MVNO bandwidth

Harrycane

I have read with interest the cheap SIM-only deals; I am confused about the MVNOs offering identical services to the big names. As far as I can see, for example, Virgin Media (currently) uses EE, but uses only 1800MHz upwards, not the lower frequencies, whereas EE also uses 800/900Mhz. OK if you are in towns, but not in rural areas, where the lower bandwidth offers better reach at greater distances from the masts. Yet MSE seems to say Ofcom insists services are identical. On this measure they are most definitely not. Am I missing something? As a rural bod this is a pretty important detail, so I'm staying put with Vodafone until I've understood this properly. Any input gratefully received, since I'm no expert in this field.

molerat

They offer the same services over the same frequencies, they do not have to offer all the frequencies. Moving to an MVNO means you are likely to lose the cherry on the cake services such as wi-fi calling and VoLTE.

oldernonethewiser

I have been looking to move and a lot of the MVNOs seems appealing but the lack of Wifi calling would be a big loss for me.

[Deleted User]

Harrycane wrote: »

I have read with interest the cheap SIM-only deals; I am confused about the MVNOs offering identical services to the big names. As far as I can see, for example, Virgin Media (currently) uses EE, but uses only 1800MHz upwards, not the lower frequencies, whereas EE also uses 800/900Mhz. OK if you are in towns, but not in rural areas, where the lower bandwidth offers better reach at greater distances from the masts. Yet MSE seems to say Ofcom insists services are identical. On this measure they are most definitely not. Am I missing something? As a rural bod this is a pretty important detail, so I'm staying put with Vodafone until I've understood this properly. Any input gratefully received, since I'm no expert in this field.

It doesn't look like EE share the 800Mhz band with any MVNO at the moment, that said Virgin are leaving the EE network shortly(?) and moving to Vodafone who s base carrier frequency is 900Mhz so may suit you better.

Harrycane

Thanks, this explains the apparent contradiction. MVNOs are equal on equal bandwidths, but may not necessarily offer the whole spectrum. Not a problem for most, a problem for some.

d123

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

It doesn't look like EE share the 800Mhz band with any MVNO at the moment, that said Virgin are leaving the EE network shortly(?) and moving to Vodafone who s base carrier frequency is 900Mhz so may suit you better.

For 4G Vodafone's base frequency is actually 800MHz.

You are correct that EE (and Three, to a lessor degree) restrict use of their 800MHz.

Virgin is moving to Vodafone by the end of 2020 (5G capable customers will be moved first).

japitts

Harrycane wrote: »

Thanks, this explains the apparent contradiction. MVNOs are equal on equal bandwidths, but may not necessarily offer the whole spectrum. Not a problem for most, a problem for some.

Indeed, as others have pointed out VF & O2's 2G/3G is on 900Mhz so they have no need to restrict access to 4G800.


EE & 3 have very valid technical reasons to restrict 4G800 access to VoLTE customers, which no EE MVNO has access to.


There's also the valid argument that the network operators probably don't want to offer all the same service to the budget MVNOs in order to create differentiation. In other words, different service levels for different price points/markets. Look at Giffgaff for further evidence of this.

[Deleted User]

d123 wrote: »

For 4G Vodafone's base frequency is actually 800MHz.

You are correct that EE (and Three, to a lessor degree) restrict use of their 800MHz.

Virgin is moving to Vodafone by the end of 2020 (5G capable customers will be moved first).

My first thought was that you were wrong and it was 900Mhz(not that there's much in it anyway) but when I checked it looks like we're both right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodafone_UK#Radio_frequency_summary

It's definitely 800Mhz or 900Mhz regardless

d123

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

My first thought was that you were wrong and it was 900Mhz(not that there's much in it anyway) but when I checked it looks like we're both right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodafone_UK#Radio_frequency_summary

It's definitely 800Mhz or 900Mhz regardless

Yes, they have many frequencies in use, but their national base frequency for 4G is on their 800MHz spectrum. The 900, 1800 and 2100MHz is all refarmed from 2G and 3G.

Without looking it up iirc Vodafone rolled out the 4G network on 2x 10MHz of 800MHz and 2x 20MHz of 2600MHz.