Lycamobile changing from being an O2 MVNO to an EE MVNO?

PHK

There have been lots of reports of Lycamobile customers now finding they have been migrated from using the O2 signal to using the EE signal. 

I can’t find anything about this other than a cryptic statement that Lyca are changing their network this week. Their website still says O2. 

So what’s going on? Normally there would be lots of publicity about this sort of change. 

HampshireH

These are the messages I've had from Lyca this week. I'll be really frustrated if they move to EE as I picked up with them due to it being O2

datz

PHK said:

There have been lots of reports of Lycamobile customers now finding they have been migrated from using the O2 signal to using the EE signal. 

I can’t find anything about this other than a cryptic statement that Lyca are changing their network this week. Their website still says O2. 

So what’s going on? Normally there would be lots of publicity about this sort of change. 

I noticed this morning that my Lyca sims were connecting to the EE network - beneficial for me because EE provide the best coverage in my area.

tinker411

PHK said:

There have been lots of reports of Lycamobile customers now finding they have been migrated from using the O2 signal to using the EE signal. 

I can’t find anything about this other than a cryptic statement that Lyca are changing their network this week. Their website still says O2. 

So what’s going on? Normally there would be lots of publicity about this sort of change. 

Looks like it's as your thread title says - they're migrating to EE.

I had an email from them, titled 'UK Service Upgradee', which looked like spam but apparently is not (looks like someone at Lyca has a sense of humour), mentioning network upgrades. Guess now we know what kind.

PHK

It’s a little bit annoying, my main SIM is EE, I chose Lyca for a second SIM because on occasion there was O2 coverage (only 3G) when EE is congested. Plus Lyca did an eSIM which made it easy. 

I live in a holiday town and on days when a lot of holidaymakers arrive, EE gets a bit congested as too many people try to make calls. Three is even worse as it’s congested nearly all the time and Vodafone have patchy coverage. So it looks like I’ll have to try another O2 MVNO. 

Edit: Still don’t understand why Lyca haven’t publicised this significant change. 

HampshireH

tinker411 said:

PHK said:

There have been lots of reports of Lycamobile customers now finding they have been migrated from using the O2 signal to using the EE signal. 

I can’t find anything about this other than a cryptic statement that Lyca are changing their network this week. Their website still says O2. 

So what’s going on? Normally there would be lots of publicity about this sort of change. 

Looks like it's as your thread title says - they're migrating to EE.

I had an email from them, titled 'UK Service Upgradee', which looked like spam but apparently is not (looks like someone at Lyca has a sense of humour), mentioning network upgrades. Guess now we know what kind.

I also got that email and thought "wow you'd think they would spell check their emails" I also thought it was spam until I opened it 

Totally didn't even make a link on the ee thing

PHK

My SIM just did the switch to EE, technical impressive that it happened so easily but annoying as I’ll have to step up efforts to find a replacement. 

I doubt that Lycamobile will refund anything even though it was their action and they didn’t give any notice.

tinker411

PHK said:

It’s a little bit annoying, my main SIM is EE, I chose Lyca for a second SIM because on occasion there was O2 coverage (only 3G) when EE is congested. Plus Lyca did an eSIM which made it easy. 

I live in a holiday town and on days when a lot of holidaymakers arrive, EE gets a bit congested as too many people try to make calls. Three is even worse as it’s congested nearly all the time and Vodafone have patchy coverage. So it looks like I’ll have to try another O2 MVNO. 

Edit: Still don’t understand why Lyca haven’t publicised this significant change. 

I agree it's a bit odd that they've barely publicised this changeover - maybe they're trying to reduce the "I don't want to change over/why haven't I changed over" calls/live chats to customer service? I don't know. Wonder how long it'll take for Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE to arrive (probably another question they're looking to avoid, at least for now).

Slightly different setup here - I'm also in a holiday town, and here Vodafone are hopeless (their masts are saturated) while O2 are a bit better (as they've added 5G) but when holidaymakers descend they both grind to a halt. Three are congested, but with the depth of coverage they're holding up and should continue to until 5G arrives, then there's EE who are fine. 

My main mobile sim is iD mobile. Have been looking for an EE MVNO as backup for when out and about too (I've got EE, well 1p Mobile, in a mobile router at home), doable without eSIM but with would be better (as it'd be in one handset then). Lyca doing eSIM was so easy when they released it, for me shame it was on O2 due to the above, now it's on EE though it warrants a fresh look.

Neil49

tinker411 said:

PHK said:

It’s a little bit annoying, my main SIM is EE, I chose Lyca for a second SIM because on occasion there was O2 coverage (only 3G) when EE is congested. Plus Lyca did an eSIM which made it easy. 

I live in a holiday town and on days when a lot of holidaymakers arrive, EE gets a bit congested as too many people try to make calls. Three is even worse as it’s congested nearly all the time and Vodafone have patchy coverage. So it looks like I’ll have to try another O2 MVNO. 

Edit: Still don’t understand why Lyca haven’t publicised this significant change. 

I agree it's a bit odd that they've barely publicised this changeover - maybe they're trying to reduce the "I don't want to change over/why haven't I changed over" calls/live chats to customer service? I don't know. Wonder how long it'll take for Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE to arrive (probably another question they're looking to avoid, at least for now).

Slightly different setup here - I'm also in a holiday town, and here Vodafone are hopeless (their masts are saturated) while O2 are a bit better (as they've added 5G) but when holidaymakers descend they both grind to a halt. Three are congested, but with the depth of coverage they're holding up and should continue to until 5G arrives, then there's EE who are fine. 

My main mobile sim is iD mobile. Have been looking for an EE MVNO as backup for when out and about too (I've got EE, well 1p Mobile, in a mobile router at home), doable without eSIM but with would be better (as it'd be in one handset then). Lyca doing eSIM was so easy when they released it, for me shame it was on O2 due to the above, now it's on EE though it warrants a fresh look.

Both RWG and Nowmobile piggyback off EE but neither offer an esim. They do however have some good deals. Double check re availability of WiFi calling (I don't think so) and roaming. 

tinker411

Neil49 said:

tinker411 said:

PHK said:

It’s a little bit annoying, my main SIM is EE, I chose Lyca for a second SIM because on occasion there was O2 coverage (only 3G) when EE is congested. Plus Lyca did an eSIM which made it easy. 

I live in a holiday town and on days when a lot of holidaymakers arrive, EE gets a bit congested as too many people try to make calls. Three is even worse as it’s congested nearly all the time and Vodafone have patchy coverage. So it looks like I’ll have to try another O2 MVNO. 

Edit: Still don’t understand why Lyca haven’t publicised this significant change. 

I agree it's a bit odd that they've barely publicised this changeover - maybe they're trying to reduce the "I don't want to change over/why haven't I changed over" calls/live chats to customer service? I don't know. Wonder how long it'll take for Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE to arrive (probably another question they're looking to avoid, at least for now).

Slightly different setup here - I'm also in a holiday town, and here Vodafone are hopeless (their masts are saturated) while O2 are a bit better (as they've added 5G) but when holidaymakers descend they both grind to a halt. Three are congested, but with the depth of coverage they're holding up and should continue to until 5G arrives, then there's EE who are fine. 

My main mobile sim is iD mobile. Have been looking for an EE MVNO as backup for when out and about too (I've got EE, well 1p Mobile, in a mobile router at home), doable without eSIM but with would be better (as it'd be in one handset then). Lyca doing eSIM was so easy when they released it, for me shame it was on O2 due to the above, now it's on EE though it warrants a fresh look.

Both RWG and Nowmobile piggyback off EE but neither offer an esim. They do however have some good deals. Double check re availability of WiFi calling (I don't think so) and roaming. 

Yeah, they do, RWG's £5pm bundle for 5GB and unlimited calls and texts has been looking pretty tempting, but they're still without WiFi calling and VoLTE at this time (along with no eSIM) which is why I'm hesitating.

Looks like Lyca are doing 6GB and unlimited calls and texts for about the same per month though, with eSIM, but (it appears) no WiFi calling and VoLTE. Will give it a little while to make sure it's on EE from the off rather than O2 though.

PHK

tinker411 said:

Neil49 said:

tinker411 said:

PHK said:

It’s a little bit annoying, my main SIM is EE, I chose Lyca for a second SIM because on occasion there was O2 coverage (only 3G) when EE is congested. Plus Lyca did an eSIM which made it easy. 

I live in a holiday town and on days when a lot of holidaymakers arrive, EE gets a bit congested as too many people try to make calls. Three is even worse as it’s congested nearly all the time and Vodafone have patchy coverage. So it looks like I’ll have to try another O2 MVNO. 

Edit: Still don’t understand why Lyca haven’t publicised this significant change. 

I agree it's a bit odd that they've barely publicised this changeover - maybe they're trying to reduce the "I don't want to change over/why haven't I changed over" calls/live chats to customer service? I don't know. Wonder how long it'll take for Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE to arrive (probably another question they're looking to avoid, at least for now).

Slightly different setup here - I'm also in a holiday town, and here Vodafone are hopeless (their masts are saturated) while O2 are a bit better (as they've added 5G) but when holidaymakers descend they both grind to a halt. Three are congested, but with the depth of coverage they're holding up and should continue to until 5G arrives, then there's EE who are fine. 

My main mobile sim is iD mobile. Have been looking for an EE MVNO as backup for when out and about too (I've got EE, well 1p Mobile, in a mobile router at home), doable without eSIM but with would be better (as it'd be in one handset then). Lyca doing eSIM was so easy when they released it, for me shame it was on O2 due to the above, now it's on EE though it warrants a fresh look.

Both RWG and Nowmobile piggyback off EE but neither offer an esim. They do however have some good deals. Double check re availability of WiFi calling (I don't think so) and roaming. 

Yeah, they do, RWG's £5pm bundle for 5GB and unlimited calls and texts has been looking pretty tempting, but they're still without WiFi calling and VoLTE at this time (along with no eSIM) which is why I'm hesitating.

Looks like Lyca are doing 6GB and unlimited calls and texts for about the same per month though, with eSIM, but (it appears) no WiFi calling and VoLTE. Will give it a little while to make sure it's on EE from the off rather than O2 though.

Just be warned, their customer service is absolutely dreadful. I’ve not needed to contact them until this unannounced change and it’s been an awful experience. Two agents have disconnected from their live chat, the phone isn’t answered and emails go un-acknowledged.