"3 don't have proper 4G" says T Mobile rep

Cuilean

With my contract due to end in 3 weeks, I rang up T Mobile/EE today to see what retentions could offer. In short, not a lot, but some interesting pieces of info I'd like MSE's opinion of.


Judging from posts here and on HUKD, 3 is a good choice. I sent off for a 3 SIM to check service. This morning, my 3-2-1 SIM arrived, and I chucked it into the iPhone. The signal was okay. It held one bar of signal pretty well, which is on a par with T Mobile (Swings from 2 bars to No Service without warning). If I stick with their PAYG, I can top up £15 and use as much data as the iPhone can chew, or I can go onto a contract and pay effectively the same as I do to T Mobile for 2Gb of data. From what I can gather, I can download an app so I can boost my signal by using broadband. Whatever I choose, I'm better off with 3 in that respect.


Anyway, there's a point to this, and it's about 4G (Which granted, I don't even get around here, so it's irrelevant to me). When I spoke to the girl in T Mobile retentions, not only did she say that they couldn't touch 3 for prices, she also told me that 3 "Doesn't have real 4G capability - the first bit is true 4G, but the rest is just super-fast 3G. EE has the most capacity and other networks have to dish out what's leftover". We then wasted half an hour where she tried to flog me EE broadband. Is the bit about 3 not having true 4G true?

tripled

I believe 3's 4G network isn't as extensive as EE's, maybe that is what they are referring to? My understanding is that EE do have the best 4G network, but that's their selling point and how they justify their price premium.

grumbler

Three are notorious for telling lies about their competitors.
I think it's a 'revenge' from EE:


That said, the the speed greatly depends on the location and on on the number of customers connected.

d123

Cuilean wrote: »

Is the bit about 3 not having true 4G true?

Three has 4G on 1800MHz and is in the process of rolling out 4G on 800MHz.

EE has 4G on 1800MHz and is the process of rolling out 4G on 800MHz. (EE also an option on some spectrum at 2600MHz for urban infill, the majority of service is on 1800MHz and soon on 800MHz).

If Three don't have 'real' 4G, than neither does EE

EE just has more spectrum, but they also have far more customers to balance that out.

thescouselander

It's definitely not true. I can pick up 4g on three at work although three's 4G coverage isn't great at the moment.

kingrulzuk

3's 4G in Edinburgh is very good i must say. i can get above 35Mb/s any time of the day. and early in the morning it can go above 40Mb/s.

SuiDreams

Also Note, that I believe if you stay on a Tmobile contract you wouldn't get access to 4G anyway, you would have to move onto and EE contract to get 4G, this was what I was told before I left tmobile and went to 3

d123

SuiDreams wrote: »

Also Note, that I believe if you stay on a Tmobile contract you wouldn't get access to 4G anyway, you would have to move onto and EE contract to get 4G, this was what I was told before I left tmobile and went to 3

That's right, anyone on a T-Mobile EE or Orange EE plan won't get 4G. The only way is to migrate onto EE, in doing so the customer will lose loyalty discounts and have to move to an EE price plan and contract.

sdduk

I get 4g were i live from 3 so sounds like the t-mobile person was just trying to put you off
Don't forget that 3 share masts with EE not sure if they are 4g or just 2g &3g but they do share
So i get good EE and 3 signal here and i am not in any city i live in a town.

diamonds

My experience of 3 and EE are as bad as each other for lies...


Home: 3 Signal ok, 3G only, EE signal drops on 2/3/4G


City wide: EE 2/3/4G, 3 3G


City centre: 3 4G, EE 2/3/4G




3 maps show 4G at both address I need, no such thing.. 3 tech support confirm the 3 maps on the website are wrong and they have the latest information.


EE swear my home address has great 2/3/4G, even when they know my other contract on Orange has to use UMA/Signalboost at home. I walked via PAC 13 months into a contract and will be going to CISAS for the outstanding balance.


I was told EE 4G would get a signal at home given its 1800mhz not 3G 2100mhz, EE found it acceptable I had to hang out my window to make calls, refusal to send a signal box. And to top it off they increased my EE broadband costs (to include landline)....which I only have for Signalboost!




MBNL that EE & 3 co-own 50/50 has backhaul data capacity issues citywide, 3G/4G on a Xperia SP & Nokia 1320 NEVER goes above 6MB download, pages hang aswell on handset or tethering on Android OS, BB Playbook OS & Windows.




But apparently....EE has the best network coverage and 3 is built for internetting :rotfl:




3 at least gives 3G at home.


Marketing bumf!




I can only get 2G Voda & o2 at home, so given all thee above I'm stuck with 3 for now. If Voda had 3G/4G coverage at home I would be on the payg £30 bundle.


o2 are to replace the 2 cells north of me in 200 metres soon (2G/3G), I hope that means the replacement 3 cells will be 2, 3 and 4G broadcasting they got planning permission for


Now I might get 4G indoors via a o2 reseller