 on in the background in the office and I’m amazed at how often people calling in have signal issues, sound like darleks, get cut off etc during the phone in sections.

I’m with O2/giffgaff which seems to have ok reception most of the time in east anglia where others don’t.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Giffgaff - as are my 2 co-directors. I don't think any of us has any significant issues and we cover South Manchester/North Cheshire from east to west. Wife is now also on Giffgaff and doesn't have any issues AFAIK.

I do get one weird little blackspot about a mile to the east of Manchester Airport, but it only shows when I try skipping a track on the commute home, and it will do nothing until I get the other side of the airport.

[Zonda_]

Well I've decided to try EE, I get 20% discount with my Blue light card. Shame about not having roaming but there we go.

[Swervin_Mervin]

It was the roaming and the cost that had us switch to Giffgaff. £10 for 20gb or something and no roaming charges. I don't even use 5gb/mo

[IanF]

For global roaming I've been recommended keepgo.com, in case that useful.

Sorry, missed this. Thanks, I’ll keep them in mind

[Zonda_]

It was the roaming and the cost that had us switch to Giffgaff. £10 for 20gb or something and no roaming charges. I don't even use 5gb/mo

I’d be no better off as they piggy back O2.

[Gavster]

I've been on Vodafone for a couple of years and they're pretty solid, although that's based on 99% of my use in central London which should be easy for any network.