MSE News: EE reveals 4G prices... which aren't cheap

Former_MSE_Helen

"Mobile users who want to use the new superfast 4G mobile network face steeper costs when it launches next week..."

Read the full story:

EE reveals 4G prices... which aren't cheap

irrelevant

Ah, I see from those pricing options that they have the same policy as the broadband suppliers came up with - keep upping the network speed but retain stupid low data allowances, so much that you can burn through your limit within minutes if not careful. Any indication on the penalties thereafter?

GooliesOfFire

Finally some figures..

Looks like I will give 4G a miss for now. So much talking about what 4G can offer (watching TV, streaming.. right lol) but with low data allowances at high prices it's not much better than 3G sadly.

MillicentBystander

Like I have said before, early adaptors always get shafted. I'll give it 6-12 months before having another look.

bobster999

MillicentBystander wrote: »

Like I have said before, early adaptors always get shafted. I'll give it 6-12 months before having another look.

By then DC-HSPA will be out which will be faster anyway at no extra cost as its the HSPA lines upgraded.

AntonH67

Millicent Bystrander is right on the money here; I am going to bide my time and wait for the prices to come down once the market has matured.

The whole 4G thing doesn't excite me too much if i'm being honest though, especially given the prices being quoted (for over 500MB data). They are extortionate and only for the well off.

3G is more than adequate for me where I live and there is no reason why I can't go on relying on it.

robbies_gal

ridiculous prices whose going to pay that?

Former_MSE_Becca

irrelevant wrote: »

Any indication on the penalties thereafter?

Hi Irrelevant, speaking to EE yesterday, they told us that it would be impossible for a customer to exceed their data allowance and be hit with a hefty charge, as once the monthly allowance is gone, you'll not be able to use further data unless you buy an add-on (priced from £3 for 50MB).

This line from its own news story (released today) sums it up: Data controls will alert customers when they are approaching the data allowance limit, and then when their limit is reached. They can then choose to buy a data add-on, or wait until the next bill period starts.

Hope that helps,
MSE Becca

jayme1

MSE_Becca wrote: »

Hi Irrelevant, speaking to EE yesterday, they told us that it would be impossible for a customer to exceed their data allowance and be hit with a hefty charge, as once the monthly allowance is gone, you'll not be able to use further data unless you buy an add-on (priced from £3 for 50MB).

This line from its own news story (released today) sums it up: Data controls will alert customers when they are approaching the data allowance limit, and then when their limit is reached. They can then choose to buy a data add-on, or wait until the next bill period starts.

Hope that helps,
MSE Becca

It is right that they are doing this, LTE is being sold that you "don't have to wait until you get home to download that app or movie" for the average consumer who doesn't fully understand what 500MB means they could easily go over by several gigabytes, which if it were, say, 50p per MB that would equal £512 per gigabyte.

I think £3 for an extra 50MB is a disgustingly high price compared to the price for 3G now (and 3G is overcapacity).

As I said in the other thread a big part EE is playing for is locking people in to a 24 month contract before their competitors have LTE, I think when they finally get some competition the prices will be driven down.

Former_MSE_Becca

jayme1 wrote: »

As I said in the other thread a big part EE is playing for is locking people in to a 24 month contract before their competitors have LTE, I think when they finally get some competition the prices will be driven down.

These are my thoughts too - but I guess we'll just have to wait to see what O2, Vodafone et al can do...

MSE Becca

sly_dog_jonah

If the handset costs are the same for 12month & 24month tariffs, then it would work out cheaper to get a 12month contract (with handset) and then go for the SIM-only 12month tariff for the 2nd year, which works out £60 cheaper over the 2 years.

That also gives you the option of porting to a cheaper 3G tariff after 12months should you feel the premium cost of the LTE service isn't worth it. For iPhone 5s you wouldn't be able to port to another LTE network though unless Three launch an LTE network in the limited spectrum they are buying from T-Mobile/Orange, because the current iPhone 5 only supports that limited spectrum in the UK.

Getting the handset subsidised by EE and taking a 12month contract followed by a 12month SIM Only works out cheaper than buying the handset direct from Apple (ie unlocked) and going SIM Only for 2x 12 Months. Perhaps the SIM only tariff will be lower in price in a year's time though with greater competition when other networks launch LTE, but that won't change the fact the subsidies EE are offering on the handsets (£379-£429) are greater than the premium you pay in the first year (£300) over a SIM only equivalent.