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Three tethering

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terryya
terryya Posts: 603 Forumite
We're going on holiday to France and thought that the £15 PAYG sim from Three would be a good for data when we are there. I know it says it doesn't allow tethering, but would they be able to tell if we were using it to tether other android phones/tablets?

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  • d123
    d123 Posts: 8,731 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    terryya wrote: »
    We're going on holiday to France and thought that the £15 PAYG sim from Three would be a good for data when we are there. I know it says it doesn't allow tethering, but would they be able to tell if we were using it to tether other android phones/tablets?

    They have recently updated their detection software and are catching it very quickly now.

    I would not bank on it working as PAYG isn't allowed to tether at all (and they could remove the "Feel like Home" add on from you if they catch you).
    ====
  • terryya
    terryya Posts: 603 Forumite
    d123 wrote: »
    They have recently updated their detection software and are catching it very quickly now.

    I would not bank on it working as PAYG isn't allowed to tether at all (and they could remove the "Feel like Home" add on from you if they catch you).

    For £15 I'm happy to have a gamble, but just wondered how they would detect it when it's on another carrier's network and both the 'host' phone and the tethered one were the same?
  • dealer_wins
    dealer_wins Posts: 7,334 Forumite
    terryya wrote: »
    For £15 I'm happy to have a gamble, but just wondered how they would detect it when it's on another carrier's network and both the 'host' phone and the tethered one were the same?

    They could detect it by operating system info, browser info. Im sure there are many other ways!!
  • ste_wilko
    ste_wilko Posts: 231 Forumite
    I'm pretty sure that when the handset is tethering it sends and receives the data via a different VPN to the mobile data.

    Be careful if you purcahsed the handset on Three as well as the SIM. If you did and you haven't topped up enough for Three to consider the cost of the handset covered they can do whatever they wish with it, including blocking it. I would very carefully read the T&C's with regards to what steps they may take for breaching the them.

    Also, even if it states that they do not allow tethering they may let you do it and charge you a premium for doing so, and it will be out of the scope of any allowance you may have and you'll be abroad. You could find yourself paying £15 for something as little as 1mb of tethered data.

    Your best bet would be to try and find public access WiFi
  • spannerzone
    spannerzone Posts: 1,566 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    On Three's PAYG you'll need to convert or buy an 'add on' to get internet working in a Feel At Home country. So before you go to France make sure you get this add on, added on!

    "if you’re on Pay As You Go you'll need to convert your Pay As You Go credit into an Add-on to get an allowance"
    Link

    They're pretty hot on tethering or 'personal hotspot' as they now call it, and it isn't allowed on PAYG in the UK and not allowed in a feel at home country, even if you're on a contract.

    I'm just about to do the same, use a Three PAYG sim in my smartphone..... I'd already topped up the SIM and now looking to get their £15 addon for the trip.

    Never trust information given by strangers on internet forums
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