PAYG SIM Recommendation? - For Tethering

Hi -

I'm a relatively infrequent mobile user, who uses SIM-only PAYG.

I'm about to change provider to 3 Mobile - their 321 tariff seems by far the best value for this kind of usage pattern.

One thing though - I see they don't allow tethering on this service.

I hardly ever use tethering, but have found it extremely useful on a couple of occasions when my landline broadband has gone done temporarily, and I've needed an emergency backup service.
( My studio is in my house, so I need a broadband connection here for my work. )

Could anyone recommend a provider / tariff for an emergency backup SIM, which I could use for tethering?
Wouldn't be using it for P2P, gaming etc - just for email, FTP, and web browsing.

Requirements would be
* Allows tethering
* SIM can be left unused for a length of time without shutting down (say 3-6 months)
* Is really PAYG, i.e doesn't require block buy of data which expires after X weeks mostly unused

Any and all ideas for emergency broadband backup gratefully received...

a second broadband connection or EE PAYG maybe or 3 AYCE with 30GB

or business 3 AYCE as that comes with 350GB of tethering only £21-22 with vat (i am rounding it up) or £17.50 ex vat (not sure if they said 350gb or 450gb of tethering)

an EE sim does sound like what you need if you need it at random times

you can buy 1 year PAYG sims that only expire when data is used up or 12 months (whichever happens first)

I've had a look online for EE PAYG SIMs, but with all of them the credit seems to expire after 30 days. Does the 1 year one have a particular name?

Try talkmobile - runs on Vodafone network and payg is 2p per MB for data. Also good for calls at 10p for up to an hour, and good roaming rates.

Edit: Maybe should also mention that it doesn't offer 4g - might be a deal breaker for you, but my experience is that 4g is not always faster. I guess it depends what is available in your area and your signal strength etc.

Edited by ajpn (Sun 17-Apr-16 15:45:42)

In reply to a post by gordon_k:

I've had a look online for EE PAYG SIMs, but with all of them the credit seems to expire after 30 days. Does the 1 year one have a particular name?

i am not sure about rules on here but i can be moderated if so

only seen them on ebay (reputable sellers) you can just search the number below

ebay item 191702408420 is the only listing on there that is £80 EE 24GB for 12 months

or a £25 3 data only sim that is 12GB for 12 months , item 201557825689 (witch is surprisingly cheap other sellers are doing same one at £35-45)

ebay "12 month sim" and limit it to Sim Cards category, you see 24GB for 12 months on there and others

i would ignore the t-mobile unlimited ones as they have a monthly 1GB high speed cap (once 1GB has been used its slowed down in the day time)

Is that 24GB per month or for the whole year, averaging 2GB?

350gb of tethering for 22 a month?

whats the catch?

In reply to a post by epyon:

350gb of tethering for 22 a month?

whats the catch?

don't know i guess there would not be one (maybe lower priority on the tethering but its a business one so i would expect slightly higher priority )

I will look into this then

as it would be a godsend considering where i'm working right now has 1mbps speeds.

OK, I've had a look into Talkmobile Happy Hour, but unfortunately they don't allow tethering on their PAYG.

I'm not sure why this is thought to be such an issue, since you are paying by the MB anyway, regardless of the screen size of the device being used, but there does seem to be an issue.

Does anyone know of any mobile operator that does allow tethering on PAYG?