Poor internet using a 3rd party sim card

ferry

Just curous, does anyone else experience poorer internet connection and browsing using their 3rd party sim?
 I have noticed that despite being on the same network as me my colleague who pays Vodafone directly connects and is able to browse no issues. Even experimented -I often get disconnected and end up struggling to browse even though I connect to the network first.
Maybe it's just me over analysing this but am curious to know if you get put into a hierarchy system if not a direct customer? 

Neil_Jones

What do you mean a third party sim?

Do you mean somebody like Lebara which piggy backs onto Vodafone?

PRAISETHESUN

My understanding is that the the piggybacking networks have similar coverage, but it's not 100% identical. Never really noticed much of a difference myself though to be honest, except when I've been on the edge of coverage zones in rural areas, but I wouldn't expect great coverage in those circumstances anyway.

Also, you need to test like for like to get a fair comparison. Ideally you need to test the SIMs in the same device to make sure that the problem isn't specific to your phone.

savergrant

Neil_Jones said:

What do you mean a third party sim?

Do you mean somebody like Lebara which piggy backs onto Vodafone?

Or ordered through a third party website like mobiles.com?

Maybe look into the small print of the contract, who are you actually paying?

ferry

Sims like Lebara , Smarty and the like that piggy back off main suppliers 

amanda1024

It could be a handset issue? My work and personal phones are both on O2, but in the UK I get much worse internet on the work phone even though they're in the same place etc. (less difference overseas, bizarrely)

Detail_Merchant

There's a web page here - https://www.4g.co.uk/4g-frequencies-uk-need-know/ - which apparently shows which frequency bands various MVNOs use vs the real MNOs.
Mostly the MVNOs don't seem to get 5G, but are otherwise similar.
But Asda (who work via Vodafone) do seem particularly low on bands vs Vodafone themselves.