3 or Virgin

Supatramp

Being now out of contract with Vodafone, I'd like to switch to a company who is more caring about it's customers, and has invested in it's 3G network.

I'm well aware that every SP has it's supporters and detractors, but I was heading towards 3 until I discovered that a location I stay in regularly has no service. I'd previously been keen on 3 but was put off by the fact that it was 3G or nothing. I then came across EE but there seem to be a heck of a lot of people !!!!!ing about Orange and T-Mobile. However, I then discovered that Virgin piggy-back on EE but there doesn't seem to be a lot of mentions of Virgin, but coverage-wise EE seems to match 3, and importantly for me, they have 2G in the location where 3 has nothing.

So............what's Virgin like, piggy-backing on EE?

Info would be appreciated.

Supatramp

Just discovered that it appears that Virgin have only 8 outlets in the whole of Scotland, and most of them are 'stands', whatever they are?

Not exactly a huge presence?

Yorkie1

I've had a low-use PAYG phone with Virgin for years in N England; not encountered connection difficulties with them up till now.

However, I am now facing a similar choice to you as I've just got a new smartphone which will need a data inclusive PAYG tariff ...

Buzby

It's a no brainer.

Virgin don't have a network - they rent capacity from EE. 3UK are the real deal, with their own network and are providing me with both HSDPA+ and 4G at a rate that is more cost effective than any other network, real or MNVO.

Of course, you need to check that there is coverage where you need it before you commit, but I pay £6.90pm for 200m voice, 5000 texts and 500Mb data - the latter can be topped up if you run out mid month.

Add Quidco Cashback and the deal is impossible to beat.

Scrounger

Buzby wrote: »

... Add Quidco Cashback and the deal is impossible to beat.

Sadly, cashback is no longer available since 3 pulled the plug :mad:

Scrounger

Supatramp

Buzby wrote: »

It's a no brainer.

Virgin don't have a network - they rent capacity from EE. 3UK are the real deal, with their own network and are providing me with both HSDPA+ and 4G at a rate that is more cost effective than any other network, real or MNVO.

Of course, you need to check that there is coverage where you need it before you commit, but I pay £6.90pm for 200m voice, 5000 texts and 500Mb data - the latter can be topped up if you run out mid month.

Add Quidco Cashback and the deal is impossible to beat.

To be honest, I'm not over-bothered about 4G, a decent 3G service would be sufficient, hence my reason for leaving Vodafone.

However, having checked 2 locations in England, 6 in Scotland, and 1 in Northern Ireland where I regularly spend time, none of them had 3's 4G service!

macman

Buzby, If you have 4G, isn't 500MB of data wholly inadequate? If not, do you really need 4G?

Supatramp

macman wrote: »

Buzby, If you have 4G, isn't 500MB of data wholly inadequate? If not, do you really need 4G?

To be honest, I was surprised at his deal too! 200 mins would do me about a week or so, and I'd want a cushion of at least 1gb of data. I'd probably use more data if I could get a decent 3G connection more often, unlike with Vodafone!

the_dudez

its three hands down imho three are giving you 4g when it arrives for the same price of 3g and they do great sim only deals and will match whatever else is going as they don't want you to leave them aha

Supatramp

With all due respect, 3 can only be the "real deal" and "hands down" if you can get a connection! The benefit of Virgin/EE would be that unlike 3, they still have a 2G network.

bouncydog1

DD has a virgin sim for £15 per month which is unlimited texts, calls and data. No problems with connection yet as far as I know.