Piggybacking

thriftymanc

If a network piggybacks off another, is the coverage just as good as the main network, or does the main network get prioritised? E.g. Virgin piggybacks off T-Mobile, is the Virgin reception as strong as T-Mobile?

gjchester

thriftymanc wrote: »

If a network piggybacks off another, is the coverage just as good as the main network, or does the main network get prioritised? E.g. Virgin piggybacks off T-Mobile, is the Virgin reception as strong as T-Mobile?

It's generally believed that the virtual network may get a lower priority at times of heavy load than the "Main" network, however there are so many factors that affect if calls can be made it would be impossible to say with certainty.

The only real way to find out is to read the contract between the "main" and "virtual" network, however that would be commercially sensitive and not likely to be released to the general public.

bengalknights

Its usually the same reception however the systems used during the process of calling/texting etc may have an effect on the type of service you receive.

sillygoose

I have O2 on a huge corporate business contract and privately Giffgaff the budget network that runs on the O2 network.

Coverage wise as you would expect I get exactly the same signal strength on both.

But putting the SIM's in the same phone in exactly the same position and running internet speed tests the corporate one measures higher data rates everytime.

I don't believe this is due to the network slowing down the carriage of data but the point where the data is routed into the internet, basically the ISP bit, I don't believe Giffgaff has as good a capacity into the main lines of the net as O2 do.

diamonds

Call priority goes for the main telco not reseller, GG like Virgin (on EE) route their internet via third parties at cheaper cost then the main telco, Virgin route internet via Virgin Media business.