Virgin = or ≠ EE

This is mainly about general mobile, I do use data but not as a fixed broadband replacement.

I have a Three SIM only contract that's up soon. I find them fine other that a bit sparse in more rural areas. EE I know have better coverage (as well as legacy 2G for voice which Three don't). But they're pricey. But there's a Virgin offer of 8GB for £8 (via Money Saving Expert, its £15 on the Virgin site).

So as far as coverage and data speed/connection goes, is the service like for like? Customer service etc I know may be different...

In reply to a post by Woolwich:

So as far as coverage and data speed/connection goes, is the service like for like?

Simple answer = No.

Longer = Virgin Mobile doesn't get access to Band 20 (800mhz) or VoLTE on the EE network, so depending on your handset, could be worse than Three. Virgin Mobile is also moving to use Vodafone over the next 12 to 18 months.

Band 20 (800mhz) or VoLTE on the EE network,

Er, dunno. I have an iPhone 6s.

However, I just read on the internet - so it must be true - Virgin don't do WiFi Calling. My home address is in a location which is poor for all the networks so that may be the deciding factor.

In reply to a post by Woolwich:

Er, dunno. I have an iPhone 6s.

Yes, your phone is compatible if the network does it.

VoLTE is the technology behind "SuperVoice" which is Three's marketing language for better coverage. All the networks are doing this.

However, I just read on the internet - so it must be true - Virgin don't do WiFi Calling. My home address is in a location which is poor for all the networks so that may be the deciding factor.

Not many of the "virtual networks" support WiFi calling or VoLTE. I think Sky is one that does. Typically you have to go to the real networks EE (or BT), Three, Vodafone, O2.

Thanks for all that info, helpful and useful.

In reply to a post by Woolwich:

Thanks for all that info, helpful and useful.

This might be useful, as it now has a WiFi calling column:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Kingdom...

Edited by jchamier (Mon 30-Mar-20 14:04:30)

This might be useful, as it now has a WiFi calling column:

Yes, thanks again.

So the only non-Three option appears to be Sky running over O2. (BT via EE is still pricey.)

Same question then, is Sky the same as O2? They do offer WiFi calling and "4G Calling". They're £10 for 8GB which is the same as my Three deal. Advantages include 2G fallback in North Britain as well as (according to coverage maps...) better 4G where I am and go.

In reply to a post by Woolwich:

Same question then, is Sky the same as O2? They do offer WiFi calling and "4G Calling". They're £10 for 8GB which is the same as my Three deal. Advantages include 2G fallback in North Britain as well as (according to coverage maps...) better 4G where I am and go.

Apologies, I've never used the O2 network, or Sky. Hopefully someone else here has?

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Apologies, I've never used the O2 network, or Sky. Hopefully someone else here has?

According to my research Sky don't offer 4G calling VoLTE, Voice over LTE on iPhones. Which is what I have. Would I miss it (I'm sure I have it with Three)? Would I care? All other boxes ticked!

In reply to a post by Woolwich:

According to my research Sky don't offer 4G calling VoLTE, Voice over LTE on iPhones. Which is what I have. Would I miss it (I'm sure I have it with Three)? Would I care? All other boxes ticked!

I gather some areas of the country have these on O2, and Sky then benefits.

VoLTE gives better coverage on Three (and EE); and means your phone makes voice calls over 4G instead of switching to 3G or 2G.

The only way to know is to test, and Sky doesn't do a PAYG service.

This is an interesting link, found via google:
https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Mobile/VoLTE-releas...

We had Virgin mobile for a year. about 1-2 years ago. It was awful - the lack of Band 20/VoLTE mean lots of coverage gaps indoors and in rural areas. Very different to three (we didn't try EE) - though for us Vodafone works best - lots of bands in city, and good broad coverage in the country. as ever that is a very area specific issue

In reply to a post by Woolwich:

EE I know have better coverage (as well as legacy 2G for voice which Three don't). But they're pricey.

Only if you pay their advertised prices. With most of the major networks, you can get fairly good deals over the phone as long as you commit to a 12+ months contract. I'm currently paying £10/m to EE for their 10gb sim only plan with unlimited calls & texts, on a 12 month contact - I took this plan as a new customer. No reason why you can't get a similar deal with EE provided you're willing to haggle

Edited by deleted (Thu 02-Apr-20 09:55:22)

In reply to a post by Highland76:

I'm currently paying £10/m to EE for their 10gb sim only plan with unlimited calls & texts, on a 12 month contact

EDIT: Misreading the EE site, there are no 10GB SIM only contracts available. 1GB for £16 or 20GB for £22.

Did you get this deal recently? Perhaps there was a discount on at the time, in the past I've seen 30% or thereabouts reductions for a limited time. Did you deal with the call centre or a shop?

Thanks!

Edited by Woolwich (Thu 02-Apr-20 10:05:22)

It was couple of months ago, over telesales. It helps if you mention a competitors deal and quite often EE will match or beat it.

Edited by deleted (Thu 02-Apr-20 10:14:14)

VoLTE improves different networks in different ways.

On all networks, it's a lot better at handling voice & data simultaneously so a practical application would be voice calls continuing while you use Google Maps, for example. Calls will also setup in (sometimes) under a second compared with legacy technologies. And the networks can hold a LOT more voice calls per unit of 4G spectrum compared with 3G.

On EE & 3, VoLTE also unlocks access to Band20 coverage which, as others have pointed out, improves rural and indoor coverage noticeably. O2 & VF's original 2G & 3G networks were built on 900Mhz, so don't have this issue.

Historically, O2 & VF haven't had VoLTE in all areas whereas EE have. In other words, you could have 4G coverage on O2 but still fallback to 2G/3G for voice calls - EE have always had a blanket-VoLTE setup. The other thing is that VoLTE & VoWiFi use the same core network, so a 4G voice call can seamless handover to a WiFi voice call (where the facility exists) and vice-versa without the call dropping.