PAYG data which doesn't expire

AnoneeeMouse

I'm looking for something that probably doesn't exist, but I'm hoping someone here will know. 

I do a lot of travelling and hiking around Scotland and Ireland, including areas where mobile coverage is patchy. 

My phone is currently on Vodafone, and supports dual SIMS (one physical, one eSIM). 

I would like an eSIM PAYG mobile deal for data which works on either the O2, Three or EE networks (or a piggybacking company on these) as a backup for when i am in areas where Vodafone coverage falls down. I basically want to buy some data on one of these networks and just forget about it - not have it expire ever. Maybe annually would be ok, but certainly i don't want to have to renew it monthly. Most of the PAYG deals i have found are only for 30 days or whatever. 

If it also works overseas for roaming that's a bonus, but not that important. 

TLDR: PAYG eSIM data on O2, Three or EE networks which doesn't expire

Thanks all. 

alanjones60

RWG runs on EE.
Credit never expires,but you do have to make a chargeable call every 90 days or your sim will be restricted.
Rates are 5p a min 5p a text and 1p per mb

flaneurs_lobster

alanjones60 said:

RWG runs on EE.
Credit never expires,but you do have to make a chargeable call every 90 days or your sim will be restricted.
Rates are 5p a min 5p a text and 1p per mb

RWG eSIMs run on Three, not true PAYG but they do have a 12 month deal, unlimited calls/SMS and 5GB/mth for £45.

For something free to try, Firsty.  https://www.firsty.app/

Giffgaff have eSIM and they can be used as a PAYG, rates ain't cheap 25p/min,10p/sms, 10p/MB.

Vodafone SIM to eSIM swap is pretty painless and might open up more physical SIM options (like RWG above). 

ID Mobile have PAYG eSIM (not free, need to buy a one-off monthly package for £6) cheap 3p/2p/1p and lousy CS.

If you've got a Tesco Mobile outlet try asking about PAYG eSIM, rumours that they might exist.

And then there's Lyca.......... 

AnoneeeMouse

Thank you both for the suggestions. I wasn't expecting many options so those are all good to know. 

Firsty is certainly interesting - ideal even, since I'm only after a backup that i will rarely use. 

savergrant

AnoneeeMouse said:

Thank you both for the suggestions. I wasn't expecting many options so those are all good to know. 

Firsty is certainly interesting - ideal even, since I'm only after a backup that i will rarely use. 

Tried it myself today. Wish I had seen it a month ago as actually used some of my rwg £15 balance last month (first time I have gone over the free 750mb). Seems too good to be true, free data and can connect to any signal? Trying to select the network manually gives a choice of five called firsty though, so no idea which is which to do any kind of comparison. Hopefully it will choose the best signal when in remote areas.

PHK

Nothing wrong with Firsty, but Just so people are aware after the 100MB  trial of Firsty  Fast, you switch to Firsty Free which is slow data suitable for messaging, WhatsApp, email etc. There is one advert per 60 minutes of data use (that's sixty minutes when the data connection is being used it shows you in the app how long you have left)  

If you want to stay on Firsty Fast, you buy a number of days use which is around £2 a day. 

AnoneeeMouse

The fact alone that Firstly will switch between *any* network seems too good to be true. I didn't know any SIM could do this.  

It seems perfect for my use case.

flaneurs_lobster

AnoneeeMouse said:

The fact alone that Firstly will switch between *any* network seems too good to be true. I didn't know any SIM could do this.  

They've been around for a while but for niche users (they've always been expensive). I had a phone with such a service 15 years ago when I was on-call support for some "strategic" systems. 

Looks like they are becoming affordable, RWG have a data-only version 1GB/mth £30/yr. 

https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/data-only/1-year-multi-network-sim-data-only-1gb-per-month/ 

EDIT : RWG have a sale on during June, 20% off everything, so that's £24/year.

flaneurs_lobster

PHK said:

Nothing wrong with Firsty, but Just so people are aware after the 100MB  trial of Firsty  Fast, you switch to Firsty Free which is slow data suitable for messaging, WhatsApp, email etc. There is one advert per 60 minutes of data use (that's sixty minutes when the data connection is being used it shows you in the app how long you have left)  

If you want to stay on Firsty Fast, you buy a number of days use which is around £2 a day. 

I was quite impressed. Liked the fact that you can try out their service, and continue with the Free service, without ever having provided payment details. Can see that being abused unless they have clever tech to stop that sort of thing.

alanjones60

Iv just downloaded the firsty e sim,but i cant get any data,do i av to put a apn in or something?

savergrant

AnoneeeMouse said:

The fact alone that Firstly will switch between *any* network seems too good to be true. I didn't know any SIM could do this.  

It seems perfect for my use case.

I would guess that there is no difference in the sim architecture between modern networks (ah for the old days of dual band phones) so as long as the sim provider can verify the sim to the host network the sim can use that signal. To some extent this happens with emergency calls. Also it is probably easier with data only services as it doesn't need to route calls or texts.
I was with lyca when they shunted all their customers from o2 to ee without warning and whilst using the same sim.