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So the data speeds with Virgin Mobile have recently gone through the floor. Pages not loading, constant spinning wheels of frustration. A quick google reveals that they've changed providers to vodafone or something. I gave them a ring and of course they were no help.
So can anyone recommend another provider? Need unlimited or at least 50gb data.
Your beat bet is to ask what others who live in your area use and how good their data speed is.
Virgin user here and not noticed a dramatic fall in 4g. Virgin doesn't charge for roaming if you travel a bit.
Try giffgaff* op.
Giffgaff is on the O2 network so you can see if you like the whole giffgaff ethos and if not you've at least found out if going with O2 is an option you want to look into.
*PAYG obviously.
Virgin user here and not noticed a dramatic fall in 4g. Virgin doesn’t charge for roaming if you travel a bit.
Word on the street is that they're slowly migrating everyone over to the new network. Perhaps they've not gotten round to you yet...
Thanks PS, will look into GiffGaff. Only need a SIM.
I switched from Vodafone (20+ years trouble free customer) to Voxi a few months ago because I decided to buy my latest phone outright and experiment with the market.
It’s basically Vodafone’s network without the telephone-based customer service. Dirt cheap and they often do deals like double data, free social media streaming etc.
The only negative I’ve experienced is signal drops in remote areas probably more than with pure Vodafone.
Not an issue 99% of the time for me.
Giffgaff = O2
Voxi = Vodafone
Smarty = three
I'm on smarty and get great reception. Good deals too.
If you want to try another network for cheap with easy get out, go for Giffgaff or smarty. Can always get out after a month if signal isn't for you.
Virgin Mobile in Portsmouth and no issues. I’m fact we now have 5g too.
Assume it’s driven by where you are more than anything else.
ID Mobile (Carphone Warehouse) unlimited everything for £16 p/m - 24 month contract. 5g ready
Uses Three network
I've not found anything to beat Smarty. I was about to jump ship after being an O2 contract customer since the 1990s when Covid hit and my requirement for mobile data went through the floor.
In comparison with the previous post by way of example: £15/month gets you 50GB on a one-month contract. Unlimited everything (who needs more than 50GB?) is £20.
Just FYI, Virgin are O2 now
Thanks chaps, some good recommendationingings,.
Assume it’s driven by where you are more than anything else
Don't think so. Been with Virgin forever, never had an issue until recently. I suppose it could be my phone... but others seem to be having the same issue. The guy at Virgin said they'd switched networks to or from Vodaphone, can't remember which way now. As if that explained everything.
Virgin now run off the Vodafone network they moved from EE just before they merged with o2 I'm sure eventually they will run off o2.
If you need the EE network the Plusnet mobile piggybacks onto EE. My wife uses it as only the EE network works where she does. It's a pay a month at a time system similar to giffgaff and others.
Asda used to be on EE but is now on O2 but used to have reasonable deals.
This is interesting - I use virgin mobile 4g and it's been terrible for about 3-4 weeks. I was hoping it was a local blip and would correct itself but this article has me believing otherwise. Hmmmmm....
https://www.4g.co.uk/virgin-mobile-4g-coverage-network-summary/#:~:text=However%2C%20Virgin%20Mobile%20will%20start,be%20moved%20by%20early%202022.
All good things come to an end...... 🙁
I've been a three customer for 12+ years and have been happily enjoying my £15/month for unlimited everything anywhere in the world(ish). But no more, as of the end of the month my £15 will apparently go up to £26 and it's £2/day to access roaming in the EU and £5 rest of world.
So we're on a search for someone to move to, Smarty is looking good so far, the Three network works mostly OK for me.
Can I take a Three number across to another provider that uses Three?
Vodafone and O2 share the same mast/infrastructure network and most of the budget options like Giffgaff, Tesco all piggy back from them.
Orange and EE (Previously T Mobile) share the 'other' mast and infrastructure network and providers like BT Mobile piggy back on it.
I've not seen it stated but pretty sure the big brands will allow themselves the fastest access speeds (hence EE claiming the fastest network) and the more budget options will be throttled to ensure they do not impinge on the headline speeds.
I’ve not seen it stated but pretty sure the big brands will allow themselves the fastest access speeds (hence EE claiming the fastest network) and the more budget options will be throttled to ensure they do not impinge on the headline speeds.
Smarty & ID Mobile clam not to I think.
I just binned Voxi in my mobile router as the speeds were awful, I have no idea why but it was unusable. Plusnet is much better in the same router.
ID Mobile still do EU roaming at no charge. I think I’m going to try a 30 Day sim and if it works OK look at signing up for 24 months which will hopefully keep roaming for the contract period at least. I’m sure they’ll be adding roaming charges soon enough.
I reluctantly pay for the privilege of EE because I just need a network that works, especially when working which is usually in digitally congested areas
@phil5556: I left three after several years for the same reason, now with Asda, who piggyback on Vodaphone's network, £5 a month (monthly contract) for unlimited mins/SMS, 3Gb data, and free EU roaming. Working OK in France so far...
You can port a three number to any other provider, not just one that uses three. Just text for a PAC.
I left three after several years for the same reason, now with Asda, who piggyback on Vodaphone’s network, £5 a month (monthly contract) for unlimited mins/SMS, 3Gb data, and free EU roaming. Working OK in France so far…
I use a bit more than 3gb so I’ve gone for ID 50GB and will see how I get on.
Wife is trying GiffGaff so we’ll see which works best.
You can port a three number to any other provider, not just one that uses three.
I was more wondering if they wouldn’t let me take my Three number to another “Three company” but yes looks like it’s all OK.
I have my PAC code so here’s to hoping this goes smoothly once new sim arrives 🤞
OP here,
A little update on this. I think the issue was network coverage rather than data speed specifically. I rarely talk on the phone so probably never noticed this much. As I said, things were great before Virgin switched networks, EE - Vodaphone I believe. So I left Virgin as I was out of contract anyway having been with them for decades.
Bought a Smarty SIM which uses the Three network. And, well... it's still pretty shit, just in a slightly slower but more consistent way. It seems I just struggle getting above one little bar of signal, Which is weird as I live on the top of a hill in the central area of one of the UK's largest cities. So as the Smarty deal is contract-free I'll be trying a provider who uses O2 next, Tesco Mobile, GiffGaff.
And yes, I realise it would make sense to just go with EE as that worked fine but I'm trying the cheapo deals first 🙂